Sister struggling with AR

System
System Administrator Posts: 45
in Chat to our Helpline Team
This discussion was created from comments split from: rough day with inflammatory arthritis.

Comments

  • PLLVentura
    PLLVentura Member Posts: 1

    Hello. I have a sister, 44, diagnosed with AR 3 yrs ago. No meds seem to be working. She is practically an invalid. Our family is desperate to help find hope...I need to find hope.

  • helpline_team
    helpline_team Posts: 3,777

    Hello @PLLVentura and welcome to the Online Community. We are a friendly and supportive group and I hope that will be your experience too. I am so sorry to hear about your sister's struggle with AR. I am assuming you are referring to RA, Rheumatoid Arthritis. Understandably, you and your family are very concerned about her. It sounds as if she has been going through a very rough time and I am sorry to hear that the medication prescribed doesn't seem to be helping. Pain and reduced mobility can drag you down and feel very debilitating. As a family you really want to make sure your sister is receiving the right treatment and support.

    It may help your sister to call the rheumatology nurse helpline which can usually be contacted between clinic appointments. Talking things through further with a specialist rheumatology nurse may really help. They can liaise with the consultant rheumatologist and review DMARD medication. If your sister is not happy with the service and treatment she is receiving, her GP may be able to arrange a second opinion from a different rheumatologist. A private consultation may be another option.

    If you, or your sister, would like to talk things through informally and in confidence, you are welcome to call our Free Helpline on 0800 5200 520 weekdays 9am - 6pm. If you would like to have more replies to your post, you are welcome to repost on our Living with arthritis — Versus Arthritis forum which is a supportive space where you can ask questions and share experiences with others facing similar challenges.

    NRAS, the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society, is the specialist association supporting people living with RA. They also have an informative website, helpline and support groups.

    I hope the information given below will be of some help.

    https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/
    https://nras.org.uk/

    Please keep posting and let us know how you are getting on and I am sure that others will connect with you to share their support and experience as well.

    Best wishes,

    Fiona, Helpline Advisor

Categories