How long's a piece of string?!

wibberley

How do you know when your RA is under control?

Does it mean that you are relatively pain free....or still suffering moderate pain?

I've noticed a few people commenting about their RA being under control....or not, and I've just changed my medication because I felt it wasn't working....but then I don't know how I should be feeling really?

Oh dear, am not wording this well, but I'd like to get to the point where I can sleep comfortably and get out of bed not walking as though I'm made of wood!

Last time I came out of remission was 17 yrs ago and Volteral kept me pain-free between between flare-ups, when I'd have a steriod jab to get things back on an even keel. Have to add, that last time this happened and the Rheumy told me the only exercise I could do was walking, I went straight out and bought the Jane Fonda excercise video - oh, the ignorance of youth!

However, now I'm so much more confused and am also a mother of 3, so not about to ignore the pain and join the gym this time! There seems to be many more drugs to chose from and more levels of pain-relief, that my head's in a spin!

Those of you who feel that your meds are working as well as could be expected - are you now able to maintain a fairly normal life?

Sorry if this doesn't make sense - have just read it back and am quite confused too!

tkachev

I feel my R.A is the best it has been for 6 years,cos of new medication and a new right hip but still get localised pain here and there.For example my left foot is troubling me nowadays and sometimes cannot walk.My right foot sometimes pains me too.I still wake up in the night with aches and pains and cannot get back to sleep.But generally I dont have that all over pain most of the day,can do more things than before such as walk further(with crutches)get to the loo without wetting myself,get in and out of chairs with much less stiffness and pain,hold a cup and cut up my food myself.I think the R.A is underlying but I am not getting the deteriation of the joints as before.
I tend to think it could return any time but I am happy not to have to rely on others for so many things like I used to,but this may not be forever.Take each day as it comes.
Best wishes Tkachev

wibberley

Thanks tkachev, that's great news that you are feeling much better these days.

Thanks also Lynn, for bumping this back to the top - had begun to think I'd baffled everyone into silence!

c4thyg

This is a very subjective one and not easy to answer.

I don't think I've ever had my PsA under control but then again my bar is probably set high as I compare myself to my friends who are in their early 30s as well and if I can keep up for a day. I think it would be more accurate for me to say that it varies in severity a lot and some meds reduce the amount of variation.

This probably doesn't help either, does it? :?

wibberley

But it is an honest answer, which is exactly what I was after!

Many thanks C4thyg.