Rheumatoid arthritis.

Very good advice.

@becsbuddy

I’ve been searching around this site for an appropriate board for my questions. If this is not the right board for me, please let me know and feel free to redirect my concerns.

I am a 72 year old male with 40-plus years of increasing pain. I had an NM bone scan several years ago that showed several locations of arthritis in my body. The report said it was not positive for Paget’s (my AP is consistently 157-170). My primary doc sent me to a rheumatologist who met with me for three minutes, said at my age I had to expect pain and it was just osteoarthritis. Three minute office visit.

Had a repeat NM bone scan a few days ago at a different hospital. This report says arthritis in the left shoulder and both feet. Completely ignored both knees, both hips, lumbar and cervical spine, all of which have been mentioned to me as arthritic spots. The scan interpretation also did not mention the right hand arthritis diagnosed two days earlier by an orthopedic doc.

Primary doc now wants me to go to a different rheumatologist to discuss fibromyalgia.

Can a NM bone scan just be bad? Does it matter who reads it? How accurate are the scans? How can previously noted areas of arthritis just disappear?

After 40 years of pain I am looking for an answer. I do not want, and I will not take, any addictive medicines. I just want to know what this is. Any thoughts? If more info is needed, just ask. Thanks.

Ive got Rheumatoid/osteo and fibro , recently my eyesight started getting blurry so I went off hydroxy, ( waiting to get an appointment with the rheumatologist since she upped the dose 6 months ago). She took me off leuflonamide cos of my fatty liver battle. So that leaves me with nothing. everything hurts I too do stuff that needs doing around my place and then I pay for it. Are there other meds besides the two I mentioned??

@tisme have you tried Methotrexate?

@andid yes thats the first one the doc put me on but thats not good for non alcoholic fatty liver either.

I'm sorry for your pain and suffering. Hope you get some answers soon.

I am looking for a good cookbook or website maybe even a dietician for my RA. My rheumy is trying to reduce my prednisone after 4-5 years (I'm at 4 mg now) for my PMR. He also has me on Aria Simponi infusions for my RA. I'm in more pain now. Is it the reduction of prednione or Aria Simponi that is causing my pain. I'm 75 year old female & a caregiver for my husband with LBD.
Your thoughts?

84 yr-old hubby's rheumatologist had him on Methotrexate for about 30 years.
It helped him be able to function normally -- especially with his hands, and prevented pain he had prior to that. She switched him to Azathioprine a couple of years ago when he started having other autoimmune problems -- pulmonary fibrosis, osteoporosis, kyphosis, compression fractures and MGUS.

Hello all:

Who coordinates your care everyone? Is it your PCP or your rhuemo? I don't "need" to go through my PCP for my insurance, but it would be helpful for someone to coordinate for/with me. I have a bunch of docs now and I'm never sure whos is looking at or following up with stuff. My rhuemo is responsive as is my ortho. My PCP less so. I have several others in the mix as well. Thoughts? Tx

K

@marieirene
Hello:
Look up anti-inflammatory diet, Mediterranean diet, which will give you helpful ideas and tell you what foods to avoid.
Changing my diet has helped me immensely!
Good luck and wish you well.