I was diagnosed with RA 2 years ago. I am very worried about starting DMARDs as I had a very negative experience with biologicals 10 years ago for my Crohns.
Is there anyone trying any alternative therapies, which they find work reduce pain/ inflammation?
What works for one person does not work for another. You are given one by the rheumatologist. If blood tests and symptoms indicate a problem something else is tried. You will be monitored . Biologicals are only given after trying several dmards and experiencing unsatisfactory results. Your DAS score also has to be high .
Hi There There are a few things that help to reduce inflammation like a vegetarian diet, ginger ,eating less pro-unflammatory foods like processed food and eating a Mediterranean diet including omega 3 oils and lots of fruit and veg. These may help you to need lower amounts if DMARDs but they are unlikely to keep your RA under control. Nothing else is proved to help but some people find acupuncture helps to reduce pain and as we are all individuals you might want to experiment. Complementary therapies is a better word rather than alternative therapies as I think you need to give DMARDS ago There are more choices now and you should be able to find one that suits you You don't want to end up with a lot of damaged joints and pain
I tried everything alternative, and made me healthier generally. But did nothing at all for the RA.h
There is a class of drugs called JAKS. These work in a different way to DMARDS and Biologics. The NRAS booklet on medications is helpful. As is their helpline good luck.
Just listen to your rheumy team….being newly diagnosed is no time to start experimenting..Your rheumatologist has spent years studying to help his/her patients …so take advantage of all that effort.
I agree with Zen4, that you should be looking at complimentary therapies, as opposed to alternative. Diet can play a part in reducing inflammation, so cutting out sugar, processed foods, and some people find food from the nightshade family, make pain worse.
I worked as a nurse for over 30yrs, in orthopaedics, and in the early part of my career, nursed lots of RA patients with their twisted joints. These days it’s a lot less common. That’s thanks to DMARDs, and wasn’t due to them using alternative therapies. Delaying treatment risks irreversible damage,
Reducing stress eases suffering, so complimentary therapies, can play a part by reducing stress, but never instead of medication.
I have ankylosing spondylitis, which I suffered for over 25yrs, before being diagnosed. I have a lot of fused joints, including ribs, which has then resulted in lung complications. My Heart is enlarged, and mild chronic pericarditis from years of uncontrolled inflammation. On top of this many joints have subluxed due to tendons calcifying, and have had surgery twice on my foot to reconstruct tendons. I would give anything, to reverse the clock, and start DMARDs and biologics sooner, then it may never have got so bad. I’m now on a biologic and methotrexate, to slow progression, and think myself lucky to live on a country where it’s accessible to all who need it.
If you search on here you will find a lot of discussion about alternative, or complementary, therapies. Generally the consensus is that you may be able to reduce the inflammatory response but you are very unlikely to manage without damage to your joints without conventional medication. Of course, you are bound to worry, but most people have only minor side effects.
The medication is always a balance between benefits and harms for your body in particular and it's therefore difficult to give any specific advice. But having seen the results of untreated, or inadequately treated, Rheumatoid Arthritis I would never want to risk that.
The NRAS website gives sensible information as does the Versus Arthritis site. Read as much as possible about the options open to you -and isn't it marvellous that we do now have so many choices! - and discuss your fears with your health professionals. And ask on here - lots of experience over many years between us all here!
I find very low carb high fat helps me, but we're all pretty unique so might not help you. I tried many meds and gave up in the end due to side effects. I remained on them a long time too just to be sure. Drugs seem to help many, but not all. Trial and error.
Ten years is a long time in production of new approaches to treat RA.In my case was already on a healthy diet that suited me so knew I needed to try DMARDS to prevent further joint/ body damage.
Any side effects minimal in comparison to the disease, have been sorted by discussion with especially the specialist nurse.
Recently started a biologic which is keeping the inflammation in check.
Believe there are a variety and also varies how they're administered.
For me personally alternative treatment wouldn't work.
MTX Alternative
Alternative to naproxen 
Alternative anti TFNs
Help about which meds as alternative to Gold please.
Complementary therapies 
