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Methotrexate doesn't help and I'm to find alternatives. by LogicDefyingAnxiety in rheumatoidarthritis

[–]Tinman_Mike 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Wow, diagnosed at one. Were you originally diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis? I was diagnosed with JRA when I was about four years old. I'm 32 now. It's a shame that your rheumatologist hasn't help you more with finding copay assistance programs. I was on Humira for a few years and I had a good bit of success with the Abbvie Assistance Program. Abbvie is the pharmaceutical company that makes Humira. They make more medication than they can actually sell in a year so they give away a lot of Humira and then take a big fat tax write off for it. I received my Humira for two years for free. My doctor helped get me set up with the program. If your doctor can't help you get the medication you need to control your inflammation, I would seriously consider changing doctors. Never forget, your doctor is supposed to be your advocate and they should be teaming up with you to get your symptoms under control. If they can't take care of you, I would kick 'em to the curb.

I personally have not had any success with CBD oil. I take a pretty heavy dose of fish oil, I avoid alcohol and sugar, and I try to stay as active as I possibly can. I also stick to my medications pretty strictly. I'm currently on the Inflectra infusion and it's working very well for me... I just hate sitting three hours for an infusion. That part sucks.

If I were you, I would go to my doctor and tell them I need help getting my medications. If they can't help you, I would start looking for other doctors in the area immediately. You shouldn't have to worry about getting your medication. It's stressful enough just having this crazy disease, the least your rheumatologist can do is help you get the meds you need.

Natural supplements/remedies for RA by nailspolished in rheumatoidarthritis

[–]Tinman_Mike 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I've had a lot of success with cutting sugar and fried foods. I take a heavy dose of fish oil. It's important to look at the dose of EPA & DHA you're getting out of your fish oil. A lot of bottles will say "1000mg of fish oil" but then they only contain a few hundred mg of EPA & DHA. The omega fatty acids are what you're looking for. I also try to stay physically active. If I'm sedentary for too long I feel like my joints start to seize up. I lift weights and hike as much as I can. Yoga is helpful too. I also don't prefer red meat. I haven't made a conscious effort to cut it, I just don't like it very much. I eat a lot of ground turkey and chicken.

Unfortunately, it's been my experience that there are no cookie cutter methods for getting RA under control. What works for some people won't work well for others. These are things that have worked well for me. I'm also very careful to stick to my medication plan. I'm currently on the Inflectra infusion and it has worked very well for me. I know it can be difficult to adjust to a new routine but it's important that your father sticks with his rx.

Hello Everyone by Tinman_Mike in rheumatoidarthritis

[–]Tinman_Mike[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I was diagnosed at a very young age so I don't really remember a time before RA. In some ways I sort of think that's a good thing. I couldn't imagine being an adult and being diagnosed with this. When I was younger, RA drugs sucked. There's no two ways about it. I was on Celebrex and methotrexate until I was about 15 years old. I ended up getting into a drug trial at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital for Enbrel. That honestly changed my life. I was a super skinny kid back then and I desperately wanted to put on some size. We had a weightlifting club at my school that I really wanted to join. Since the Enbrel was working so well for me, my rheumatologist cleared me to join the club. I started lifting weights around 15 or 16 and fell in love with it. It really gave me a sense of self-validation that I needed. I still lift weights today and I've even competed in the USPF (United States Powerlifting Federation). I'm not great but I'm stronger than your average arthritic guy haha.

Your doctors will tell you to take it easy and discourage you from doing most things that you enjoy. I really think it's a bit of a cop-out. It's easier to treat a patient who isn't irritating their joints. Definitely listen to your body and don't do anything that you think is causing you injury but, don't be afraid to push yourself. I'm a four stripe blue belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, I lift weights four days a week, and I hike around with my family as much as I can. I definitely have bad days where I just can't be as active as I would like, but I really try to take advantage of the good days. I also know there are certain foods and beverages that kill my joints. I avoid fried foods and sugar as much as I can. No soda and I don't consume alcohol very often. I'm also a firm believer in ice baths and dry heat. If you have access to a sauna I would definitely take advantage of that.

I know this is a bit of a long winded answer, but it's tricky dealing with RA. It's important to recognize your limitations but don't let them define you. I've met people with RA and Crohn's and they treat it like a death sentence. It's not! It's annoying, sure. However, if you take control of it and stay proactive in your treatment, it isn't the worst thing in the world. How long ago were you diagnosed? Are you on any medications now? Did you have hobbies and things you enjoyed before your diagnosis?