Rheumatoid Arthritis Help???

Hi World Of MLU Wisdom and Experience .....

I am abso-bloody-lutely frustrated regards rheumatoid arthritis and related issues and think that out of all you members SOME of you might have some knowledge and ideas on how to handle symptoms to improve muscles/tendons/joints aches, pain, and mobility .... without going the traditional toxic meds or expensive iffy trendy new cure things.
(I've done the plaquenil, gold salts injections, cortisone shots, anti-inflammatories and funny-strange how I feel WAY better since going on strike from all that last year ... but I needto manage this stuff somehow. I'm hoping you or someone youknow deals with this stuff and may have some healthier and more effective ways to cope with symptoms and improve things.

Anyone have any simple practical advice for coping with these things for improvement. Anything from dietary to good exercise to improve these things?

My hands/wrists are my biggest problem in terms of doing just about everything (typing is easy ... handwriting ... usually FORGET IT) ... wrists almost rigid by now, and always pain with any movement, lifting, carrying, even a cup of coffee is painful to lift ... and tonite I was horrified that while I could unlock the key part of the door, I couldn't open the door handle from outside. I had to search out a neighbor to open my door for me ... this can NOT continue!

So ... please folks ... can ya help with some info about things that have worked for you or someone you know?

I'd kick things tonite if my feet didn't hurt :

Cranky Scared

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Vets Dottir
Anyone have any simple practical advice for coping with these things for improvement. Anything from dietary to good exercise to improve these things?

Dear cranky scared ,

I have no experience with or knowledge of rheumatoid arthritis, but as it happened I saw a feature on Dutch TV last night about a goat farmer. He was interviewed because of World Aids Day, and the positive effects of goat's milk on HIV patients. The farmer was adamant the qualities of the goat are underestimated and he himself drank goat's milk because of positive effects on his ... rheumatoid arthritis. Again, I cannot confirm this, but it sounds like a harmless ´medicine´ which might be worthwile to investige a little further?

Good luck!

Your Dutch friend Hanno

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
Dear cranky scared ,

I have no experience with or knowledge of rheumatoid arthritis, but as it happened I saw a feature on Dutch TV last night about a goat farmer. He was interviewed because of World Aids Day, and the positive effects of goat's milk on HIV patients. The farmer was adamant the qualities of the goat are underestimated and he himself drank goat's milk because of positive effects on his ... rheumatoid arthritis. Again, I cannot confirm this, but it sounds like a harmless ´medicine´ which might be worthwile to investige a little further?

Good luck!

Your Dutch friend Hanno

Well ... am very glad the HIV thing ain't an issue with me but I think theres definately something to the goats milk thing. Lactose intolerance can cause all sorts of problems I think ... thats interesting regards the rheumatoid arthritis.... but I wonder if the improvement wasn't due to drinking goats milk, but rather simply to NOT drinking cow dairy products?

I do know that aged cheese effects me... and I LOVE aged cheese Love that dutch CHEESE too!!!!
VEDDY GHOUDA CHEEZA

Thanks Master Wooden-Shoes-Sky-Scraper-Friend
(thats only cuz I'm jealous and cuz I'm SHORT and need a long-range missle to shoot you )

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Vets Dottir
I do know that aged cheese effects me... and I LOVE aged cheese Love that dutch CHEESE too!!!!
VEDDY GHOUDA CHEEZA

In that case don't eat it, just smell (scratch the picture )

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
In that case don't eat it, just smell (scratch the picture )

Oh ... now THAT picture looks like a combination of two of my favorite tastes ... CHOCOLATE CHEESE ... both of which are not great for me but I can't resist now and then

Since I started typing a couple of years ago I have more flexibility and ability with my fingers, but the wrists just get worse.

Some of you people must "work out" and perhaps know some good exercises I can do to improve strength and wrist mobility/capability without doing more damage to them (which is my biggest issue that effects daily life constantly?) 2 docs have told me this pain is permanant now due to permamant joint damage ... but I refuse to believe that!

Master Dutch Friend Hanno ... thank you, by the way, for taking the time and caring to reply ... I've never had goats milk, but would like to give it a shot to see what happens ... and I hear there is also "goats cheese"

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Vets Dottir
Master Dutch Friend Hanno ... thank you, by the way, for taking the time and caring to reply ... I've never had goats milk, but would like to give it a shot to see what happens ... and I hear there is also "goats cheese"

In that case try Norwegian goat cheese, also called brunost, or literally "brown cheese", is a local delicacy on bread, crackers and waffles. Taste it once and your taste buds will never forget it

H.

Thanks for the Master H. .....
Norwegian brunost/brown cheese now on the grocery list, along with some goats milk to see how that tastes/works. (I'm not a milk drinker normally ... in fact never tasted the stuff after baby-hood, until I was 11 years old when I tasted sourcream for the first time and got immediately and absolutely hooked with intense cravings for it (forever after) THEN tried milk. Strange. I think my stepfather totally turned me off wanting to try milk as when he'd milk the cows he'd always squirt me in the face ... and those cows teats didn't look too hygenic either YUK oooooh GROSSSSS I used to get mad and cry when he did that)

from Ma

Carman I can sympathize with you Catherine and I both have Osteo Arthritis and the medication sometimes seems worse than the disease. I use a hot wax bath for my wrists and hands and it provides some temporary relief. For exercise I use a sponge ball. Of course a couple of shots of Drambuie helps also.
A relative, by marriage, who lives in the Winnipeg area has Rheumatoid Arthritis she takes one pill a week and it seems to work for her I forget the name of the pill but I can find out from her as she just lives up the street from me here in Florida.

Cheers

Dear Carman,

I was real sad to read that you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, its nasty, now I dont have that condition though I do have arthritis in my knee joints, and as you know my friend it cant be cured, but a friend of mine told me she had the same condition as myself and took"Glucosamine Sulphate" which in a few weeks took the pain away and so I gave it a try and sure enough it worked for me, I realise that rheumatoid arthritis is more severe

But why dont you give it a try for a few weeks, usually in three weeks you see a differance, get the "High Strength" and please let me know what happens, if it can give you ease then

So Carman keep your chin up ok?

Your Friend, way over here ,

Hilary/Maria

Originally posted by Art Johnson
Carman I can sympathize with you Catherine and I both have Osteo Arthritis and the medication sometimes seems worse than the disease. I use a hot wax bath for my wrists and hands and it provides some temporary relief. For exercise I use a sponge ball. Of course a couple of shots of Drambuie helps also.
A relative, by marriage, who lives in the Winnipeg area has Rheumatoid Arthritis she takes one pill a week and it seems to work for her I forget the name of the pill but I can find out from her as she just lives up the street from me here in Florida.

Cheers

Ah ... thanks a lot Art. Me too, for you two, regards this chronic stuff thats pain and interference with quality of life. By the way, I don't know why I so often think of you and your own physical problems ... but I do, when I think of my own progressive deteriorations. You're an inspiration to me Art. You help me to remember that my stuff could be a whole lot worse, which would be a whole lot harder to accept and adapt to I know this was one of your own sacrifices for all of us. I also have an incredibly deep fear about being physically helpless and dependent on others caring for me. I refuse to ever "go there" Period

Yes ... am interested in hearing about what pill your friend takes. Rheumatologist had recommended methotrexate if the gold salts didn't cut it. I said ... NO. Bad drug. All of them bad and not worth the risks as far as I'm concerned. And even though I stopped the gold injections more than a year ago, I could still have a delayed reaction to it in my system. : Charming.

The hot wax I want to try for sure... if only because it sounds absolutely soothing/comforting!

I'm interested in hearing anything, drug free especially, that can improve things. Muscle wasting is one of my problems ... so some program to 'get fit" is in order because I'm about to jump into a life of living and doing real life again and will need to lift that dammed frying pan when I need to

Hey Art, my Mom had osteoarthritis too ... had hip replacement surgery a few years before she passed away at age 61. I remember the hell of pain before and after surgery she had. Its no joke ... this stuff HURTS. Guess I'm in much pain often ... but not severe, though have had "times" where synthetic narcotics were needed. I HATE taking pills I prefer to avoid them unless I'll die without them

Drambuie ... YES ... I shall descend on you one day and lift a drink of this delightful little helper ... when are you back to Canada again? i'm thirsty, but not for pain, am just CRANKY and need to mood alter. I think Drambuie with you would do the trick!

Karmen says a special HELLO to CATHERINE.

Carman,

Me again , the "Glucosamine Sulphate" is in tablet form,

You could take the tablets with Goats milk, :idea: but seriously
keep me in touch, we have to get you mobile again .

Hilary

Dear Carman,

I was real sad to read that you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, its nasty, now I dont have that condition though I do have arthritis in my knee joints, and as you know my friend it cant be cured, but a friend of mine told me she had the same condition as myself and took"Glucosamine Sulphate" which in a few weeks took the pain away and so I gave it a try and sure enough it worked for me, I realise that rheumatoid arthritis is more severe

But why dont you give it a try for a few weeks, usually in three weeks you see a differance, get the "High Strength" and please let me know what happens, if it can give you ease then

So Carman keep your chin up ok?

Your Friend, way over here ,

Hilary/Maria

Originally posted by Maria
Dear Carman,

I was real sad to read that you suffer from rheumatoid arthritis, its nasty, now I dont have that condition though I do have arthritis in my knee joints, and as you know my friend it cant be cured, but a friend of mine told me she had the same condition as myself and took"Glucosamine Sulphate" which in a few weeks took the pain away and so I gave it a try and sure enough it worked for me, I realise that rheumatoid arthritis is more severe

But why dont you give it a try for a few weeks, usually in three weeks you see a differance, get the "High Strength" and please let me know what happens, if it can give you ease then

So Carman keep your chin up ok?

Your Friend, way over here ,

Hilary/Maria

Hey Hilary, hi there Thank you for such an empathetic and supportive reply here ... and th feedback regards the glucosamine.

I never tried it yet as my rheumatologist told me it works for osteoarthritis but NOT for rheumatoid, although osteo arthritis is also in the "henes' you know : and I'm sure the glucosamine can only help ... IF after I research it some more for contraindications to see if its safe for ME to try it.

Professionals actually started calling rheumatoid arthritis "Rheumatoid Disease" because calling it "arthritis" is "misleading" ... osteo sticks to the bones and joints as far as I know...

Rheumatoid arthritis is a SYSTEMIC disease process that can effect organs too ... heart, lungs, eyes(Sjogrens), skin, veins, brain ... you name it ... along with the muscles, tendons and ligaments, (Raynauds) and lymphatic system (lymphadenopathy) which creates a potential for lymphoma (cancer of the lymph nodes) The inflammatory issues canactually "burn out" and a "remission" happens on that level ... but the disease process continues. (or so its been said : )

I mention all this stuff because I think very few people are aware of the different processes and effects of RA compared to Arthritis (tho it all hurts and disables and makes doctors and others who benefit by these health issues RICH)

Us "patients" are their "bread and butter and caviar spread for their toast when they fly off to holiday land" ... I wish they'd remember who feeds them ... and treat their patients with more consideration and respect ... plain old courtesy sometimes would count for a lot hey?

Uh oh ... soapbox??? sorry

Anyways ... thank you Hilary. Take care of those knees! (mine effected too ... ebbs and flows)

Originally posted by Maria
Carman,

Me again , the "Glucosamine Sulphate" is in tablet form,

You could take the tablets with Goats milk, :idea: but seriously
keep me in touch, we have to get you mobile again .

Hilary

Oh gawd ... wish you could hear me laughing the comment about taking it with Goats Milk was just TOO perfect

Regards getting me mobilized, I have someone working on that as I speak ... says it's time for me to straighten up and fly right so fly I shall... asap.

[Garry Shipton (RIP)]

Carmen,as I type this my left arm from the shoulder to the elbow are aching like hell.The pain seems to move from the joint in my shoulder down to my elbow,then back up.The only thing helping me is a hot electric heating pad plus extra strength Tylonol tablets for arthritis(3) every four hours.Happens to me every year at this time when the weather turns cold.
The Shadow wud say hello,but he's passed out on the floor beside me with his big head on his brown stuffed teddy bear that my daughter Jen gave him last Xmas

Ouch GARRY ... hothot showers/soaks help. Hot tub ideal. The cold here ... is very different from BC. Penetrates to the bones hey? It was -14 with 28 to 40 km winds ... harsh on muscles, tendons, ligaments ... can get up to all sorts of mischief hey?

It's unnerving to think I wouldn't survive outside long ... rigormortis already sets in before death in the form of arthritis stiffness I'm halfway dead already so won't suffer as long as most people :

Give the SHAD a FRIENDLY WOOF from me ... and YOU keep warm.

Time for sleep from Ma Karmen

[Lars Ulvestad]

Originally posted by Vets Dottir
Thanks for the Master H. .....
Norwegian brunost/brown cheese now on the grocery list

Carman,

Norwegian goat cheese is available i Canada: http://www.tine.no/intmark/4736/

The norwegian cheese slicer used for our goat cheese: http://www.tbjorklund.no/english/index_ie.htm

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally posted by Lars Ulvestad
The norwegian cheese slicer used for our goat cheese: http://www.tbjorklund.no/english/index_ie.htm

Norwegian cheese slicer?!? That's a Dutch kaasschaaf!!

[Lars Ulvestad]

Originally posted by Hanno Spoelstra
Norwegian cheese slicer?!? That's a Dutch kaasschaaf!!

Dutch?

According to my knowledge it was invented (and patented) by a carpenter from Lillehammer in 1925. It is still produced here, as well as in many other countries.

Do they sell brunost in Holland?

Originally posted by Vets Dottir
Oh gawd ... wish you could hear me laughing the comment about taking it with Goats Milk was just TOO perfect

Regards getting me mobilized, I have someone working on that as I speak ... says it's time for me to straighten up and fly right so fly I shall... asap.

Carmen,

You know what they say, stuff the pills,potions,injections
if possible and get yapping? naa that looks like someone laughing to me and ...laughter is the best medicine right?.

But give em a try , and yes with the goats milk or else I`ll come round with a goat and get you too pull the teats after all not only would you get fresh goats milk, but think of all the exersise
too

And one more thing....and I dont think its my mucky mind
but does that image that Hanno sent remind you of anything?
no, think about it :idea: ahh you got it! thought you would .

Okay you two, how bout you two being my Norwegian Cheese Slicers and then send the cheese pre-sliced to me? Either that or send me a Norwegian to slice the cheese at my whim for when I can't manage it?

Perhaps and electric slicer, but I'd still need a Norwegian to scrub it clean after use!

Little normal-daily things like that ... sometimes impossible for me to do... which is why I want to try and improve function. I DEFINATELY want to try some of that cheese though...am very curious about the taste.

SHOPPING LIST:

Goats Milk
Norwegian Brunost
1 Norwegian Cheese Slicer (male/female irrelevant)

Ma Karmen

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

When I was in Athens over a winter (a long time ago), one of my staples was plain goatsmilk yogurt, occasionally mixed with either honey or the juice of a fresh orange. Damned good. Wash it down with Drambuie and you'll be good-to-go...

Hi Geoff,

Just to say that the "Goatsmilk Yogurt" does sound really good especially with honey or orange juice as you said. Yummy, its actually got me considering looking for goatsmilk either in the store or preferbly from a farm where it should be nice and fresh

Will let you know how I get on, used to get from a farm in Gosport lovely fresh Duck eggs, they were really tasty

[Mark W. Tonner]

MA YAPPY;

Sorry, just a 'quick fix', but anyways here is what you need to do:

1. - go out and buy 2x 24's of Canadian domestic beer....
2. - once home, open and drink one bottle at a time until all 48 are empty, do not stop until all 48 are empty.......
3. - once you are all 'tanked' up, lay down and sleep it off, which should take awhile and give you relief during your slumbers.......

Sorry, not responsible for the after effects of the above mentioned remedy......

Note: If the above doesn't work, substitute 2x 40 pounders for the 2x 24's...........

P.S. - all of the above should also take care of that "chilled to the bone feeling from winter bunker dwelling".......

Then you'd have a severely depressed as the booze is a depressant and I'd have to continue drinking to cope with the depressive after effects that I couldn't handle waiting til the booze was out of my system again.

A drunken after the first quarter glass of brew is no joke friends and a severely depressd is no dammed fun atall. Might as well lay me wee bittie dpressed self down under the wheels of an oncoming CMP and would also cure to booze breath and intestinal repetative emissions.

Ask Master Sunray how much it takes to warm my cheeks and get me staggeringly drunk, make noxious scents, and be cranky

AND WHO WOULD PAY MY BOOZE BILl????????

Our September vist inspired Master Sunray to rename me from PIXIE WITCH to .... (just replace the "W" with a "B" )

I LOVE IT

[Geoff Winnington-Ball (RIP)]

Originally posted by Mark W. Tonner
P.S. - all of the above should also take care of that "chilled to the bone feeling from winter bunker dwelling".......

Methinks Ma will be living above-ground in fairly short order...

Aside from the fact that she's a cheap date ( ), I also think Art's remedy of Drambuie is highly satisfactory. We'll take it from here...

Ya got it all backwards Master Sunray ... a cheap date is someone who asks you out to dinner then won't pick up the tab : "Gee, I didn't bring any money Honey, can you please pay this this time (AGAIN)?" (wherefore art my Retro-Male with his many redeeming qualities? )

Regards the newsflash that I may soon be living above ground, and out of my bunker. I think anything over the first floor I'll feel positively airborn and need a bag to toss my cookies in

:idea: PACKING LIST:

Don't forget cookie tossing bag for the nausea brought on by altitude sickness brought on by being bushed in a bunker brought on by too many cheap dates

my dears.

[Mary King]

Miss Yappy,
I've not read all this thread, shortage of time alas, but my DH has RA and keeps it under control. He has it mostly in the fingers and ankles. He's had it for over ten years now. The first thing I would say is that usually the Glucosamine Sulphate does not seem to help with RA. It does help with Osteoarthritis because it helps with the joints in that situation. The other thing is some folks find that if they exclude certain foods from their diet then that helps them. For instance the DH cannot eat dairy products...that is products from cows. He can however eat goats and sheeps cheese. He tends to keep away from milk of all kinds but does use Soya milk from time to time. He has found this change has made a great deal of difference to him. Some folks find that if they eat foods of the nightshade family, potatoes, tomatoes, aubergines etc and oranges that this makes the condition worse.

As we are into complementary health he has also been to a homeopath who doses him up from time to time with his constitutional remedy. You would need a proper homeopath to sort out what you would need because everyone is different. My DH finds that when he feels an attack coming on or damages a joint doing DIY or whatever, he can then take his constitutional remedy and that stops the RA flare up in it's tracks. Sometimes it helps to take Betain Hydrochloride, which is a food supplement. This helps the acid in the stomach to digest food better but not everyone needs this. It's a good idea to have your stomach acid levels checked first. A Nutritionist (not a dietician) could help you with this. Also it's possible that food allergies can also aggravate RA so it's worth looking into that side as well. Again a Nutritionist could advise.

Having taken these measures himself and supplementing with food supplements as well he has found that not only has the RA been under control but that also when he gets a flare up then the damage to his joints is minimised.

Hope this helps.

MARY KING,

For starters, am really sorry to hear that your DH has problems with RA ... and am glad he's found some relief and is minimizing the damage. Excellent news.

And excellent advice that all makes total sense tome (some of which I've experienced, like the effects of dairy and potatoes) I really do sense a that a lot of the falres and symptoms are definately connected to ingested things not being processed properly, therefore the difestive tract isn't doing its proper job anymore) Therefore ANYTHING that can help improve the digestion can only help

I really appreciate all the time you took to give a nice long reply full of good info that actually sounds like "it helps". I know some others who are watching this thread with great interest too, hoping to read about something that will work for them!

I tell ya, I think one of the hardest things to accept and deal with is the unpredictability within a DAY!!!! of flares and aggravations. Some things just aren't taken on because of the unpredictability ... ability and capability waxes and wanes within a day ... and so forth. But still ... compared to a couple of years ago even, I'm doing excellent!!!!!! I just need some brunhost and a Norwegian cheese slicer who also cleans and does dishes

Thanks Mary,

Karmen