Never Give Up Hope
When it comes to Rheumatoid Arthritis, it is often very difficult to determine you have fallen victim to this disease.
I know from experience that in the beginning I constantly tried to figure out what odd activity I had done that caused the fingers on my left hand to be so painful, stiff and swollen. I knew something was wrong when after several weeks the same symptoms manifested themselves in my right hand and I immediately went to see the doctor.
He sent me to a specialist and it still took about a year before it finally showed up in my blood work and the Rheumatologist could tell me with certainty what he had suspected all along: I had RA and the prognosis at that time was that I would eventually end up in a wheelchair.
Inquiring minds want to know, but after asking he couldn't give me any specifics about the causes of rheumatoid arthritis, because there are several that could be the culprit. I have a slight suspicion that in my case it may have been genetic, since several of my family members already had some form of Arthritis.
Although it is a very painful and debilitating disease, thanks to research and studies there are some excellent medications these days which can eliminate most of the common rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and even stop the joint damage. They sure made a major difference in my life and the thought of ending up in a wheelchair has been kicked to the curb a long time ago.
The message in sharing all this with you is rather simple; never give up hope!
I know from experience that in the beginning I constantly tried to figure out what odd activity I had done that caused the fingers on my left hand to be so painful, stiff and swollen. I knew something was wrong when after several weeks the same symptoms manifested themselves in my right hand and I immediately went to see the doctor.
He sent me to a specialist and it still took about a year before it finally showed up in my blood work and the Rheumatologist could tell me with certainty what he had suspected all along: I had RA and the prognosis at that time was that I would eventually end up in a wheelchair.
Inquiring minds want to know, but after asking he couldn't give me any specifics about the causes of rheumatoid arthritis, because there are several that could be the culprit. I have a slight suspicion that in my case it may have been genetic, since several of my family members already had some form of Arthritis.
Although it is a very painful and debilitating disease, thanks to research and studies there are some excellent medications these days which can eliminate most of the common rheumatoid arthritis symptoms and even stop the joint damage. They sure made a major difference in my life and the thought of ending up in a wheelchair has been kicked to the curb a long time ago.
The message in sharing all this with you is rather simple; never give up hope!
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