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Rheumatoid Arthritis sufferers
- Thread starter Bozzworth
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Bozz,
I'm not a doctor but I am an analyst for a Pharma company and the drug I'm currently working on is a drug we have in development for RA, therefore I have studied this market immensely. RA is a difficult disease to diagnose as it has similar symptoms to other auto-immune diseases such as gout arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus, etc. Because it is so often misdiagnosed or under-diagnosed it has usually progressed to a great extent by the time it is actually diagnosed. This is true because joint damage is most severe within the first few years of the disease cycle. Fortunately, awareness of the disease is increasing in both patients and primary care physicians. But if you have already been diagnosed you probably already know this.
Are you being seen by a rheumatologist? If not then you should consider it as they are far more sophisticated than PCPs on this subject. If you are being treated what are you taking for it? The treatment choices for RA are numerous and range from simple pain killers to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), both Rx and OTC; COX-2 inhibitors such as Bextra, Celebrex, and the now infamous Vioxx, steroids, and the most widely used drugs known as DMARDS or Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumetic Drugs. Unlike the drugs previously listed the DMARDS actually work by impacting the processes that cause RA. The most commonly used DMARDS are methotrexate and Plaquenil, but there are a lot more. Methotrexate is highly effective and because it is a generic, is also fairly cheap.
The newest class are the biologic response modifiers, or biologics. These include Enbrel, Remicade, and Humira. These drugs are the top of the heap for most patients and many are so effective that many patients consider them miracle drugs. The downside is that they cost about $13,000 a year and most insurance plans won't cover them until you fail on at least two DMARDS. Even if you are prescribed a biologic you will likely continue to take methotrexate as it increases the efficacy of the biologics. Hope this was somewhat helpful and let me know if you need any more info.
Dave
I'm not a doctor but I am an analyst for a Pharma company and the drug I'm currently working on is a drug we have in development for RA, therefore I have studied this market immensely. RA is a difficult disease to diagnose as it has similar symptoms to other auto-immune diseases such as gout arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, lupus, etc. Because it is so often misdiagnosed or under-diagnosed it has usually progressed to a great extent by the time it is actually diagnosed. This is true because joint damage is most severe within the first few years of the disease cycle. Fortunately, awareness of the disease is increasing in both patients and primary care physicians. But if you have already been diagnosed you probably already know this.
Are you being seen by a rheumatologist? If not then you should consider it as they are far more sophisticated than PCPs on this subject. If you are being treated what are you taking for it? The treatment choices for RA are numerous and range from simple pain killers to non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), both Rx and OTC; COX-2 inhibitors such as Bextra, Celebrex, and the now infamous Vioxx, steroids, and the most widely used drugs known as DMARDS or Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumetic Drugs. Unlike the drugs previously listed the DMARDS actually work by impacting the processes that cause RA. The most commonly used DMARDS are methotrexate and Plaquenil, but there are a lot more. Methotrexate is highly effective and because it is a generic, is also fairly cheap.
The newest class are the biologic response modifiers, or biologics. These include Enbrel, Remicade, and Humira. These drugs are the top of the heap for most patients and many are so effective that many patients consider them miracle drugs. The downside is that they cost about $13,000 a year and most insurance plans won't cover them until you fail on at least two DMARDS. Even if you are prescribed a biologic you will likely continue to take methotrexate as it increases the efficacy of the biologics. Hope this was somewhat helpful and let me know if you need any more info.
Dave
Dave, keep working on those drugs! Please!
My father has uncontrollable RA. In four years he went from perfectly healthy to totally disabled. He's been on Embril, Humira, and all sorts of other stuff. Kaiser was basically letting him die. The parents changed insurance and found a decent RA doc in SBA. That guy has him on a combo of Humira, methotrexate, and lots of other stuff. It has only barely slowed the disease. The slowing is remarkable from the uncontrolled failure he was suffering. He's walking again, for the first time in a year. Avoid prednisone (sp?) if at all possible, the side effects can be devastating (want a Colostomy bag?) and mask some of the warning signs of disease progression.
Suggestions:
Get your financial and life affairs in order. If the disease is not controllable, you won't find out until it's too late to get yourself in order. If you're building/buying a home, plan for a wheelchair and accessibility. Get 6-12 months of money into easily accessible savings NOW. It takes that long for social security or state disability to take effect. If the diagnosis is still pending, or not, get long-term and short-term disability insurance, medical insurance. along with credit card insurance if you carry a balance.
Get your CFI (if not already) and at least one type rating if you don't have to hours to meet the 'all simulator' option in the regs. This is the bet that will keep you working and flying long past the time where you could effectively manipulate the controls full-time. Learn to use voice recognition software and pen tablets for computer input. As stuff stops working, keep coming up with new ways to stay working. It's not neccessarily a job but ways to stay occupied.
It's also possible to have some signs and be 'in remission' for years where the pain is there but doesn't get any worse. But, if the disease 'leaps' i.e. you lose a chunk of ability in a short time, you'll be prepared.
Visit www.spondylitis.org and www.arthritis.org for more information on RA and other similar diseases. Also, PM me and I'll send some more info not fit for the public boards.
Good luck.
Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein
My father has uncontrollable RA. In four years he went from perfectly healthy to totally disabled. He's been on Embril, Humira, and all sorts of other stuff. Kaiser was basically letting him die. The parents changed insurance and found a decent RA doc in SBA. That guy has him on a combo of Humira, methotrexate, and lots of other stuff. It has only barely slowed the disease. The slowing is remarkable from the uncontrolled failure he was suffering. He's walking again, for the first time in a year. Avoid prednisone (sp?) if at all possible, the side effects can be devastating (want a Colostomy bag?) and mask some of the warning signs of disease progression.
Suggestions:
Get your financial and life affairs in order. If the disease is not controllable, you won't find out until it's too late to get yourself in order. If you're building/buying a home, plan for a wheelchair and accessibility. Get 6-12 months of money into easily accessible savings NOW. It takes that long for social security or state disability to take effect. If the diagnosis is still pending, or not, get long-term and short-term disability insurance, medical insurance. along with credit card insurance if you carry a balance.
Get your CFI (if not already) and at least one type rating if you don't have to hours to meet the 'all simulator' option in the regs. This is the bet that will keep you working and flying long past the time where you could effectively manipulate the controls full-time. Learn to use voice recognition software and pen tablets for computer input. As stuff stops working, keep coming up with new ways to stay working. It's not neccessarily a job but ways to stay occupied.
It's also possible to have some signs and be 'in remission' for years where the pain is there but doesn't get any worse. But, if the disease 'leaps' i.e. you lose a chunk of ability in a short time, you'll be prepared.
Visit www.spondylitis.org and www.arthritis.org for more information on RA and other similar diseases. Also, PM me and I'll send some more info not fit for the public boards.
Good luck.
Fly SAFE!
Jedi Nein
thanks for the info
Thanks for the info people! I actually have psoratic arthritis, the doc told me that it's RA caused by PA so I guess is pretty much PA.... He put it very confusing but now i'm getting more of an idea of what is going on. The doctor started me on Methotrexate but it doesn't seem to be working very well and want's to put me on Enbrel which is supposed to be the stuff, we'll see.
Thanks for the info people! I actually have psoratic arthritis, the doc told me that it's RA caused by PA so I guess is pretty much PA.... He put it very confusing but now i'm getting more of an idea of what is going on. The doctor started me on Methotrexate but it doesn't seem to be working very well and want's to put me on Enbrel which is supposed to be the stuff, we'll see.
C425Driver
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 5, 2001
- Posts
- 357
Bozzworth,
Read "Strong Women and Men Beat Arthritis" by Miriam E. Nelson, Ph.D.. It outlines years of comprehensive study by doctors at Tufts University and offers ways of reducing the affects of both osteo and rhuematoid arthritis. I started using the exercise techniques and diet changes (minor, but noticeable) and I'm seeing improvement after three weeks (losing weight, reduced soreness, increased energy, better attitude). The book is not an alternative medicine suggestion by any means. It explains how to reduce the pain and increase your mobility through diet, exercise and medication.
I'm at a very frustrating point right now. RA runs in my family. My grandmother was on full disability by the time she was 40. I used to bring her to her rheumatologist appointments so I'm familiar with the disease and it's symptoms. I'm 34 and am now feeling the affects (according to my Dad I'm on the same time line as my grandmother). The frustrating thing for me is I don't offically have anything except sore joints. My rheumatiod factor is "very, very high" (my doctors words), but no other tests show positive for arthritis so the doctors won't prescribe anything until the blood tests come back positive. The rheumatiod factor is not considered a positive test for rheumatiod arthritis. So, I take Tylenol Arthritis and execrcise and eat better per the suggestions in the book and it seems to be working for now.
The great thing about this book is it explains what is really going on in your body when you have arthritis - including how arthritis can lead to depression by altering the chemical make up of your body. Now that I understand it better I have found ways to combat it and I feel better - physically and mentally.
Disclaimer: I'm not claiming that this book is a cure for arthritis, and neither do the authors. I am saying that the people at Tufts researched arthritis in a way never done before and have shed new light on ways to deal with it. I can honestly say that it's working for me so far. Best $15 that I've spent in a long time. What have you got to lose?
Any questions about it, feel free to ask here or PM me.
Best of luck to you.
C425Driver
Read "Strong Women and Men Beat Arthritis" by Miriam E. Nelson, Ph.D.. It outlines years of comprehensive study by doctors at Tufts University and offers ways of reducing the affects of both osteo and rhuematoid arthritis. I started using the exercise techniques and diet changes (minor, but noticeable) and I'm seeing improvement after three weeks (losing weight, reduced soreness, increased energy, better attitude). The book is not an alternative medicine suggestion by any means. It explains how to reduce the pain and increase your mobility through diet, exercise and medication.
I'm at a very frustrating point right now. RA runs in my family. My grandmother was on full disability by the time she was 40. I used to bring her to her rheumatologist appointments so I'm familiar with the disease and it's symptoms. I'm 34 and am now feeling the affects (according to my Dad I'm on the same time line as my grandmother). The frustrating thing for me is I don't offically have anything except sore joints. My rheumatiod factor is "very, very high" (my doctors words), but no other tests show positive for arthritis so the doctors won't prescribe anything until the blood tests come back positive. The rheumatiod factor is not considered a positive test for rheumatiod arthritis. So, I take Tylenol Arthritis and execrcise and eat better per the suggestions in the book and it seems to be working for now.
The great thing about this book is it explains what is really going on in your body when you have arthritis - including how arthritis can lead to depression by altering the chemical make up of your body. Now that I understand it better I have found ways to combat it and I feel better - physically and mentally.
Disclaimer: I'm not claiming that this book is a cure for arthritis, and neither do the authors. I am saying that the people at Tufts researched arthritis in a way never done before and have shed new light on ways to deal with it. I can honestly say that it's working for me so far. Best $15 that I've spent in a long time. What have you got to lose?
Any questions about it, feel free to ask here or PM me.
Best of luck to you.
C425Driver
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