Frustrated!

[bjones1888]

I saw my rheumatologist in January and was diagnosed with RA. She prescribed Enbrel and I’m still waiting to start. The insurance keeps denying it and the doc keeps sending it back to insurance. I found out through my insurance company that the first submission for PA wasn’t done until February. Here we are almost to April and I’ve still not started the med. I’m so frustrated because I’m in so much pain along with other RA symptoms. I’m due to see the rheumatologist again mid-April and I’m sure I still won’t be on the med. I’m starting to get discouraged as well. I just want relief. I’ve tried all OTC anti-inflammatories and some prescription ones. Nothing has touched the pain. What are some things you’ve done to reduce symptoms?

[Marabeth]

I would suggest looking at the Paddison diet and programme. I have psoriatic arthritis, and was on entaneracept (anti-TNF injections), leflunomide, methotrexate and 9mg prednisolone. I was in lots of pain. Since using the diet (lots of salad, no junk, no caffeine, limit/no oils, no dairy, no meat). I’m now down to 2 mg prednisolone. I haven’t had to stick to the above diet all the time, but any time I have had a flare I do, and it settles quite quickly (a few days). Definitely worth a look.

[bjones1888 in reply to Marabeth]

Thank you for your suggestion!! I’ll definitely check it out!

[andyswarbs]

Diet. I removed all pain, all inflammation, all meds with diet. Diet followed by yoga,which is where i am going now to rebuild my body after over 40 years of arthritis.

[bjones1888 in reply to andyswarbs]

Thank you! I’m going to start Tai Chi next week. I’ve heard great things about it and yoga!