hi gary,

i too, am 38, and not only do i have (psoriatric) arthritis, but type2
diabetes as well. i've had both since my late 20's. i am sorry to hear
about your knee and foot pain. you are right, we are sufferers, but
that's why we have this support group - there is strength in numbers!

i had to go thru about 3 arhritis specialists before i found the right
doc that i felt was looking out for me. i had to go thru a lot of
medication as well (and still do), to find the right one.

there are good and bad days, as i'm sure anyone on this board can
attest to. the good news is there is help out there, starting with the
right doctor that can help you with the right medicine. what's
important is don't give up - if you can't walk one day, rest it out
(and with the help of the right med), try again the next day. i've had
bedridden days where even a soft breeze seems to pummel my knees. but
ride it out - the good lord will not give you a cross you cannot bear.

my advice is to have a kidney and liver test as well while you're at
it, because you want to make sure you're ok when you try more potent
arthritis meds. (my creatinine count has been high due to all the
painkillers i have been taking thru the years, so i always have to
take the lowest dosage possible nowadays).

and you're smart to find this board! i have been here for a couple of
weeks, ever since i started my remicade infusion. these people are
supportive, helpful, and don't mind at all when you vent. i find this
group very reassuring and comforting. (someone asked me if i liked
chocoloate. go figure).

i bike as well, and i know the pain you are talking about. i had to
ask my doctor permission to do so. the pain i have goes away after
about 5-10 minutes of biking, but i do go thru about an 8 (on a  pain
scale of 1-10), before the pain goes away. i stretch as well (if you
can call it that), before i ride.

i came down from 180lbs to 162lbs (i'm 5'7"), in about 6 months, and i
do feel the difference. i had to do it the old fashioned way - diet
and exercise. how i wish those diet pills are for real, but nothing
worked for me.

as far as brewski is concerned, if you can go light and don't mind the
taste, give that a shot. i got used to corona lite after awhile. but i
rarely drink now, and i don't seem to miss it as much. (except on the
4th of july - gotta have an ice-cold one with the ribs!)

so good luck, we're always here, and keep us posted on your adventures
with RA (if you do have it). but if you find out you don't have RA,
hey man, i'll drink to that as well.

cheers!

edgar

ps julie: on bad days i use cho-pat knee braces; they can be on all
day and they don't bother me very much. they're about $38/pair on
ebay. not the heavy duty wire and brace stuff, but neoprene velcros
that go above and below your knee. good luck!

http://www.kneesupport.com/cho-pat/dual.htm