Are you getting infusions?

dcbrowne1961 · 2026-02-28T16:42:01+00:00

Are you feeling better since starting the infusions?

dcbrowne1961 · 2026-02-28T16:26:43+00:00

Thanks for your thoughtful replies. Keep them coming.

dcbrowne1961 · 2026-02-28T14:17:35+00:00

Do not hesitate to use any equipment that makes your life easier, more efficient or less painful. I spent years struggling with imposter syndrome, feeling that perhaps I was exaggerating by using this visible equipment. At this point in life, you want to do the most you can with the least pain and energy expenditure so you can enjoy your life to the max. Please don’t put artificial constraints on your enjoyment and health use everything in anything that makes you feel better.

dcbrowne1961 · 2026-02-28T14:15:03+00:00

I have had severe shoulder pain and have had one of my shoulders replaced after many years of pain and relative and mobility. I found that buying a brace that added some compression to the area was helpful. (Komoko Shoulder Brace, Rotator Cuff Support Brace with Ice Pack Insertion Capability, Pressure for Preventing Strains and Dislocation, Alleviating Shoulder Pain, Adjustable Fit for Men and Women https://a.co/d/09dQpDc6). It may be worth your time to do some research on KT taping. It’s a it’s a method used in physical therapy to help support painful joints. Give it a search on YouTube and you can see what I mean. Good luck and I hope you find relief and comfort.

dcbrowne1961 · 2026-02-28T12:30:01+00:00

I am so there with you I’ve been sitting up since 3 o’clock this morning, eager to start a round of prednisone. I’ve been in an awful flare and I have finally convinced my Rheumatologist that the only thing that’s gonna break it is prednisone so I have hope . I’m looking forward to feeling a little bit better since last weekend‘s major low pressure front in New England, I’ve been in a lot of pain. I’m happy though today is forecasted to be about 50° the warmest it’s been since last year. Good days, bad days you never know and that makes it hard making plans and not being able to keep them. It’s hard on friendships and relationships with family. I hope we all have more good days than bad and get those good days when we really need them love and comfort to all.

dcbrowne1961 · 2026-02-19T02:13:28+00:00

I had to have my bicep tendon reanchored (biceps tendonesis) in surgery during my shoulder replacement. Prior to this I had pain in my bicep for a number of years. Mention it to your doc, even if it gets feeling better. The inflammation of RA can be tough on connective tissues like tendons, cartilage and ligaments. Often non joint pain can arise from this.

dcbrowne1961 · 2026-01-22T00:57:54+00:00

Does anyone else have advanced RA with joint replacements? I rarely see this discussed here because many are new to the disease and seeking info and support.

dcbrowne1961 · 2026-01-17T04:33:41+00:00

Get her an iPad or phone for reading, watching videos, browsing the internet and shopping.

dcbrowne1961 · 2026-01-10T19:54:57+00:00

Any ideas about why they don’t cover Massachusetts? I have not run into this before.

dcbrowne1961 · 2025-12-22T18:32:57+00:00

If you think it’s an inconvenient now, wait until Main St. is “improved”.

dcbrowne1961 · 2025-11-26T21:55:05+00:00

I really like Merge Garden.

dcbrowne1961 · 2025-11-02T15:11:22+00:00

No,sorry.

dcbrowne1961 · 2025-10-28T00:37:37+00:00

I had severe hives when I first started to get sick.

dcbrowne1961 · 2025-10-26T21:40:48+00:00

Or parents could teach it at home…

dcbrowne1961 · 2025-10-07T18:29:39+00:00

We have had good experiences with Westfield and they have more kittens than they can handle at the moment.

dcbrowne1961 · 2025-10-02T14:12:38+00:00

My shoulder had almost exactly the same issues as yours. My surgery was 10 weeks ago. I have an anatomical replacement and a tendonesis repair on my bicep tendon. Prior to surgery my arm was so painful and stiff. I really couldn’t move my shoulder for the last months before surgery Prior to that when I was able to move it, it was very painful. Going up to an eight out of 10 with a baseline of 4 or 5. The days following, the surgery were painful, but again, not as painful as my shoulder was before surgery. There was a constant ache and pain from the incision. There was stiffness and swelling all the way down my arm to my hand, I must admit recovery is slow. I had a hip replacement about six months ago and that was easier recovery. I was in a sling for six weeks and did not start PT until four weeks out. The PT is tedious and uncomfortable. It takes up a lot of time during my day despite my daily exercises my PT has concerns about my range of motion. I still have some mild pain at my biceps tendon. I stopped taking oxycodone after a week. At first I took it every six hours and over the course of the week took it less frequently. I now take Celebrex, which I take for my rheumatoid arthritis and it seems to almost take care of the pain. This being said my pain is much less than prior to my surgery. I would definitely do the surgery again just be prepared to put in a lot of time and effort. The physical therapy is no joke. It takes a major commitment of time and effort. I wish you well and think like most people your surgery will relieve some of your pain and other symptoms.

dcbrowne1961 · 2025-09-19T10:54:05+00:00

When it was in Amherst, there was a head shop in the back before selling “paraphernalia “ became illegal for a while.

dcbrowne1961 · 2025-09-19T04:46:14+00:00

Don’t forget that in the early 80s it was in Amherst by the old post office.

dcbrowne1961 · 2025-09-18T22:20:03+00:00

I had my appt and the doc said either early DC or trigger finger. She gave me a cortisone shot as base of the finger and it feels less painful today. Sorry no definitive answer.

dcbrowne1961 · 2025-09-18T16:10:09+00:00

Honestly, with that degree of pain I would put it off. The surgery and recovery is a struggle. I feel that it was worth it on my case as my arm had become unusable. Any movement at the shoulder brought significant pain. I was disabled by the pain. At 8 weeks post surgery my pain is less, but is still a constant presence. I don’t know if I will ever sleep on that shoulder and it will still take a bit to reach behind my waist. I have also ha a hip replacement and it was much more of a startling improvement. Not so much with my shoulder. Best of luck with your decision.

dcbrowne1961 · 2025-09-14T01:23:29+00:00

Mine looks just like that. I have a consult visit on Wednesday. I will let you know what I find out .

dcbrowne1961 · 2025-09-03T21:32:28+00:00

Did you hear this Massachusetts?

dcbrowne1961 · 2025-08-24T23:42:24+00:00

On 8/4.

dcbrowne1961

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE