Anyone got Rheumatoid Arthritis? How did the symptoms start and how do u feel now?

Hey

Yeah I have. I'm 16 and I've had it since I was about 10.

Basically my knee started to swell up a lot. When I touched it, it felt very warm. It ached after exercise and when I had been still for too long. It hurt especially when it rained! (The weather really does affect it!)

I had an operation to remove the swelling. I've been through various medications. I've been on a tens machine, which electrocutes my leg to remove the pain. I've had a splint to keep my leg straight when sleeping - very awkward! I've had another operation - key hole surgery.

Basically there's not alot I can do about it now. When it huts, it really hurts, but a lot of the time I forget I have it. It's awkward on your knees, or doing anything particularly physical. Dance, for example is tricky. People think I'm making a fuss when I say it hurts, but I'm really not! It can be really painful!

I just hope that it doesn't get any worse!
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My mum has this and she was first diagnosed when she was pregnant with me 30 years ago and the doctors say the baby ie. me, caused the onset. She is on permanent medication and has had several operations (unsuccessfully) to try and rectify the problems with her hands, feet and hips. She can do almost everything but as her fingers and toes were fused she can't pick large objects up or wear really nice shoes. Her medication helps with the pain and I hardly ever - well, never - see her take a painkiller.
Is that of help to you? If not let me know and I can ask mum any questions you need to know. She'd answer you herself but is a self-confessed computer virgin so stay away from them! Take care xx.
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I am 19, I was dignosed when I was 16, I had these bumps grow on my elbows and they kept getting bigger, they removed one and it came back as a positive for Rheumatoid. I have pretty much got down hill from there, I have tons of swelling and I hurt all the time, I am on Plaquenil and I have the 2 1/2 hour IV infusion every 4 weeks called Remicade. I also take a 800mg muscel relaxer 3 times a day and I also take prednisone for swelling. I don't know sometimes, RA isn't a fun thing, but you can't give up. Good luck!
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i have had it since birth but wasnt diagnosed until the syptoms became regular around 13..more pronounced fevers, my knees swelled until I couldnt take stairs or walk normal and I had uti's continually..up until then I had suffered with 'growing pains', ear infections and continual cold sores but nothing at the same time. I am being treated with imuran and other meds to keep the disease under control and am working full time. Dont feel 100% but then who does, fatigue is the worse enemy to me. You can see your gp but if you think it is RA then you need to see a Rheumatologist.
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sufferer of multiple auto-immune diseases

My wife has had that for years and it is no joke, can't remember how it started but if you get it really bad like my wife has just the slightest touch puts her in agony, the tablets only work for a short time, her hands are now screwd and twisted and she can't straighten her fingers out, I wish I knew of a cure or even something to ease the symptons.
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Eating raw butter, raw cream and raw milk from grass fed cows in your diet will help. Along with taking 1 tablespoon of Cod liver oil per day will reduce the inflamation. Reduce your carbohydrate (sugar) intake. And increase the good flora in your diet like yogurt, kefir, beet kvass, fermented foods like saurkraut etc. I'm serious. To find sources of raw dairy go to realmilk.com.

Raw butter has a Wulzen Factor. A hormone-like substance that prevents arthritis and joint stiffness, ensuring that calcium in the body is put into the bones rather than in the joints and other tissues.

The Wulzen Factor or “anti-stiffness factor,” discovered by researcher Rosalind Wulzen is present in raw animal fat, this compound protects against degenerative arthritis, hardening of the arteries, cataracts, and calcification of the pineal gland. The Wulzen Factor is present only in raw butter and raw cream; it is destroyed by pasteurization.

http://realmilk.com/milk-direct-program.html
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