RA is
not confined to the old !
I was only 39 years old when I was diagnosed with
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA).While many people think of rheumatoid arthritis
as something that only strikes people in mid-to-late life and with good reason
given that the average age of diagnosis is around 60 years old, it can afflict
people who are in their 30s. And I am one of the 5 in 1000 people in Malaysia
living with rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis or RA is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease and is one of the most severe types of arthritis as it affect the joints and other organs, cause deformity to the joints and are associated with pain that limits movement. RA occur when the body’s immune system begins to see the body as an enemy and attack it the way it would normally attack a virus or some other foreign material in the body. In RA, the immune system attacks the tissue lining the joints and breaks it down over time causing among other things pain, swelling, and often a deforming – particularly in the hands and feet – due to the wearing down of the joints. There is no CURE for RA but early diagnosis and treatment can provide pain relief and prevent or minimize permanent joint damage.
Arthritis is a form of joint disorder that
involves inflammation of one or more joints. There are over 100 different forms
of arthritis. The most common form are osteoarthritis (degenerative joint
disease), rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and related autoimmune
diseases.
When it
first started
It all started with some pain in my arm and
shoulder. Thinking that I had sprained my arm, I went to consult a Sports
Doctor who performed physiotherapy on me. I was given Ibuprofen as painkiller
to relief the pain. When the pain did not subside, I proceeded to consult my
family doctor for advice. She then referred me to an
Orthopaedic Specialist for further advice. However, the Orthopaedic
Specialist claimed that there was nothing wrong with me and the pain was due to
stress and lack of exercise.
Not satisfied as the pain continues, I decided to consult another family doctor who so happen was suffering from RA and recommended that I see an RA specialist. A blood test was taken and that was the first time it was official. I was diagnosed with RA with a ESR reading of 27 and positive C-reactive protein (CRP) reading.
Not satisfied as the pain continues, I decided to consult another family doctor who so happen was suffering from RA and recommended that I see an RA specialist. A blood test was taken and that was the first time it was official. I was diagnosed with RA with a ESR reading of 27 and positive C-reactive protein (CRP) reading.
Medication that didn’t really work
The RA specialist that I saw, put me on RA
medication called METHOTREXATE which is a disease modifying anti-rheumatic
drugs (DMARDs). These drugs do not treat the symptoms of RA but reduce the
effects of the disease itself. They only reduce pain and stiffness by
reducing the underlying rheumatoid process in the joints. They also slow down
the destructive effects of RA on the joints, especially if taken early in the
course of the disease. This drug can cause side effects such as
reduction in red blood cells and platelet numbers in the blood and liver
problems. Because of this, I am required to undergo regular
blood test to check on my liver function as well as my platelet & red blood
cells. After 3 months of taking Methotrexate, my blood count reading was reduced
from normal reading of 12.9 (haemoglobin) and 4.3 (red blood cell) to11.5 and
3.8
The RA specialist started me on 2 pills of Methotrexate per week, then increasing to 4 pills and to 6 pills when my ESR shows no improvement with a reading of 45. I was then told to increase to 8 pills per week. Even with 8 pills, there was no improvement in my ESR.
The RA specialist started me on 2 pills of Methotrexate per week, then increasing to 4 pills and to 6 pills when my ESR shows no improvement with a reading of 45. I was then told to increase to 8 pills per week. Even with 8 pills, there was no improvement in my ESR.
To reduce the pain and swelling , I was prescribe with Naproxen, a Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which has side effects such as indigestion/stomach pains and stomach ulcer.
Living a hard life with RA
While undergoing the monthly visit to the RA
Specialist for over a year with little result of any reduction in pain and
swelling, the pain always worries me and makes me angry. I always ask myself
why me? When my hands or shoulder start to hurt anytime of the day,
I would start to get irritated and angry that I am unable to do the normal
things I used to do. Almost on a daily basis, I struggled with opening door
knobs, opening jars, picking up heavier objects, doing household chores and
cooking.
Air-conditioned places like cinemas or malls, buttoning my blouse, or writing by hand are among my struggles when dealing with RA. Putting on a t-shirt and fastening bra are a daily challenge for me. Depending on how much pain I’m dealing with on a particular day, I usually manage to put on a jeans and shirt with buttons.
Most of the time my feet are swollen and I am unable to wear shoes that are covered but only comfy flip flops or slippers which often leave me frustrated. Pain from the RA makes many normal activities like driving a car, preparing food, or even using a squatting toilet almost impossible.
At times, when I have a flare-up (sudden and massive pain and swelling on the joint) , I am unable to get up from the bed without the help from my husband. Despite the pain, I continue with my daily activities of sending my kids to school and walking them to the school gate with a swollen and limping leg.
According to my rheumatologist, remission is my only hope but the possibility is only 1%.
Then one day…..
Air-conditioned places like cinemas or malls, buttoning my blouse, or writing by hand are among my struggles when dealing with RA. Putting on a t-shirt and fastening bra are a daily challenge for me. Depending on how much pain I’m dealing with on a particular day, I usually manage to put on a jeans and shirt with buttons.
Most of the time my feet are swollen and I am unable to wear shoes that are covered but only comfy flip flops or slippers which often leave me frustrated. Pain from the RA makes many normal activities like driving a car, preparing food, or even using a squatting toilet almost impossible.
At times, when I have a flare-up (sudden and massive pain and swelling on the joint) , I am unable to get up from the bed without the help from my husband. Despite the pain, I continue with my daily activities of sending my kids to school and walking them to the school gate with a swollen and limping leg.
According to my rheumatologist, remission is my only hope but the possibility is only 1%.
Then one day…..
It was only one day when a friend of my husband
suggested that we try a product that could minimize the pain and swelling
associated to joints. At first we were sceptical but when you go through what I
have been through, you would try anything that have the slightest hope of at
least reducing the pain to lead a normal life.
The product was a natural food supplement that contains of natural ingredients sourced from Germany. Some of the ingredients list includes collagen hydrolysate, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, to name a few.
This food supplement introduced to me has a dozen of clinical studies that is related to joints problems and when taken can reduce joint pain and stimulates cartilage regeneration.
As I was still taking both the DMARDs and NSAIDs with no sign of a reducing ESR or pain, both me and my husband decided to give the food supplement a try.
I took the supplement daily together with the RA medication without knowledge of my Rheumatologist. After one and a half month, I begin to have less inflammation and pain. I went to see my rheumatologist and was advised that my dose of Methotrexate can be reduced from 8 to 4 pills a week.
My husband then mentioned that maybe the DMARDS could have just started to work on me and that I just so happen started taking the food supplement at the same time.
So what we did was to stop the food supplement and maintain the 4 pills a week. After only a week, what happen was that the pain came back and my ESR went up high again.
Eventually, I stop taking Methotrexate altogether and just take daily vitamins and herbs and the food supplements.
I have now stopped DMARDs since 2011 and continue taking the food supplements daily. The food supplements did not cure my RA as my blood test continues to have positive Rheumatoid Factor but it is kept dormant. My ESR reading is now 10 which are under the normal range and I no longer have any joint pain.
Not sure what I have decided is the right move on the long run, but what I am very sure is that I now have back my old life of seeing and playing with my 6 years and 8 years old kids.
The product was a natural food supplement that contains of natural ingredients sourced from Germany. Some of the ingredients list includes collagen hydrolysate, vitamin C and hyaluronic acid, to name a few.
This food supplement introduced to me has a dozen of clinical studies that is related to joints problems and when taken can reduce joint pain and stimulates cartilage regeneration.
As I was still taking both the DMARDs and NSAIDs with no sign of a reducing ESR or pain, both me and my husband decided to give the food supplement a try.
I took the supplement daily together with the RA medication without knowledge of my Rheumatologist. After one and a half month, I begin to have less inflammation and pain. I went to see my rheumatologist and was advised that my dose of Methotrexate can be reduced from 8 to 4 pills a week.
My husband then mentioned that maybe the DMARDS could have just started to work on me and that I just so happen started taking the food supplement at the same time.
So what we did was to stop the food supplement and maintain the 4 pills a week. After only a week, what happen was that the pain came back and my ESR went up high again.
Eventually, I stop taking Methotrexate altogether and just take daily vitamins and herbs and the food supplements.
I have now stopped DMARDs since 2011 and continue taking the food supplements daily. The food supplements did not cure my RA as my blood test continues to have positive Rheumatoid Factor but it is kept dormant. My ESR reading is now 10 which are under the normal range and I no longer have any joint pain.
Not sure what I have decided is the right move on the long run, but what I am very sure is that I now have back my old life of seeing and playing with my 6 years and 8 years old kids.
