I'm Getting Better!

Had some blood work done last week. Got my results back today. My rheumatoid factor went from +89 to +38. That's a decrease of 51. The goal is the normal range of <14>

Every year since I was diagnosed, I have had severe pain in my joints in August and September. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the worst, my pain was always right around 9+. This year it has been at about a level 2. Two years ago after having had to have a liver biopsy because of the drugs I was taking (methotrexate and Plaquenil), I decided to stop taking the medications my rheumatologist recommended. He wasn't happy, but at the same time, I was not feeling any better. I did not want to ever have another liver biopsy. I chose to follow a health and wellness program and the results are paying off.



This may not work for everyone, but I think everyone should give it a try. No meds, healthy food, lots of fluids, minimal sugar (the effects of sugar accumulates in the joints) and exercise. Oh yes, and get in touch with a Maximized Living Chiropractor. To find one where you live, go on line to http://www.maximizedlivinghealthsite.com/. Or, you can sign up with my chiropractor, Dr. Dan Yachter at http://www.maximizedlivingdryachter.com/. He will work with you on sending your RA packing. I plan to be completely healed in the next few years.



It's important to give up smoking, do not drink alcohol and avoid sugar. Nutrasweet is also a bad choice. It is also recommended to eat only whole grain breads in small quantities. Grains are known to cause inflammation. You can get recipes and other information at the websites I mentioned. You don't have to live with RA forever. Lifestyle is an important causative factor in RA and if you want true healing, try chiropractic care and lifestyle changes.



Sign up for Dr. Dan's free newsletter at http://www.yachterhealth.com/ and he also has a fitness club online. It's only $10/month and you will learn a myriad of things to do to get healthy and put your RA into remission. http://www.healthandfitnessmembership.com/.



It takes time. I've been working on this for 4 years now and I'm finally getting the results I have been praying for. I want my RA to go away. I don't have confidence in the medical community anymore. Drugs are big business and I don't want to be part of someone else's wallet getting fat.



Stay tuned for more.

Oh My Aching Bones, Part II

In August, 2001, I was being treated for carpal tunnel syndrome by a hand specialist. He had already given me two cortisone injections in each wrist to reduce unexplained swelling and pain that I was having. As he was examining my wrists, he announced that he wanted to do some blood work on me. He was concerned that I might have rheumatoid arthritis. I was shocked. No one in my family had ever had this disease. I knew unrelated people who had it, and of course, I had read about it in nursing school. But, in no way did I even remotely think that my aches and pains were RA.

So, I had the blood work done and a week later, the doctor told me it was positive for RA. He referred me to a rheumatologist. Thus began a long journey into the land of uncertainty. I had heard about the drugs used for treating autoimmune diseases and the side effects are frightening. However, my doctor started me on very low doses. He prescribed methotrexate and Plaquenil. Being the medical sleuth that I am, I researched the drugs. Methotrexate is a liver toxin and Plaquenil, although rarely, could cause eye damage. So, here I was with the decision, "should I risk destroying my liver and eyes?" I went ahead and tried the drugs hoping that my pain would go away. I figured it wouldn't hurt to give the drugs a chance.

It would be another 6 years before I realized that these medications weren't doing anything for me. In fact, my liver enzymes increased dramatically and I had to have a liver biopsy. At that point, I quit taking methotrexate. I also stopped the Plaquenil because my platelet count was dropping.

For most of my adult life, I have been a so-called "health nut". I use high-quality nutritional supplements and try to eat healthy. I avoid sugary foods and have stopped eating red meat. I use pharmaceutical-grade fish oil in large doses. Fish oil is an anti-inflammatory. I increased my intake of fruits that were high in antioxidants. I eat a lot of salad and always have a vegetable with dinner. I love sweet potatoes and carrots (high in antioxidants). I lost 25 pounds, which not only made my clothes fit better, but took a lot of pressure off of my hips and knees. I joined a water aerobics class sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation. Water is our friend, especially if you have any form of arthritis. The water cushions your joints while you exercise. It is difficult to hurt your joints in water, and it feels wonderful. Exercising in water helps build muscle which in turn helps support arthritic joints.

It has been 8 years since I was officially diagnosed with RA. In my next article, I will explain the differences between RA and OA. Both are painful, both can be debilitating, but both are as different as night and day when it comes to treatment options.