Arthritis Help Center

Arthritis!?

I was diagnosed with mild arthritis last year. But since the past three days, my fingers have become so brittle that i can not type, turn a door knob, mix rice, and also my index finger is slightly deformed. I'm going to the doctor tomorrow, but all i wanted to ask was, can this get better? or will it remain this way for the rest of my life? I'm very scared cuz i'm only 24. I heard arthritis doesnt have a cure, or does it? I did take advil but it did not do much and the pain is still there. I'm really disappoined because this is very handicapping.

Public Comments

1. I have suffered with RA for 7 years now. I have been through treatment after treatment. From Remicade to Prosorba as being the high dollar treatments, to the every day dosages of Prednisone, Methotrexate, Oxycodone, and Oxycontin. The last two are for my chronic pain. The doctors try to put this disease into remission, but I haven't heard of to many success stories. So they try to keep you as comfortable as they can with meds, to help you make it through the day. Your Arthritis doesn't sound very mild to me. Don't be scared to get a second opinion. Please feel free to ask me any questions on arthritis.
2. Arthritis is not curable but the symptoms can be managed and its progress can be slowed. It sounds, because of the joint deformity, like you have Rheumatoid Arthritis. If you do then you need to go back to your doctor with these symptoms. RA is caused by your immune system attacking your joints and if it has suddenly gone into high gear you may need immuno-suppressing therapy. Also, glucosamin and chondroitin can help the joints to loosen up and move better. Good luck with this.
3. My Mom had minor arthritis a friend told her a cure and it started working fast. its healthy for anyone and its yummy.
   1 banana and 6 pecan half's in the morning. that's it, sounds to easy, try it. You can have anything else you want with it, as long as you do that once a day. for at least 1month or till the pain stops. Good luck!
4. I have had arthritis since I was a teenager, but wasn't officially diagnosed until college. I had several different sorts of treatment then and did pretty well. After I left college the doctors I had refused to do anything, so I got into researching it. Glucosamine/chondroitin combination can be extremely helpful for lots of people. Pain medication needs to be taken on a regular basis (and very carefully). If you take too much (I started doubling doses and taking them too often) you can develop allergies to them (I did) and now I cannot take them. I also found relief alternating heat and cold...sometimes just one or the other would help..it was a matter of trial and error. Acupuncture worked miracles for me for a long time. There are all sorts of alternative health possibilities, but you have to look for them. I have to take some serious drugs, and unfortunately my arthritis has continued to worsen, but not everybody has that result. Lots of people go into remission and never hurt again. I am one of those who has needed surgeries to find relief. In fact I've had two total hip replacements, two total knee replacements and am on the list for talar (foot) fusions next month. After that they will replace my worst shoulder. On the bright side, I no longer have any pain in my knees or hips. You need to find out what type of arthritis you have, because treatments for rheumatoid arthritis are very different, and often very effective. And there are a gazilllion other types of the disease as well. Go to the Arthritis Society web page for more info. Hang in there, and use the internet to look for alternative aids if the standard ones don't work for you.
5. Rheumatoid arthritis (often called RA) is a chronic (long-standing) disease that damages the joints of the body. The damage is caused by inflammation, a normal response by the body’s immune system to “assaults” such as infections, wounds, and foreign objects.
   
   The inflammation in the joints causes pain, stiffness, and swelling as well as many other symptoms.
   The inflammation often affects other organs and systems of the body.
   
   If the inflammation is not slowed or stopped, it can damage the affected joints and other tissues.
   Rheumatoid arthritis most often affects the smaller joints, such as those of the hands and/or feet, wrists, elbows, knees, and/or ankles. The symptoms often lead to significant discomfort and disability.
   
   Although rheumatoid arthritis most often affects the joints, it is a disease of the entire body. It can affect many organs and body systems besides the joints. This is what is meant by systematic disease.
   
   The cause of rheumatoid arthritis is not known. Many factors are involved in the abnormal activity of the immune system that characterizes rheumatoid arthritis. These factors include genetics (heredity), hormones (explaining why the disease is more common in women than men), and possibly infection by a bacterium or virus.
   
   Despite significant advances in treatment over the past decades, rheumatoid arthritis continues to be an incurable disease. Treatment of rheumatoid arthritis has 2 components:
   (1) reducing inflammation and preventing joint damage and disability and
   (2) relieving symptoms, especially pain.
   
   Although achieving the first goal may accomplish the second, many people need separate treatment for symptoms at some point in the disease.
   
   Rheumatoid arthritis is a progressive inflammatory disease. This means that unless the inflammation is stopped or slowed, the condition will continue to get worse in most people. Although rheumatoid arthritis does occasionally go into remission without treatment, this is rare.
   
   Starting treatment soon after diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is strongly recommended. The best medical care combines medication and nondrug approaches.
   
   So go to the specialist and let him or her take care of you!
   Good luck!