Have it all over too, neck , shoulders , elbows, wrists, fingers, big toes, ankles, knees, hips and mainly lower back, not all at once thank God!. It started after back injury 29 years ago and gradually spread, and doctors just kept giving me painkillers, which do nothing. Finally was sent for MRI in mid December, but consultant appointment is not until mid March so I have to wait until then for the results! x rays and blood tests showed nothing but GP said its definitely some type of arthritis. Its looking like Ankylosing Spondylitis as that ticks all the boxes. In constant severe pain, and lately my back keeps going from under me with a sharp pain. Some days I can hardly walk, when I sit down I need help getting up, Im absolutely exhausted. I dont like taking tablets all the time because theyre not even working, Im 45 by the way and feel like 85!

Welcome ymp35.

Hi ymp35,
Arthritis in my neck, hands, elbows and knees adds to my other problems. A week ago I stopped taking my Arcoxia (COX-2 Inhibitor) as the start of my annual 'Making sure I'm not addicted/What else are the painkillers masking?' month (or as long as I can swap them about). Those joints are now an angry, fiery red, and the neck pain - and referred pain - is jacked up 2 points. Although meds are depressing and side-effects can wreak havok with our bodies, sometimes it is better to bow to the inevitable and accept the help.
Then again, have you tried acupuncture? I had some pain relief in my neck with Eastern acupuncture, where I also have crushed vertebrae injury and compressed spinal cord. A Physiotherapist who did the same triggered TN attacks.
I have also used Voltarol and Capsaicin creams to some effect on small joints at early stages of pain.

Dave.

For those contributors who live with rheumatoid arthritis, there is a relatively new class of medications which are worth considering.

They are genetically-engineered monoclonal antibodies which block the action of a protein called TNF. TNF is a protein which plays a significant role in the inflammatory response which is part of rheumatoid arthritis and some other auto-immune diseases.

There is some information about them here: https://www.rheumatology.org/Practic...ions/Anti-TNF/ .

They are an option which is worth discussing with your clinical care teams.

Thanks Kiwi33,
I read through that site, and then searched Over Here. At present it seems it is only used on Ankolysing Spondylosis in limited numbers after a raft of other treatments.
Perhaps, as time passes and costs fall, it will become more readily available.
I have had to start the Arcoxia again tonight as the pain and swelling in my neck and arms was bringing on other issues.
Interesting aside - I found tonight the FDA do not approve Arcoxia!

Hi EnglishDave

You might find this NHS link (and links therein) helpful: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Rheumat...Treatment.aspx .

The various anti-TNF antibodies are listed there though it is not clear to me if they have been approved by the NHS.

@Dave-- The selective Cox-2 inhibitors are heavily moderated in the US. Two of them were withdrawn from sale, and the 3rd is weaker, and left for sale with warnings.

Cox-2 inhibitors increase heart disease...increase the risk for heart attacks and strokes. Vioxx here was a huge scandal...when Merck was shown to conceal its warnings from doctors. Many many trials resulted.

The Cox-2 inhibitors block a cytokine in the Cox-2 family that is made by the kidney whose job it is to open arteries and improve blood flow. When blocked prostacyclin cannot work, and cardiovascular accidents then happen.

I would seriously look at this issue since you just posted on the statin thread that you have a history of blocked arteries. Use of your Arcoxia is certainly problematic therefore for you.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Etoricoxib

MrsD,
Thanks to you - and my ever improving ability to navigate the Net (first time since dial-up days) - I am now researching the drugs I have to pour into my body. NSAIDs don't work which is why I'm on Arcoxia, but after findings tonight, with Ischaemia, microvascular disease, a brain lesion… this HAS to go, with the Atorvastatin.
The problem is, what to replace it with. This evening I spent an hour fighting an Anxiety Attack triggered by the neck pain overwhelming, causing referred pain down left arm, sweating, breathing problems… then the fear of another heart attack kicked in.
That is why I am back here at 1am - 2 hours after my meds. Not even my ability to Meditate works tonight, my breathing is too erratic and shallow, and irrational dark thoughts lurk.

Dave.

I deal with body wide OA starting at 18 and I'll be 77.. I use many many supplements for this OA and Fibro issues. Pain med I take is ibuprofen 2 two times per day, and Pain RX herbal in between. I'm dealing with a mess from "botched" hip replacement in 2010..I call it botched as I am left with so many complications from it....femoral nerve damage, IT band damage, shorter leg....worse knee and foot/ankle now. I was better off in many ways before I did the hip job. This is MAJOR work done to our bodies....and it's amazing so many come out of them with good results....

I may list my supps I take for OA and Fibro later on. C


I might add here, that I've been in the anti fluoride battle for many years here in the U.S. and truly believe so much arthritis is from all the added fluoride to our drinking waters and food sources...there is so much info out there on this nasty non essential halide people are ingesting for decades in the US. Australia, NZ and some countries in Europe.

There are many issues I believe to this arthritis BUT fluoride is a contributing danger. If you want it for your teeth, brush with it, don't swallow it...I could go on and on.

I am finding curcumin helpful. I found the LongVida highly absorbed one, licensed out by NOW manufacturer, and it is much more affordable than the LongVida was when they marketed their own.

One a day works well.

http://www.amazon.com/Now-Foods-Curc...rds=curcubrain