If she has a rd appointment in Canada for February that is good and probably
the fastest she can get.  The RD can diagnose her and will be able to do a
joint examination for swelling.  Her sed rate is obviously a bit high (but
that doesn't have to be high to have RA or inflammatory arthritis).

One of the things she can do is go to Dr Gottlieb's site and read the
information for first appointments.  She needs to diarize what she can do
and can't do such as on a scale of need help some of the time, all of the
time, none of the time or can't do at all, can do 50% of the time, can do
only in the morning:  things such as climb 5 stairs, put hands above head
and lift down 5 lbs, dress yourself, shampoo hair, vacuum, get out of
armless chair, cut meat, open a jar that has been opened before, open carton
of milk, lift a full glass of water to your mouth.

She also should keep an eye on time morning stiffness lasts.  Also keep a
pain diary 1 - 10.  10 being the most pain you have been in 0 no pain.  Keep
a diary of mornings, afternoons and evenings for this.  note what activities
drive this up.

What things help what joints - ie:  ice, aspirin in the morning, warm shower
etc.

Make a list of all herbal meds including teas, all conventional meds, all
operations.

This will help her rd to give her a diagnosis a bit quicker.  It might also
help to know what area of Canada she is in.  One of us might know the rd and
know what he/she is like.

Hope this helps a bit.  In the meantime tell her to look at the
www.arthritis.ca page.  This is the Canadian arthritis society page and it
has lots of coping ideas for pain - don't forget it can take awhile for a
diagnosis even with a rd.  Sometimes at the beginning the pain shows before
the inflammation.

Dr. Gottliebs page is http://www.arthritis.co.za/Default.htm  I was sure
there was a spot for a pre check to bring to a first appointment but can't
find it.  The above gives her an idea of what they will want though.

Kelly

Where in Canada is she?
---
Joan