Comments on: Functional Measurement of Rheumatoid Arthritis

By: Christine

Christine — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 20:37:21 +0000

My pain level on any giving day is between a 7-8. I manage a restraurant I work 50 hours a week,at the end of my work week. I can barely walk or use my hands. It takes 2 days of lying on the sofa and lots of pain meds to even begin to ease the pain, not including the tiredness. I do not have the energy for anything else. If I do not work I can not pay for my RA meds. So I have to fight thru the pain and work.

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 23:00:26 +0000

Jamie, That sounds like a good idea. Let me know how s/he responds. Some drs I’ve interviewed do ask these questions, but it does not seem to be as common as it ought to be.

By: JamieMatheson

JamieMatheson — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 19:41:28 +0000

I am going to fill out the assessment and take it to my appt. with my rheumatologist tomorrow. He has never even asked about any of my functional capabilities.

By: Heather

Heather — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 17:15:55 +0000

I’m new to the site and hope i have the correct page. Do people afflicted with RA qualify for social security disability? It would seem logical…

By: Kelly

Kelly — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:06:44 +0000

Yes, Tanja-
I think I got the same impression, that there is a kind of pyramid here. Taking care of yourself is first, then earning a living, then doing extra-cirricular.

What you said is so true about mental health and physical health: we do need the avocational. That's why disability is so depressing.
However, it might not just be money, because the Global Functional Status is used in many countries. Think of it this way: not being able to do your career or support yourself is even more depressing. Of course,we need to find ways to be useful in spite of disability; and this is hard, but possible. All lives are worth living!
Thank you for your thoughtful comment.

By: Tanja

Tanja — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 08:44:02 +0000

I kept thinking about this little table of classification since I saw it yesterday.

It seems to suggest that not being able to do fun stuff is less important than working.

I disagree. Both do separate things, one gives you pleasure and with that hopefully the strength and energy to carry on, and the other brings money to the bank.

Ofcourse, I live in Europe and have pretty good healthcare and normally don't have to worry about money if I can't work, so that may colour my idea about it.

I firmly believe that (mental) health is more important than 'work', and I do get the money-issue there. It makes me sad that for a lot of people that even is an issue

By: MissDazey

MissDazey — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 12:44:40 +0000

Good morning,
I am at 3, maybe 3 1/2. I never know how to answer when asked the 1-10 questions. If I answer too low, maybe they won't think I bad enough for attention, but if I answer too high I sound like a over the top complainer.

I have an appointment Friday with my pain doctor. My knees are gone & need his advise. By the way, Dr. B gently explained how the combination of OA and RA work. In my case, the combination is about equal.