Arthritis - anyone any experiences? - Page 7

Knipples · 30-12-2008, 19:16

Am glad they got the blood. Always helps when its someone confident who knows what theyre doing.

lostkat · 30-12-2008, 19:56

Rah, well done Daisy!! What a lovely gesture too MB

Darrin · 30-12-2008, 20:02

I've been thinking about this thread a lot lately, I am sorry I haven't posted earlier, but anything to do with my mum brings back to the forefront I will never see her again, which makes seeing the screen rather hard.

But I can no longer let that keep me from possibly helping someone else out with what my mum went through for so long.

She had RA from about 25 on. She was an RN. It crippled her to the point it destroyed her career. She couldn't lift a patient to change their bedpan, so she was useless to any hospital.

After diagnosis and much poking and prodding the medical professionals determined that her ankles and wrists along with her rotator cuffs were affected. They said that by the time she was 30-35 she would be confined to a motorized wheelchair because of it.

Now, my mum could teach stubborn to rocks. There was NO way she was going to let it affect her that badly, so she did enough research to write 100 thesis papers. She determined that water immersion would alleviate the symptoms enough to get full range of motion from her joints. So she took up swimming.

3 days a week she went to the local pool right after kicking my brother and I out the door for school. In 3 months she was beating the local high school swim team by herself while they were doing relay races. She had 100% mobility in the water and zero pain. The coolness of the water brought the inflammation down, which reduced the pain dramatically. Also the slight pressure over the whole joint helped blood flow away from the area. The almost weightless environment of being submerged allowed unrestricted movement of all her limbs, which helped immensely get past the point of restricted movement and allowed her to stretch through the RA, I guess helping break it up or something.

Whatever it was, she was still fully active and working right up until ovarian cancer took her from us at age 58. She was even going into total remission right before going into the hospital for the last time. To the point that before my parents found out about the cancer, they were planning vacation trips they would never have been able to do with her suffering from the RA.

If the little tyke likes swimming, I would see about taking her in a couple days a week, see if it helps.

Oh, and another thing that struck a bell with me was my mum had an over active thyroid as well. Hers was treated with radiation early on in life and she had a little yellow pill she took every day to bring it back up into normal range. Once it was taken care of, she had no trouble with it afterwards.

Knipples · 30-12-2008, 20:06

Darrin, im sure it wasnt easy to post all that, so I just wanted to say good on you. Tips from people who've been through it will help Pebs im sure.
*hug*

Pebs · 30-12-2008, 23:53

Darrin, thank you x

Pebs · 30-12-2008, 23:53

Darrin, thank you x

Mark · 31-12-2008, 01:01

Darrin, so good of you that Pebs thanked you twice, and I agree. Thank you.

I must confess it did slip my mind that this was today but yay for progress, however small, and yay for crazy people.

*hugs*

Pebs · 10-01-2009, 20:05

Little update.

Daisy has been struggling this week and going downhill rapidly since being back at school. It came to a bit of a head last night when her thumbs seemed to be wonky and one of her hands was so painful she couldnt dress herself. She had a terrible night and out of desperation really I took her to A&E today.

I explained all the the PaedNurse and he said that although I amy not get answers they should be able to make her more comfortable which is exactly what I wanted. Despite a packed waiting room we didnt have to wait more than about 5 minutes, they were ace! Doc consulted the paedregistrar who has given her diclofenac and codeine. Unfortuately this isn't a long term solution but it'll give her respite for a few days which she desperately needs.

I also asked if they could check for her blood results. The doc looked but they weren't available but after some digging found her samples have gone to UCH in London. Apparently there is an excellent rheumatoid specialist at GOSH who treats local kids if it does prove to be that. I left feeling far more reassured and hopeful that the meds would help.

They have. Shes had one pill and she can do stairs!! She can open her hands! Not even had to break open the codeine which is a relief as it'll make her sleepy apparently. Fingers crossed the pills will be enough

Less than 2 weeks for the results now. I know a lot of you saw her at NYE and probably think 'what the hell is she on about, she was fine!!' but she had a very very sedentiary Xmas holiday and the painkillers she was having then were enough.

leowyatt · 10-01-2009, 20:24

Sorry to hear Daisy has been having it rough recently. Those of us at NYE would never have thought "what the hell is she on about" we just realised with the holidays and the excitement she would be much perkier.

Glad to hear the tablets are working and fingers crossed you can get to the bottom of things

Nutcase · 10-01-2009, 20:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by leowyatt

Sorry to hear Daisy has been having it rough recently. Those of us at NYE would never have thought "what the hell is she on about" we just realised with the holidays and the excitement she would be much perkier.

Damn right, none of us thought that

Glad to hear the new tablets are helping, roll on 2 weeks.

30-12-2008, 19:56	#62
lostkat Good Cat Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 5,550	Rah, well done Daisy!! What a lovely gesture too MB __________________ Oooooh Cecil, what have you done?

30-12-2008, 20:02	#63
Darrin Dirteh Kitteh Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Hiding out in Mormon Country Posts: 1,629	I've been thinking about this thread a lot lately, I am sorry I haven't posted earlier, but anything to do with my mum brings back to the forefront I will never see her again, which makes seeing the screen rather hard. But I can no longer let that keep me from possibly helping someone else out with what my mum went through for so long. She had RA from about 25 on. She was an RN. It crippled her to the point it destroyed her career. She couldn't lift a patient to change their bedpan, so she was useless to any hospital. After diagnosis and much poking and prodding the medical professionals determined that her ankles and wrists along with her rotator cuffs were affected. They said that by the time she was 30-35 she would be confined to a motorized wheelchair because of it. Now, my mum could teach stubborn to rocks. There was NO way she was going to let it affect her that badly, so she did enough research to write 100 thesis papers. She determined that water immersion would alleviate the symptoms enough to get full range of motion from her joints. So she took up swimming. 3 days a week she went to the local pool right after kicking my brother and I out the door for school. In 3 months she was beating the local high school swim team by herself while they were doing relay races. She had 100% mobility in the water and zero pain. The coolness of the water brought the inflammation down, which reduced the pain dramatically. Also the slight pressure over the whole joint helped blood flow away from the area. The almost weightless environment of being submerged allowed unrestricted movement of all her limbs, which helped immensely get past the point of restricted movement and allowed her to stretch through the RA, I guess helping break it up or something. Whatever it was, she was still fully active and working right up until ovarian cancer took her from us at age 58. She was even going into total remission right before going into the hospital for the last time. To the point that before my parents found out about the cancer, they were planning vacation trips they would never have been able to do with her suffering from the RA. If the little tyke likes swimming, I would see about taking her in a couple days a week, see if it helps. Oh, and another thing that struck a bell with me was my mum had an over active thyroid as well. Hers was treated with radiation early on in life and she had a little yellow pill she took every day to bring it back up into normal range. Once it was taken care of, she had no trouble with it afterwards. __________________ A bullet may have your name on it, but shrapnel is addressed "to whom it may concern".

30-12-2008, 23:53	#65
Pebs Easymouth Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 6,716	Darrin, thank you x __________________ ...faster you naughty little monkey! Running through hell, heaven can wait!

30-12-2008, 23:53	#66
Pebs Easymouth Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 6,716	Darrin, thank you x __________________ ...faster you naughty little monkey! Running through hell, heaven can wait!

10-01-2009, 20:05	#68
Pebs Easymouth Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 6,716	Little update. Daisy has been struggling this week and going downhill rapidly since being back at school. It came to a bit of a head last night when her thumbs seemed to be wonky and one of her hands was so painful she couldnt dress herself. She had a terrible night and out of desperation really I took her to A&E today. I explained all the the PaedNurse and he said that although I amy not get answers they should be able to make her more comfortable which is exactly what I wanted. Despite a packed waiting room we didnt have to wait more than about 5 minutes, they were ace! Doc consulted the paedregistrar who has given her diclofenac and codeine. Unfortuately this isn't a long term solution but it'll give her respite for a few days which she desperately needs. I also asked if they could check for her blood results. The doc looked but they weren't available but after some digging found her samples have gone to UCH in London. Apparently there is an excellent rheumatoid specialist at GOSH who treats local kids if it does prove to be that. I left feeling far more reassured and hopeful that the meds would help. They have. Shes had one pill and she can do stairs!! She can open her hands! Not even had to break open the codeine which is a relief as it'll make her sleepy apparently. Fingers crossed the pills will be enough Less than 2 weeks for the results now. I know a lot of you saw her at NYE and probably think 'what the hell is she on about, she was fine!!' but she had a very very sedentiary Xmas holiday and the painkillers she was having then were enough. __________________ ...faster you naughty little monkey! Running through hell, heaven can wait!

30-12-2008, 19:16	#61
Knipples nipples lol (o)(o) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Brissle!!! Posts: 4,947	Am glad they got the blood. Always helps when its someone confident who knows what theyre doing.

30-12-2008, 20:06	#64
Knipples nipples lol (o)(o) Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Brissle!!! Posts: 4,947	Darrin, im sure it wasnt easy to post all that, so I just wanted to say good on you. Tips from people who've been through it will help Pebs im sure. hug

31-12-2008, 01:01	#67
Mark Screaming Orgasm Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Newbury Posts: 15,194	Darrin, so good of you that Pebs thanked you twice, and I agree. Thank you. I must confess it did slip my mind that this was today but yay for progress, however small, and yay for crazy people. hugs

10-01-2009, 20:24	#69
leowyatt Chef extraordinaire Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Infinite Loop Posts: 11,143	Sorry to hear Daisy has been having it rough recently. Those of us at NYE would never have thought "what the hell is she on about" we just realised with the holidays and the excitement she would be much perkier. Glad to hear the tablets are working and fingers crossed you can get to the bottom of things __________________ "Dr Sheldon Cooper FTW!"