Hi to all,
This is my first time posting and wanted to introduce myself. My name is Tess and I’ve been living with RA and supposedly fibro (I don’t necessarily agree with that one) for 12 years officially. Do any of you use natural remedies for pain and inflammation? I have been researching and trying different things but yet to find something that really works. I’m unable to take nsaids d/t stomach ulcers from them and basically love on Tylenol which doesn’t help during a flare as you all know. My only hope for pain control for now is disease control which is touch and go at best. Thanks in advance for your input!😍
Hi Tess & welcome.I guess your are in the US as we call Tylenol Paracetamol here in the Uk.?
Are you taking any meds for your RA....like Dmards...Disease Modyfying Anti Rheumatic Drugs? Or are they what you feel are hit & miss...which can be so true?
I have a friend in the US,& we were both diagnosed with RA about 20 years ago and our treatments seem to have run along pretty much similar lines. She is now very well settled on Methotrexate.....says she has minimal pain, for which she uses Tylenol.
I was on Mtx successfully for 7 years....now on RTX infusions & very rarely need pain relief.
My friend has tried & abandoned many "natural" remedies.....I have not,& we seem to have landed up about even.
However I am sure you will receive lots of suggestions from members here who have had success with natural remedies-so let's hope some of them work for you.
Thank you so much for replying!😁 I am in the states. I have been on plaquinil, arava and mtx, methotrexate being the effective treatment for me. I recently haven’t been in anything d/t rheumatologist emergently retiring for her own health issues and it is a nightmare to get a new doc!😩 So, I have been in one flare after another never knowing which major joint will join my hands and feet to take me down from one day to the next. Spend an entire day in the ER last week d/t being unable to put weight on my foot which was a new one. I have dabbled with ginger and tumuric but never found any info specifically indicating the amounts to be effective in reducing inflammation.
Tess
I don't want throw cold water on the stress you are already under, but if I were you I would spend 100% of my time finding a Rheumie. To get back on Mtx.My friend in PA also finds locating a good Rheumy hard...she presently drives 50+ miles to her doctor.
You need to protect your joints & get pain relief, & then you can try the many "natural" remedies that are suggested.
Do insurance companies have a list of local rheumatologists? Maybe you could go down that route or could you ask your local ER?.
I'm sure you have thought of these things but not being too familiar with the US medical system these days I don't know what else to suggest. Which State are you in ....we do have some US citizens ion here...maybe they could help you?
Good Luck.....let us know how you get on.
Thank you agedcrone, I am in North Carolina. There are a few rheumy docs here just difficult to get started with them. You have to jump through a lot of hoops to get that first appointment. I’ve had two rheumatologists along this journey so far, both wonderful bright women and I just hope my luck holds out for the next. You are so right about making finding a doc priority, that is no.1 on my list. It’s really good to get advice from someone who knows what it’s really like to live with this horrible disease! Thanks again!
Fraid I don't know anyone I N Carolina.....but will keep my fingers crossed you hit on one soon.
As you are diagnosed & have been under treatment, I'd go on line & just hit every Rheumy listed.....at least you get to choose your doctor. Over here unless you pay privately you pretty much see who you see.
Keep at it!
AC