Tell me about rheumatoid arthritis, what are symptons and what can you do to treat it, more especially in winter.

I am a 26 year old female and for the past couple of days I’ve been experiencing headaches and body pain.

I live in Iowa. We’ve been experiencing some strong wind and some heavy showers. So I’m not sure if this pain is weather related or what. Here are my symptoms:

Ear/Jaw Pain – A little over a year ago I had a really bad ear infection in my right ear. For the past couple of weeks I’ve been experiencing ear/jaw pain. Sometimes it throbs. The ear/jaw pain started on the right side then it also started hurting on the left side. Its not constant pain. The pain comes and goes. I’ve noticed though that when I’m outside in the cold and wind sometimes thats when I experience the ear/jaw pain.

Neck Pain – The neck pain didn’t start until yesterday but when I woke up this morning I had a lot of neck pain.

Headache – I woke up this morning with pain in my temples. At first it was throbbing pain (non-stop) but then after I was up for a while then it wasn’t so painful but I’m still experiencing some pain in my temples. I have allergies so could allergies cause this?

All over body pain – For the past week I’ve been experiencing all over body pain off and on. But yesterday I had the all over body pain all day and now today so far I’m experiencing the same thing. Its like an achy feeling.

Tiredness – I’ve been feeling tired for the past week. I sleep well at night (I get at least 8 hrs of sleep) but I wake up in the morning feeling groggy and tired.

What could these symptoms mean? I have allergies and arthritis. Last spring I experienced these issues and my husband was thinking maybe I had fibromyalgia. He wanted me to go see a specialist but I decided not to at that time. So could this type of pain I described could it be fibromyalgia? If it is fibromyalgia should I see a specialist? Is there anything I can take for the pain?
I got my period last friday. I’m just trying to figure out whats going on with my body. So could my period cause this type of pain?

Hi all,

For ~ five years (since i was ~18yo), I have had acute pain in the base of my wrist, around the hamate-to-lunate area (both sides of the wrist now right on where the hand meets the forearm). I’ve seen many physios, an orthopaedic surgeon, doctors, had bone scans done. There is “bony odeoma” on all the wrist bones. and some very small cracks which may have caused the problem. There is also some small bone spurs and other yuckiness in the bone area. Now to cut to what really matters – I am in constant pain! And have been for all these years. Prior to this I was a very active sportsman.

(incorrect) Diag: rheumatoid arthritis (incorrect, tested negative RA and steroid inj. had no effect)
tendonitis (incorrect, bone scan revealed bone issues no tendon prob)

Treatment: ibuprofen effective but after many years and finally coming off it, it is time to rehabilitate again.

one physio succeeded in having me strengthen the area and this fixed 90% of pain. isometrics to weights worked.
Any ideas on picking up isometric exercises? any links to diagrams and whatnot? what about putty or a stress ball or something? at this stage the wrist is very weak and i suspect that the weakness and lack of stability is one of the main sources of pain.

very funny to the guy who told me to stop masturbating. i’m right handed and this is on my left hand, so it’s not that, haha. no idea how many people have told me that over the years tho
PTS: that sounds like good advice. like i said the only time i’ve had relief over the past 5 years was the one physio who forced me to stretch it and slowly strengthen it. maybe because i didn’t persist with these exercises it came back. or maybe there was another factor involved, i’m not sure.
twerp: an interesting response. i prefer to believe in the fact that there is a fix out there and that 99% of the medical ‘professionals’ that i’ve consulted with were incompetent fools or just greedy idiots. i think the two examples of ludicrously incorrect diagnoses that i was given are a good indication of that. as such i do not see a doctor. i think meditation is a good idea, however.

I have 5 kinds of crippling Arthritis, can barely walk and use a wheelchair, cannot exercise. My steroid drugs and other medications and the inability to burn calories or move my body has made losing weight impossible. On an average day I eat less than 550 calories. I eat the same thing almost every day. A handful of Jelly Bellys with coffee for breakfast, more coffee for lunch and a protien bar for dinner. 1/2 cup of low fat, frozen yogurt is my last meal of the day. I take loads of vitamins. I do nibble Jelly Bellys (four calories each, no fat) during late aft and do not count how many I eat. given my diet, I need to stop them but every time I have tried, I couldn’t do it! I take lots of pain meds, never get high or take more than prescribed and am a very disciplined person but need some help on how to quit these Jelly Beans! When I try to eat small, healthy meals I gain more weight! My theory is that I am using sugar for energy and storing the rest. Can anyone tell me how to detox?
Perhaps I was unclear. I obviously know not to buy them but I crave them and want to know how to stop the craving, how long it might last, how many days it takes to lose the craving, that sort of thing. I am unable to shop and my family is not supportive about it because in their well meaning love they feel I should not give up my only fun pleasure (food wise) because of my pain and suffering. More about breaking the addiction please? Thank you.
One more thing…I don’t eat cookies, cakes, sugary treats, chocolate, none of those things! Just those damn Jelly Beans. Sometimes I think they must have Estrogen in them since I am in Menopause and so many of my friends love them too! lol

Hello,

Tonight I went to dinner with some friends, one of whom is a nurse (also in grad school to be a nurse practitioner), and once we started talking it came out that I have been in pain for most of my life and after listening she said I may have fibromyalgia. I had never heard of this and I am always a little hesistant to search about different illnesses because I think when we want to have an answer for our pain, its easy to some how relate our pain to different illnesses that we find online. I know I need to go to the doctor but I am always afraid he’ll think I am a hypocondriac because I am there often, and for legit reasons.

I am 25, no children, do not drink, smoke, or do drugs, work 20 hours a week as a secretary, no abnormal strensuous activities, without medication I have my period only 1 or 2 times a year, 143 lbs, 5′1′ and in the last 2 years have been struggling with weight as I was 105lbs only 2 years ago, have had a weight problem before about 5 years ago, same scenario as now.

Here are the issues I have: some have been diagnosed & treated and some not even been brought up yet to my doctor.

DIAGNOSED AND TREATED:
- Acid Reflux- treated and unsuccesful, still have pain in my chest
- Anxiety- treated with medicine (Effexor) and effective
- Menorrhagia- treated with medicine (Provera), one time and effective
- Infertility- treated with medicine (Clomid), one time and unknown if its effective
- Vision- 20/500 vision corrected with lenses to 20/20
- Migraines- I used to get them when I was a teenager-early adult about once/twice a month on average and was prescribed medicine, also I had low blood pressure which I was prescribed medicine for and both were effectively treated.
- Frequent urinary tract infections, at least 3-4 times ayear- treated with medicine and effective
- Weight gain- it has been addressed by my doctors saying it can be related to the effexor, marriage, eating habits, etc and so not treated.

UNTREATED, NOT BROUGHT UP:
- nightmares or very vivid dreaming every night guaranteed (I have always been a vivid dreamer but it has become extremely worse and may be related to my effexor)
- takes about 2 hours to fall asleep at night waking up at least 4 times a night, I NEED a nap everyday (my naps usually last 2-3 hours)
- Ever since I can remember I have been getting pains that a doctor would call growing pains as a child but they have never ceased and increasingly get worse as I get older. They usually happen 2-4 times a week, some more extreme than others. It varies from dull, annoying pain that I can “live” with and continue functioning to the point where I can’t move and I just cry where nothing helps. The majority of the time the pain is in my hip more towards my back and spreads all the way down to my toes. My hands, arms and shoulders sometimes get it, but mostly occurs below my torso. To be honest I think it is occuring more than I think but I may be used to it. Because if I focus right now, I can feel it between my elbow and my shoulder on my right side.
- I have had what I think is bronchitis for at least 3 months (simply just putting off going to the doctor because it is a half hour away)
- Only allergies are to nickel and salicylic acid

Can anybody help? I know I should go to the doctor but I would like to know if anybody has had or treated any of these symptoms as all or some. I really do appreciate all of your help, thank you in advance.

I would be happy to answer any questions about me that may help you answer this question.
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He is 10 y/o and has had a pretty rough life and is showing signs of being down in his back and not being able to get up stairs. He is very large and weighs a lot, so he has a lot of weight on his legs to contend with. Are there any good home remedies we can give him to make him more comfortable? thanks, Loving Lab Parents….

Im sorry but i needed to vent and see if there was any other diabetics that think there are a lot of things wrong with the education about this diseases.
1.) the way doctors try to get kids to understand they have a serious condition that’s treatable. Im a grown adult and i still freak out when something acts up because my entire childhood i was told if i go even just a little high i would loose my legs fingers, eye sight, hearing and everything else!
2.) THAT STUPID GUY on tv for the medicare commercials that says “if you have diabetus” ITS DIABETES there is no U!
3.) The commercials that are for parents who are over feeding and over stuffing their children.AMERICA is the fat country we know this. And you know what im all for curves and i realize some people with type 2 have no control because they inherit some bad weight genes or they are getting older and their body cant keep up.. but most of the type 2 ads are about americas fat kids and their trying to get parents to feed their kids better which is good..but I did not get to enjoy 20 Twinkies a day before being cursed my whole life. I popped out of the womb this way, wheres my commercial asking people to donate and help the cause? And of course this one also leaks into the next one…
4.) which is loved ones. I HATE LOOSING PEOPLE I LOVE however science is now about keeping grandma who is 110 years old and would really like to be taken off all the noisy machines and go see grandpa in far far away land, but instead of letting her go peacefully the whole science world is trying to keep her going till shes just fades into the bed..it would be nice if you could reduce her to like 40 or 50 and then keep her going but no…lets keep her going when shes old and tired and cant walk or breath or remember all the people who might come to visit her trying to get her to sign over her belongs when…again she could go see grandpa (if she wanted to I AM NOT saying we shouldn’t prolong life-if that is what the patient wants) but their not asking their just doing when they could be focusing on curing what is wrong with the younger generation so that it stops and doesn’t effect the next one. you know things like cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, arthritis. MS. and about 1000 others that effect tons of people around the world age 0- grandma.
5.) BEFORE I FORGET THIS ONE, I like jodi Foster BUT OMG everyone remembers that in panic room her daughter was diabetic and it was this whole big thing. A.) if you had a panic room there would be diabetic supplies in there IN case of emergency B.) When the clock hit 12 i do not take a “dose’ I have NEVER taken a “dose” I test before i eat, i test 2 hours after. i used to take a long acting shot and then one when i ate and one if i was high. maybe 10 times a day if needed….now im on a pump -go technology- and i only take insulin when i eat, or when im high. Could someone somewhere make a movie where they could get this right??

im really a nice person, and ive had this disease a very long time and im okay with that- but these are just a few things that drive me insane. I don’t mind explaining diabetes to people ive spent years answering “yes i can eat whatever i want, i just take insulin” every time (and there have been many times) that people ask me if i can eat that. Ive even shown people how to do all that i have to do, its fine. and im sure there are many people with other diseases that go through the same thing and i invite you to explain any grievances you have with the world in your disease so that i don’t do anything to annoy someone with it.

I try to image picking up a bag and just leaving, pretending that i COULD do that and that i wouldn’t have to make a list of how long id be gone, how many site changed that would be, how many things of test strips id need, what kind of batteries i might need and how many and the back ups in case the site doesn’t go in right.

back when i was out of high school and didn’t know what i wanted to go to college for, but needed to make up my mind so i didn’t loose my parents insurance.. i picked several different courses and signed up but took my time just pretending i could take a break if i wanted.

And I try very hard not to say “hi my names diabetic jane” I don’t care how many times ive been told, or i say to others “its just the way my life is, its normal’ i wish i could grab a cotton candy and just eat it without thinking test. calculate, take insulin. and im sure there are many people with diabetes or other diseases that also act and say its just the way life is, and make jokes when really every so often we all just curse that we got stuck. and maybe some don’t. most days it doesn’t bother me, but then some days it does… oh and warning to any diabetic doctors on yahoo. if when i have a child who’s diabetic; and they try the scare tactic…the doctor should be very afraid.
hi, thanks commenter #2. just so you know- not running. ive had diabetes for a very very long time, since i was 8. and i do take care of it. And yes it is a slow death-it basically rots your organs. My dads going throught that now, the diabetic neuropathy. I have eczema (common in diabetics) in my ear canal. it a delight. It is a diease that should be taken seriously however they need to come up with something other then the scare tactic. Im not going to have my kids go through what I did. The saying you can take a horse to water, applies to diabetes (even some of the doctors i went to when i was younger say that.) It didnt matter that they frightened me- i was too young to understand or care especially through the teenage years. The one doctor told my parents that with all the hormonal changes it was going to be a bumpy ride no matter what. I didnt get control of my diabetes until i wanted to have control.No one has to agree with me,these are my opinions. i just want more for my kids.
Thanks for responding Sandy, I was hopeing that my rant would reach out to other diabetics or family members of diabetics. Im really sorry how tough things with your husband are, I haven’t had to go through to much besides having about 10 kinds of infections a year because the diabetes makes us easy targets. Ive always thought lows were the worse, going high can be a toll on the body but lows are scary to me, high i just feel sluggish and sick but when im low i can loose my eye sight but that only happens when i drop to 30 which thankfully isnt often. IF you stop by again maybe we could chat, is there anything else the doctors can do for your husband? setting him up on a pump, or that new constant glucose pump thing might help control his lows. althought insurance companies are alwasy difficult. ok thats next
6.) People who aren’t diabetic deciding what is needed. At one point they made us pay more to get IV Preps! And limited the # of test strips i could get.

I just had a baby four months ago and I barely started to have these pains in my legs, thighs, ankles and arms. Recently I had this extreme pain in my arm and it hurts so bad I think it might be arthritis or something. I looked up on it and I’ve read about Fibromyalgia, could it be? I dont really eat that well and I’m strictly breastfeeding too could this also cause a problem? I’ve heard that it’s pretty common for some people to get it after pregnancy and some of the symptoms of Fibromyalgia are aching all over, poor sleep, stiffness on waking, and being tired all day, headaches, dizziness, numbness and tingling, crampy abdominal or pelvic pain” and these are some symptoms that I have been experiencing.

My joints, mostly hands,hips and knees hurt all the time and my regular Dr. just tells me to take otc meds, which don’t help at all. She doesn’t seem to think its that serious a problem, given my age, which is 66.

How long does surgery take?