Hello,

I have just been diagnosed with "sudden onset arthrits" aka "robust
arthritis" aka Rheumatoid arthrits.  There seems to be a plethora of info on
the internet.  I am wondering if anyone here knows of truly good,
informational sites.  My hands are affected and back at the moment, so I do
not have the stamina to wade through it all.  I thought perhaps someone here
might be compassionate enough to steer to me toa couple of links.

My maternal great grandmother had it, my grandmother was diagnosed when she
was 49 and her sisters also had it - one became wheelchair bound in her
20's. I understand it more common in women, not hereditary or genetic but
does tend to _cluster_ in families.  A  lot of blood tests are being run to
make sure there isn't an underlying illness mimicking RA.  During this time
I was given a cortsione cocktail shot - short acting and long acting
cortisone that did wonders.  I had been in tears from the intense pain,
stiffening making things worse. I initially took the conservative approach
with ibuprofen for the swelling, but stomach could not handle it.  I take a
water pill daily to release what has been called "non-specfic edema".   I am
already on sustained release morphine for another chronic pain condition,
but even it did not touch the arthritic pain.  Until all tests are in I will
continue to recieve the cortisone shots, if needed, over the next 2 weeks
and I have been given the green light to use my breakthrough medication to
help the pain as well. I did not so without talking with the doctor first.

New teritory for me and I do much better the more knowledge I have.  So far
I have been told to total rest until this _flare_ subsides.  I am looking
into dietary changes based on what little research I have done.  Exercise, a
staple, I cannot do at this time because of the other problem.  Easing into
exercise will most likely require a PT so as to help the RA but avoid
stressing the other site.  This will be quite difficult to accomplish.

Hoping someone here can point me to some decent links.

Thanks so much.

MB (MaryElizabeth or Mary Beth or Beth - I use them all)