Comments on: Uncommon Chat with a Rheumatoid Arthritis Specialist

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 03:38:49 +0000

agreed!

By: Iris Carden

Iris Carden — Sun, 18 Sep 2011 03:13:20 +0000

I think it’s wonderful that a rheumatologist will share information on a blog – not just dispense it carefully in appointments at great cost! (Leaving people to come up with their own answers to whatever questions they have between visits.)

By: Candi Nelson

Candi Nelson — Tue, 31 May 2011 16:24:47 +0000

You have not addressed the people who have other issues besides RA. In addition to RA I have fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, borderline diabetes & high blood pressure. Also very sensitive to aspirin products. I tried sulfasalizine & methotrexate- it hurt my stomach. Medrol raised my blood sugar. Mobic raised my blood pressure (had to go to ER) & add 2 more high blood pressure meds. I am currently on plaquenil & arava. (amazing I could tolerate these). But I am in active RA flare in hands & feet. I am afraid to try anything else, because of all the other meds I take & the side effects I get. I have had several days when the RA flared along with the fibro & I could not walk at all! When the muscles act up along with all the joints, it’s very painful!

By: Diya Kelkar

Diya Kelkar — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 17:06:30 +0000

Its been almost a year since I am detected with RA. It started with a swollen knee and thereafter all the joints. I was on steroids for 2-3 months due to which my joint pain reduced drastically. Now I am only on sulphasalazine (saaz) tablets and on the verge of ending the dose. Its just sometimes that my joints are really paining and I have to take Naproxyn.
There was a time when I was detected with RA and I was pretty tensed … didn’t know what to do and how i am going to get cured. But now I don’t have any pain. So those detected with RA, be optimistic!

By: SunshineGrissom

SunshineGrissom — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 12:07:21 +0000

Only if the rest of the doctors had the same concern and care and would listen to you.

By: Rakhi Mahbubani

Rakhi Mahbubani — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 10:52:19 +0000

Dear Dr Arkekar,

Good day..

I am Rakhi Mahbubani from Jakarta Indonesia suffering rheumatoid arthritis in the right knee and left ring finger swollen, already two years have been taking medicine steroid medrol 4 mg half tablet daily + MTX 6 tablet in a week and calcium + folic acid but I’m still suffering the pain and limping while walking (the local doctor of rheumatologist in Jakarta has suggest me to do a surgery to clean the inflamation which will help to reduce the swollen and will help to reduce the pain)
Dr i need your guidance and opninion is the surgery necessary as I’m planning to come down to Mumbai on the 11 of December 2010 to do something for my treatment.
I would appreciate if you can help and reply to my problem.
Awaiting your reply.

Thanks Regards,
Rakhi

By: Rakhi Mahbubani

Rakhi Mahbubani — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 04:34:36 +0000

Dear Dr Arkekar,

Good day..

Thanks Regards,
Rakhi

By: saraethompson

saraethompson — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:01:55 +0000

WOW..thank you for all that – will take heed of your obviously very knowledgeable advise – however i have also tried to send you a few q’s to your personal blog, but it didn’t seem to post, I will try again. Thanks again…S

By: doctorakerkar

doctorakerkar — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 11:25:21 +0000

Sara,

I can understand what you are going through. Methotrexate alone is probably not enough to control your RA. Biologics remain the next obvious step if DMARDs are not enough. However, if you have to switch over to enbrel/ methotrexate combination, take the decision asap as it makes sense not to let the RA inflammation remain unchecked for long. The time spent in achieving remission gets magnified in terms of disability & deformities later.

Believe me…please don’t underestimate biologics. They are very effective in controlling RA activity. They do work in the majority of RAers. I sincerely hope that this is a passing phase & you’ll see a turning point soon.

RAers who do well generally forget about their RA & are generally not involved in blogs & community sites. they generally do not speak about their RA. In fact all of us should be starting a campaign wherein they help other RAers who are not doing all that well.

Dont give up… conquer your RA.
Nobody can defeat a person who refuses to give up….

By: Kelly Young

Kelly Young — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 12:05:58 +0000

Sara, I’m sorry you are feeling low. These seem like normal thoughts and stages to me with dealing with RA. Mtx is a wonder & it’s enough for a small percentage. A large percentage never live without pain or get to feel normal again. I think docs who are optimistic and tell us to fight – Like Dr. Akerkar are wonderful.
It can be frustrating though if we are surprised that we realize “the drugs aren’t working” because we still have RA. It’s good we can talk with other patients at that point.