Anyone ever been able to manage arthritis without meds?

As5567

Its likely that for a minimum of 6 months I won't be able to take any immune suppressing medications and at the same time withdrawing my steroids as quickly and safely as my body allows.

A week and a half ago I went in for a lower spine fusion as an emergency case. Was put on the following week surgical list, passed all the pre op assessments and the operation went ahead as planned. Woke up after the operation to be told things went very bad and the fusion didn't go ahead.

They found a huge mess of tunnels of infection tracking in all sorts of area around my lower spine, I now have a hole that is huge..... 7cm x 5cm and 4cm deep right down to bone. If that wasn't a big enough set back I then found out that the sacrum part of my spine is infected, but to what extent is currently unclear. I will know more details about that when I see a specialist in the near future.

So because of this huge wound and bone infection arthritis medications are not a viable option for the time being according to every doctor that came to see me while in hospital (no Rheumatolgist) I know that some people come off their medication to have a baby and some are unable to take any immune suppressing drugs due to other reasons. How do they try to manage their conditions?

I know I need to see my Rheumatolgist urgently but she thinks otherwise, I was in hospital for almost 2 weeks and she didn't even come to see me, just said she will see me in out patients with an appointment in the post so until then I'm stuck.

Right now I'm feeling fine because I've been on high doses of IV steroids for the passed week to help my body cope and recover from the surgery, so I really want to try and sort everything out now while I can.

Any experiences or suggestions would be fantastic.

dibdab

Gosh that sounds dreadful. Sending hugs ((((((( )))))))).
I haven't any personal experience to offer, but a friend of mine with RA hasn't taken any meds for almost 2 years as she had a baby and is still breast feeding. I know that she has had pain, but her rheumatology team have offered monthly steroid injections to try to keep the inflammation at bay.

I wonder whether it's worth ringing your rheumy health line for advice, or talking to your GP about asking for a more urgent referral to your consultant?

Deb xxx

Boomer13

How awful!!! I am sorry. Did anyone suggest why or how this happened?

I only know one person who manages RA without meds. The disease have already burned itself out through her hands and feet and she keeps going somehow with crippled fingers and feet. She takes a Tai chi class that I used to attend to keep mobile. I don't think she has severe pain anymore as many of her joints have fused themselves.

stickywicket

That sounds very nasty indeed and I do hope the steroids keep things at bay for some time.

I wou;dn't go as far as to say I've ever managed arthritis without meds but, in my early days, DMARDS hadn't arrived and it was just a matter of NSAIDS and the odd course of steroids. You got by as you could. It wasn't easy but, if I did it, maybe you can too although mine is RA and, at the time, was just hands, shoulders, neck, elbows, knees and feet.

I hope things go as well as possible for you. I don't envy you.