Comments on: Emerging From My Worst Flare Yet

By: Betty

Betty — Mon, 29 Oct 2012 09:39:13 +0000

To all of you. Thank you for telling me about your experiences. I thought it was just me. The unfortunate thing with me is that the pain is chronic. Day after day–night after night. I also have osteoarthitis and fibro to add to it. I’m beginning to give up. I had one good day in the past 15 years. I went to the hospital because a nurse called in the wrong script for my high blood pressure. She called it in with a water pill ingrediate added to it. The muscle pain and cramping of muscles caused me to go. At the hospital they gave me a shot. It didn’t make me sleeping or feel drugged. Tears ran down my cheeks and I looked at my husband and said, “honey this is the first time I haven’t had ANY pain in years.” I don’t know what it was but I know it wasn’t a narcotic. I’m about sick to death of taking them. I can’t take anti-inflammatories due to ulcers. So when all of you talk about good days and bad days it confuses me. Mine are all bad and yes I’m on all of the RA drugs. I am happy for you all and God bless you.

By: Frances Nimmo

Frances Nimmo — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 01:44:48 +0000

Hello RA Guy,
I have had JRA since age 13 and I’m currently 26. I did everything right, so I thought, and went years before the disease knocked me out cold of my career and life plans. It’s been a year since losing my career as a chemist, I still struggle with my life being turned upside down, the daily pain, the flip flopping on steroids/humira/etc, and what to do with my life now.

I hate knowing this disease has to be shared by others but glad I’m not alone at the same time. Thanks for being out here. Thanks to the others sharing as well, our disease is invisible but WE are not.

By: Lana

Lana — Tue, 01 Feb 2011 15:15:54 +0000

It is really confusing, isn’t it? One day, you need help and one day you don’t and the next day you do. Your right about how surreal it is and it never stops being surreal regardless of how long you have lived with the condition. When I flare, I just keep going looking for the light at the end of the tunnel. I know it is there but sometimes it takes longer to get there. I guess we are somehow supposed to get used it but we never really do. Every time you climb one mountain, you find a bigger one right behind it, then a smaller one, and then a bigger one again. Everyday is challenger with RA and all we do are the right things to get through flare-ups and to try to avoid them. I think the biggest lesson I have taken with me in recent years because of RA is that nothing is impossible. For all we are capable of, RA is our biggest challenge and if we can conquer with, or at least live with amicably, RA, we are capable of anything.

By: former sufferer

former sufferer — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 14:19:37 +0000

RA Guy,
I was diagnosed in my late 30′s, and suffered for years from almost daily flares. Within a few years, I began to show signs of deformities in my feet and hands and seriously considered ending my life.
I am now in my mid 50′s and rarely have a flare. Instead of daily, it’s now maybe one day every few months, and even then, it is very mild and endurable, one Aleve away from pain-free. What changed?
One night a few years back, a former college friend who was visiting re-introduced me to marijuana and I realized that it almost instantly relieved my pain. I began experimenting and discovered that the more frequently I smoked, the better I felt long-term. I now only take a few puffs a day and it seems to keep the flares at bay. Nothing else has helped me in any significant way. This is now my only medication, as it’s all I need.
Every chance I get, I try to share this information with others, and have talked to physicians and written to my representatives in Congress to urge them to work to decriminalize marijuana/make medical marijuana available to chronic pain sufferers like you and me. The side effects are insignificant and temporary, contrary to many legal pharmaceuticals on the market today.
The real crime here is that help is available but, because of societal attitudes, propaganda, and political dithering, people suffer needlessly.
For me, even though it is illegal, it is utterly worth the risk. I would rather be free from pain and a productive member of society, than a crippled, pain-filled, vulnerable, non-productive mess. My body, my choice.
Best of luck to you all.

By: Cathy

Cathy — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 15:14:53 +0000

Yay!!! I noticed that I had a huge smile on my face as I read this post. I am so glad you are coming out of this flare and that you have taken such good care of yourself.

One nice thing about RA, it brings on the worst but it always eventually brings some relief.