I was diagnosed with JRA at the age of 4 and I am now 48. Even at my current age some people think that I am too young to have arthritis, but I do. The most important thing that you can do is to maintain a good attitude. Know your limits and don't overdo things, but don't let arthritis dictate what you can and can't do. On my very worst days, I get my butt out of the bed, take a shower, beat my face (a term meaning to apply makeup), find a nice outfit and give myself a spray of my favorite perfume. I may or may not leave the house, but being out of bed makes me feel better.

Of course timely doses of your prescribed medication and exercise helps ease pain, as well. If your medication isn't making you feel better, let your doctor know. Sometimes it's hit or miss with medication, meaning that you'll get a prescription and it won't work. Go back to the doctor, let him/her know and try something else. Then, sometimes you may find something that works, but after a while, it's no longer effective. Communication with your doctor is key. Arm yourself with knowledge. Go to arthritis.org and other reputable sites to learn as much as you can about arthritis, medicine, medical advances, etc. Knowledge is power!

Surround yourself with positive and supportive people. I have an understanding family and they know that their love and encouragement sustains me. I hope that you have the same. You can do this! The journey will not be easy, but victory is yours! I have faith in you!

Hello. First of all I want to thank everyone for having me here. This is my first post so I hope I do this right. My wife is a regular over on the CRPS threads. She is Tired of pain 07. I wasnt dignosed with RA untill about 12 or 13 years ago. Knowing what I know now I think I most likely had it back in elementary school. Im 52 now. As a kid our family doctor kept telling us I had growing pains and I was forced to take sulfar pills quiet often. I can still taste those nasty things. Long story short, the goverment traded my commercial drivers license for a monthly shut up and be happy disability check. I remember the happy days of going caving, rock climbing,canoeing white water rivers and all sorts of fun stuff. Now days I sit and remember those adventures. But things happen and now Im pretty much crippled up with RA. Ive got it in every joint except my jaw. Now it seems it may have spead to my spine. My last MRI shows bulges in multible joints,multible bone spurs and curviture of the spine right to left. In other words, it hurts all the time. I used to see a rhumitologist but had to fire the feller. He wouldnt ever answer any questions. Just kept telling me to take this and take that and see me in three months. Problem is, he's the only rhemutologist in town. I have a real problem traveling over 20 or so miles in a car. We live a ways away from masses of people. So at the moment I only see my primary doctor and coming soon my second visit to a pain doc. They have me on predisone,10 mg twice a day---- Neurotin, 300mg a day---- percoset 10/325 five times a day. Ive been on the methotrexate but it makes me extreamly ill. Several other RA drugs but they didnt work. I took Humera for six months but the doc wouldnt ever tell me how to tell if it was working or now. Now the most painfull part of my lower back right at the waist burns. The skin feels like a good old steam burn.Not sure whats going on there.But it could always be worse. My wife has CRPS. I see what real pain is daily.
Well, Thank you all for having me here and I look forward to learning more every day. --------- Mike

Mike,

Your experience with your rheumatologist sounds similar to mine. I didn't fire mine; I've just refused to see him again. I found that I fare better with an Internist treating me.