Treating RA Archives | Page 5 of 8 | Rheumatoid Arthritis Warrior

Treating RA

Failed Experiment: Methotrexate & Over the Counter Folic Acid

Kelly Young 47 Comments , ,
When I met my first rheumatologist, I left with a handful of prescriptions. One for folic acid. Really? Did I need a prescription for a vitamin? Doc said “to make sure it's enough, yes, it’s a lot more than a daily allowance.” I already knew why over the counter supplements (OTC) are not considered as reliably dosed...Continue reading      47 Comments » Read more

When Treatment for Rheumatoid Arthritis Is Even Worse than the Disease

Kelly Young 55 Comments ,
Yesterday, we discussed the frequently-asked question of the consequences of not treating RA. People also sometimes say they just can’t take Rheumatoid Arthritis treatment any longer because “it’s even worse than the disease.” Why do patients say that and what’s a reasonable response? Let’s be clear about terms: Treatment: medicine used to improve disease activity and symptoms Benefits:...Continue reading      55 Comments » Read more

The Consequences of Not Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis?

Kelly Young 47 Comments ,
Sometimes people ask me whether taking treatment for RA matters. Over the last couple of years, I’ve answered dozens of emails with this question, posted on Facebook last week: “What are the consequences of not treating RA?” Why patients wonder about not treating Rheumatoid Arthritis Since I live with RA myself, I know the validity of this...Continue reading      47 Comments » Read more

Predicting Response to Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapy

Kelly Young 12 Comments , , ,
The problem of varying responses to RA therapy If you’re following comments on the blog, Twitter, or Facebook, you might have noticed some patients recently have been told by their doctors that that likely don’t have RA because they have not responded well to TNF-a therapies. Sometimes, this comes after a few years of RA treatment. “My...Continue reading      12 Comments » Read more

Excellent Rheumatology Care with a Horrible Rheumatoid Disease

Kelly Young 24 Comments , ,
RA Warrior is glad to welcome David Biundo to share some male perspective of living with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Over the last few months David’s rheumatologist has read and re-read his nuclear bone scan and various X-rays and MRI’s in order to carefully monitor the progression of David’s cervical spine Rheumatoid Arthritis. The nuclear bone scan...Continue reading      24 Comments » Read more

2 Reasons Monitoring Rheumatoid Arthritis Matters

Kelly Young 17 Comments , ,
This is the second in a short series of posts in honor of the blog’s 2nd birthday. We are looking at some significant topics that have surfaced over the last two years. I’m calling these “frying pan posts” since these issues are critical enough to patients to speak rather bluntly. Why monitor Rheumatoid Arthritis? You have your...Continue reading      17 Comments » Read more

Aspirin and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Kelly Young 16 Comments , ,
Once upon a time, aspirin was the daily therapy of choice for Rheumatoid Arthritis. What happened to aspirin’s role with RA? Were claims justified that the new NSAIDs were less toxic than aspirin, diminishing its role? Aspirin largely replaced by newer NSAIDs People turned from aspirin to NSAIDs because they believed NSAIDs to be safer, but one study...Continue reading      16 Comments » Read more

Juvenile Arthritis Treatment Guidelines Adopted by ACR

Kelly Young 9 Comments , ,
Parents of children with juvenile forms of Rheumatoid Arthritis have tough decisions to make. They must consider possible risks of medical treatments like TNF-a without comfortable long-term safety records. Families weigh the risks against almost certain damage, disability, and deformity that the disease can bring. Rheumatologists who advise families with these decisions got some help...Continue reading      9 Comments » Read more

Antibodies Lessen Effectiveness of Adalimumab / Humira

Kelly Young 35 Comments ,
A new study proves what many suspected – that Rheumatoid Arthritis patients develop antibodies against adalimumab (Humira) which lessen the effectiveness of the drug. Previous studies have shown this to be true for other Biologic treatments as well. Anti-adalimumab antibodies: another front in our battle against RA Doctors in the Netherlands found 28% of patients developed antibodies...Continue reading      35 Comments » Read more

New Reading of the Nuclear Bone Scan: Credibility is Everything

Kelly Young 48 Comments , ,
Today, I got a gift. A friend obtained a second reading of my nuclear bone scan. The 4-page report was sent to me in a PDF as an authorized second opinion. The radiologist did not agree with the findings of the first report and the differences were not subtle. Instead of quoting it at length, I’ve...Continue reading      48 Comments » Read more

Do Rheumatoid Arthritis Drugs Cause Cancer?

Kelly Young 24 Comments ,
Hopefully not. People often state that drugs used to treat Rheumatoid Arthritis cause cancer as an accepted fact. They say they that shortening the length of life is worth the quality of life they gain from treatment. Personally, I’m tremendously interested in both. Rheumatoid Arthritis has long been known to increase risk of cancer, especially lymphoma. We...Continue reading      24 Comments » Read more

Reliable Sources: Orencia Cough Side Effect & Notions of e-Patients

Kelly Young 62 Comments , , , ,
If I cited a percentage of patients who get a cough from Orencia, then I’d quote a source – probably a clinical trial. However, if I merely say, as a patient, that Orencia gave me a cough, then that is a firsthand experience and that’s another type of credible source for other patients. Diabetes blogger Kelly...Continue reading      62 Comments » Read more
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