[ljp0782]

July 17, after 6 months of a tender right elbow and surrounding muscles, the last 3 of those months steadily getting more inflamed and finally involving my hand, I went to the doc. His examination was thorough and painful. He ordered the full battery of tests including cbc, c reactive protein, and the inflammation panel.

Today his nurse called to say that he'd reviewed the results and that everything showed normal. My sed rate, which in similar instances in the past would have been between 50-60, was 4. I was excited; I was in fact elated. The entire right arm was becoming unusable and there was pain in my left arm, one knee and my back. I could see myself in the near future having a very real problem with being able to do normal, everyday activities because I was already becoming limited in what I could comfortably do.

When I saw my doc on the 17th, he put me on a pulse protocol of Celebrex/Piroxicam alternating every 5 days. The soft tissue swelling has gone down and the pain markedly decreased. I return to him Aug 3.

My question is this: I still have pain in the same places. Am I wrong to assume that I have no debilitating arthritic problems? I have read that it's possible to have normal bloodwork and still have significant problems. I don't want to stick my head in the sand; I want to be proactive.

This is not the first time I've dealt with inflammation issues. The first was when I was dx juvenile rheumatoid arthritis at 18. The second was when I was 40; the rheumy said that if something wasn't done, I'd be confined to a wheelchair within the year. I'm still a-walkin'. The third time was when I was 45, and was dx fibromyalgia. This is the fourth time with this kind of inflammation issue; I'm now 61.

What I want to suggest to my doc is for me to get on an exercise program that will strengthen my musculature and give me good range of motion, address any diet considerations that need to be undertaken(I'm already on a gluten,soy,corn,dairy,aspartate,nightshade-free diet), and make medications minimal use.

I would appreciate any insight anyone has on this topic as it relates to me. I thank anyone who took the time to read all this.
LJP

[bobber]

Ljp
my advice is you better get on an excerise progam,,,exercise is crucial,,even with any arthritis,any diesase ,,rsd,,ect,ect,,you havethe right idea,,,a good diet,,swim,,walk,,a weight regime,,buids a heathy heart and bone density,,im a certified personal trainer,,,if you want to pick my brain ,,pm me,,i do what i can for anyone ,,,your condition will worsen with inactivity,,,,,,,rule of thumb[KEEP MOVING],,unless youve got a fresh injury that needs rest and ice,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,bobber

[Buttons]

I was told many years ago not to pay much attention to blood tests. My SED fell from 7 to 1 & I was having horrid pain.

Sounds like you're on the right track. Do what you can for yourself. I caution you not to overdo however!

Castor oil works on joints,as does Capzasin.

[ljp0782]

I thought that I need to avoid Capzasin since I'm sensitive to nightshades. Yes? No?

[Buttons]

I don't know about sensitivity to plants from the nightshade family. All I know is it works for me & even though the creme burns I use it anyways-especially on my hips.

I guess ask yourself how you feel & what you can do about it?

Some people also swear that eating cherries or drinking Certo/grape juice helps them. I'm always searching for alternatives to drugs myself.

Good luck!

[Dmom3005]

I would say something your doing is right. I also was going to say lots of your symptoms sounded like fibromyalgia. And then you said, you've been diagnosed
with it.

Its very important to exercise when you can with this.

Donna

[ljp0782]

Donna,
The fibro dx was back in the late 80's, probably '88. It disappeared for me when I started taking Lithium in '93 when I was dx incorrectly with bipolar disorder. I got off the Lithium in '94 and the fibro never did come back.

I've been challenged today with what I think are side effects of the Celebrex/piroxicam pulse I've been on for 14 days. I have really bad mouth sores, blurry vision, nausea, extremely poor balance, dark yellow urine. I told my hubby earlier today that I am not taking any Celebrex today(today would have been the last day for it), neither am I going to take the next 5 days of piroxicam. I go to the doc on Monday morning and we'll talk about it.

I really want to find some natural way to deal with this pain besides these body system-injuring pharma. And then I read last night on a website discussing alternatives that you have to keep in mind that even though the alternative may be natural, when you take it in an effective dose it can be as troublesome for your body as the prescription stuff. Natural does not equal safe.

LJ

[mariefnp]

I realize this is an old thread, but yes you can have inflammation and normal labs - mine are like that all the time. I have RA, initially dx'd based on exam and an RF of 40 (not real high), now all my labs are normal, and the pain is worse, and so is the stiffness. My rheumy said I'm in an active state right now, and need more aggressive treatment. I start infusions next month.

How is your elbow?