Prix560 update of an RA patient on AP

[prix560]

I first started to notice something was wrong in July 02.  I was working in a very physically demanding job at a paper mill when the junk hit full blast.  I first started in my shoulder and I thought maybe I had injured it.  I went to see a specialist and he did an MRI and said that I had torn my rotator cuff.  I was going through physical therapy when all of a sudden it was in my other shoulder also.  We thought maybe I had over worked my once good shoulder compensating for the injured one.  Then my hands began to swell bad (my foreman said my fingers looked like little sausages).  The pain was bad I got to the point where I could not lift a 35 lb box of paper.  I knew something was wrong but did not know what.  My new wife of just over a month said she was married to a little old man, because I would move soooo slowly after getting off a 12 hour shift and my groin and knees were so stiff and sore.  I was in dreadful pain I could not swing the maul anymore could not pick up a box of paper like a normal man and worst of all I did not know what was going on.  I would come home and put the shower on hot and creep to my softball size knees and beg god to let me know what was wrong and how to treat it.  My orthopedic would drain my knees and it felt soo good but they would swell up again in couple of days.  It began to inject cortisone straight into the shoulder felt awesome, but I was in pain in about a week.

One day while off of work I told my wife I could not stand the pain any longer and was going to go to my general care doc for some pain relief.  I never took any pain relievers before for anything, not even a headache or hangover (those are a but).  When my GCP saw me he instantly knew what was wrong.  He said you have RA, I began to cry.  My great grandfather was bed ridden half of his life with RA and was in major pain with no real treatment.  He told me that there are much better ways of treating and I should be able to control it.  He gave me some steroids to help control the pain until I could see a rheumatologist.

 

I began Enbrel in Jan 03. with Methotrexate, Prednisone, and Mobic.  The pain and swelling slowly got better to a point.  I thought maybe I could play golf again, maybe I could play with my children again, maybe I could be a man again.  My golf game has been touch and go as far as being able to play because of the pain but at least I can grip a club again, but I was still having bad pain in my left elbow and my wrist felt like they were sprained off and on.  Mostly on.

Then one day while searching the web I came across a web site with some very helpful people that were trying a different approach to treating RA.  I thought what do I have to loose I had been treating RA with Enbrel and other poisons for 6 years and felt better, but did not feel like my old self. 

I then started my AP treatment in July of 2008.

 

 

[prix560]

Well I have been on AP for 5 months on December 18, 2009 and the treatment is phony.  JUST KIDDING .  I have not felt this good since before RA.  I rarely if ever have the wrist pain, don't get me wrong they are stiff but they are damaged from the previous treatment.  I am begging to feel stronger and feel I will be able to play golf in the spring if not sooner.  I do live in the south after all where sports can be played year round.   I noticed a major kick in my feeling better when I started to take the MSM.  Once I got around 12,000 mg a day I started to feel a little different a little less arthrititc.  Thank you to everyone who has helped me get this far and hopefully everyone else that is starting this protocol will have the results that I have had so far.  I succefully coached a 8 year old girls soccer team this past fall and I am not the kind of coach that sits back and tells the kids what to do.  I get involved and like to play.

[prix560]

I am heading to the great Big State of Texas this Friday to go and see Dr. RK.  Will post any new info or results coming from this visit.  Some cool things to note.

I went 21 days without taking an Enbrel shot and feel as if I could go more the next time.  We will see.

[prix560]

Got back from Texas today after visiting Dr. RK.  She said that she does not need to see but every 6 months and to keep on doing what I am doing except she said I need to add vitamin D to the mix.  I have had some pretty serious weight gain over the past few months.  My wife thinks it is because of my crazy appetite (I have been eating like a horse).  I think that is not so bad because it means that I am not hurting too bad. 

[prix560]

Well I healed up nicely from Elbow surgery and have been playing lots of golf.  I am now debating my medice intake.  I have cut back on lots of meds except Enbrel ( I can't seem to shake it).  I am going to start  working on weaning somemore.  I am at two weeks in between shots.  I have cut out Mobic completely.  I now only take Mino 100mg once a day and fish oil and flax seed oil.  I feel pretty good, just nervous on if I am messing something up.  I have also changed my diet making it a high protein diet taking in about 200g of protien a day.  Also I have been going to church.  So I don't know which is the reason I am feeling better.  I have been away awhile but I think that is a good thing sometimes because it may mean I am not thinking about the pain as much.

Good luck to you all I definately think it is working I should get some blood results in a month or so.  I only see a rheumie every four months.

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