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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / April 2006My Mother's arthritis
My mother is 91 y/o and has rheumatoid arthritis very badly. She hurts in her back, shoulders, and knees, and can only get around with the use of a walker. As a result of so long on the walker, her back is becoming "stooped." I cannot begin to tell you all the medication she has taken, or is taking now....all I can say is, it's a lot. The doctors seem to find her condition(s) funny, as they say, "the medicine is keeping you alive." To me, that's sad, and sick for a medical person to make comments such as that. Be that as it may, I'm asking if someone/anyone, can tell me of good medications for RA. It can be RX, or herbal, as long as it's good. Thank you. Deputyd2 >My mother is 91 y/o and has rheumatoid arthritis very badly. She hurts >in her back, shoulders, and knees, and can only get around with the use [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >Be that as it may, I'm asking if someone/anyone, can tell me of good >medications for RA. It can be RX, or herbal, as long as it's good. I am sorry for your mother and her pain, but we cannot prescribe medication. Is her doctor a rheumatologist? Does she have osteoporosis? If she in on a lot of medication there are some over the counter creams that some people find helpful but her doctor or doctors should know everything she is taking, as even herbal remedies can cause bad reactions, especially is she is already taking a lot of medications. --- Joan > Be that as it may, I'm asking if someone/anyone, can tell me of good > medications for RA. It can be RX, or herbal, as long as it's good. > > Thank you. > > Deputyd2 Hi D2,,,, How long has your mother been under the care of a Rheumatologist and how long do you think she has had RA? My doctors told me that people average living 15 years less if they have had RA for a long time. I planned my retirement on their word and have already lived longer than they said I would. I would think your doctor is amazed that your mother has done so well for so long...... May we all do so well. Having said that,,,, there is no reason for a person to live with pain to a great extent with today's medicine and what doctors know about RA today. It all depends on what is causing the pain and your mother may need to have a new RD have a fresh look and do what can be done for a person. A question for you,,,,,, if your mother has a bone on bone situation in her joints,,,, would you have a joint replacement with a person being 91? Would her body be able to heal as it should? If there are problems with her feet, would a doctor be able to fuse the joint and again,,,, would she heal and recover??? I know it is hard for you to watch your mother with day in and day out living with what RA does to a person. Thanks for telling your story and asking your questions,,, may we all do as well as your mother. Harv Thank you, sir, for responding to this request. Mom has never been to a rheumatologist, and I didn't even know there was such a person. She lives in Cincinnati, Ohio, and I live in Tampa, Fl. She lives with my brother in Batavia, so he's the one who sees her pain and deterieration on a daily basis. She could never go under the knife for any reason....she had a quad bypass back in 1988, and with the life expectancy at that time being 10 years with a bypass, she has passed that by 8 years. Since you answered this request, I got on my computer and hopefully have located a Rheumatologist for her. I thank you very much for your input....i hope it pays off with the doctor I e-mailed in Cincy. Respectfully, Ron Mallon omigosh, ron, i'm just appalled your mother has never been referred to a rheumatologist. there is help for her--at the very least, there is pain control. please come back and let us know how she makes out with the rheumy. diane omigosh, ron, i'm just appalled your mother has never been referred to a rheumatologist. there is help for her--at the very least, there is pain control. please come back and let us know how she makes out with the rheumy. diane Ron so glad that you are getting her to a rheumatologist. Pray he/she will be a good one. Many of them are but some aren't. Some of our folks have had to seek new RD's (rheumatologists) because the one they had just wasns't as concerned as should be, or wouldn't work with the patient to find the right meds to control the arthritis, or the personalities just didn't mesh. I hope your mother will not have that problem. She needs a good one right away, one who can help her not to be in so much pain. Do keep us posted, please. Gwen > Thank you, sir, for responding to this request. > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Ron Mallon Ron, I live in Cincinnati and we have some excellent rheumatologists here. Who did you e-mail? Its not too late for your mother to receive treatment. I had remicade a couple of months ago with a 90 year old Karen > Thank you, sir, for responding to this request. > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Ron Mallon Karen: Thanks for caring....the doctor I e-mailed was Dr. Farhey, whom, I believe, is at the University of Cincinnati. I've not received a reply as yet, however, if you have some names for me, I'd appreciate receiving so I can contact them. I've heard of Remicade, but, isn't that the meds you have injected at a cost of about a $1000 a shot? Thanks again, Karen...hope to hear from you soon. Respectfully, Ron Mallon Hi Ron, Dr Farhey's patients love her...she is one of my dr's partners. All of the dr's are in private practice as well as being associated with the University. I've attached their website so you can see get another way to contact them. These are the best collective rheumatologists in Cincinnati, you wouldn't go wrong with any of them. Dr Houk is very popular with older patients but he , last time I checked, wasn't taking many new patients. Its kind of a cheap website but it gives you the basic information. http://cincinnatiarthritis.com/ Remicade is given by IV every 6-8 weeks keep us posted on your Mom Karen > Karen: > [quoted text clipped - 11 lines] > > Ron Mallon Ron, you're on the right track getting her to see a rheumatologist (RD). My grandmother had RA in the days before treatments were as advanced as now and she was suffering greatly her last few years. (She died at 92, of Hodgkin's disease). There's a lot more they can do for folks nowadays. If you don't get a satisfactory answer from the RD you emailed, it should be possible to get a referral to a good one from your mom's current doctor(s).  SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare Thanks, Nann....I found out that my mom HAS seen an RD, and he wanted her to have surgery, which is out of the question. I'll continue seeking every possible avenue 'til I find someone, or some medicine, that will give her relief. Thanks for your input....it's greatly appreciated. Ron Mallon Deputyd2 wrote: <snip> >As a result of so long on the walker, her > back is becoming "stooped." <snip> Hi Dep, Many walkers can be adjusted for height. Ask your brother to get mom one that works better for her, even if it means altering it to make it so she can walk more upright. Tell him to not settle for something from Wal-Mart, go to a medical supply store and find a proper walker for mom. A different walker may mean that he will have to help mom learn to use it. Cheers Lee O. Keep on keeping on to get your mom good pain control and the right regime--you are doing the right thing-- SignatureLove, Alix Always remember, a cat looks down on man, a dog looks up to man, but a pig will look man right in the eye and see his equal". - Winston Churchill |
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