Chock Full o' Nuts
GA
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Joined: 02/02/2007
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Never heard of this until Friday and now i have it. I wouldn't have gone to a rheumatologist, but my family doctor insisted. I'm glad she did because now I know what I'm dealing with. She put me on some meds and drew labs, but based on the way the xrays look, they're pretty sure its EOA.
What do you know about this kind of arthritis? The literature doens't seem comforting. My fingers are gnarly and stiff all the time. I have a lot of pain in my feet, which has always been attributed to "arthritis." I wonder if perhaps this is actually EOA in my feet? That would explain why my feet are getting worse and worse.
Ugh. I'm 55. My body is going to hell in a hand basket. *sigh*
"Those who dwell...among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life."--Rachel Carson, environmentalist, 1956
2009 Ford F250 XL
2006 Dutchmen 25F
Me & DH in non-parenting mode!
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gbopp
The Keystone State
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Joined: 08/03/2008
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Sorry to hear that, I've never heard of Erosive Osteoarthritis.
I've had a knee replaced because of Osteoarthritis and I take fish oil, it helps with the other knee.
I wish you well, hopefully you can find something to help with the pain and stiffness.
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sdianel
Tampa, FL
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Joined: 07/24/2005
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my Mom was diagnosed years ago with "degenerative arthritis" wonder if it's the same thing with a new name? She had to have 2 hip joint replacements. Hope the meds help. Please keep us posted.
Lonny & Diane
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Chock Full o' Nuts
GA
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Joined: 02/02/2007
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Thanks,y'all. I'm not finding much out there. Apparently, erosive osteoarthritis is an inflammatory type, similar to rheutmatoid arthritis but limited to just teh joints(it's not systemic.) From what I'm reading, it is very aggressive and destructive. Yeesh. Hope the meds will help slow things down. I'd hate to lose function in my hands. I've already had the thumb joint replaced due to severe arthritis.
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emzee
california
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Joined: 10/22/2006
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I Googled it and found some interesting info. Docs said I have Osteoarthritis, I didn't know there were so many different categories.
I sure hope the meds help you!!
Initially, symptoms of erosive osteoarthritis may be confused with rheumatoid arthritis or psoriatic arthritis. Erosive osteoarthritis is primarily characterized by erosion's of cartilage in the hands. Middle-aged or post-menopausal women are most commonly affected. Studies have shown evidence of erosion's in other joints too but the severe, aggressive type of hand disease associated with erosive osteoarthritis defines the disease.
more info
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PI_Tom
USA
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Joined: 01/18/2011
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My wife at 45 is beginning to experience inherited RA. Her doctor did blood tests and advised a SED RATE of 60 (inflammation score, 20 = high). She has watched her mother of 79 years suffer with severe RA.
My wife was tested for allergies previously and she does suffer some food allergies. This is important as her answer to the doctors tests and learning she had a high SED RATE was to begin treating herself by modifying her diet. She eliminated processed foods, caffine and gluten from her diet and added a supplement of vitamin D. By doing so she lowered the SED RATE to 22 which lowered the pain and stiffness in her joints by 90%. I was and continue to be amazed how she benefits from nothing more than a dietary change.
This is not to suggest anyone else will have similar changes but it sure is hard for me to argue with the success she has had. Best part was, she didn't have to start taking medications.
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Chock Full o' Nuts
GA
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Joined: 02/02/2007
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Just got back from the orthopedist with mostly good news. I had an MRI on my left foot last week. I have been having pain in my feet since June, but it really got going around Thanksgiving. When i just wouldn't relent, the doctor decided to go looking for fractures. Thankfully, there are not stress fractures. Just a lot of inflammatory arthritis, the same as in my hands. Which would explain why my hands and feet started hurting at the same time.
Well, my rheumatologist put me on Voltaren *NSAID* and Plaquenil last week and it has been almost like a miracle! My hands are still swollen and stiff, but as long as I keep them warm the pain is bearable. And the pain in the foot is soooo much better this week. I am so happy to finally get some relief. I plan to continue with the physical therapy, since it seems to be helping. I hate having to take more pills, but honestly? nothing else I've tried as even come close to helping. So I'll take the pills, wear the orthotics, soak the joints, and do the exercises. At least the meds are CHEAP!
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emzee
california
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Joined: 10/22/2006
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Chock, I am so happy you have found some relief! A question, do your feet hurt even when you are reclining with them up, or just when walking? I am asking because I have developed some kind of weakness in my ankle that seems to flare up now and then; it's really sore and hard to walk on, then goes away. I haven't asked the doc yet, could be the osteoarthritis, don't know.
BTW, don't forget to eat before you take anti-inflammatory meds. 
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Chock Full o' Nuts
GA
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Joined: 02/02/2007
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emzee wrote:Chock, I am so happy you have found some relief! A question, do your feet hurt even when you are reclining with them up, or just when walking? I am asking because I have developed some kind of weakness in my ankle that seems to flare up now and then; it's really sore and hard to walk on, then goes away. I haven't asked the doc yet, could be the osteoarthritis, don't know.
BTW, don't forget to eat before you take anti-inflammatory meds.
The pain I'm having is sharp, right on the tops of both feet. I have had foot issues for years. I'm very flat-footed, so that has caused the tendons in my feet to over stretch and fail (post-tibial tendenitis). It doesn't take much to tire my feet out or cause pain. I have been taking arthritis strength tylenol, but that was doing nothing for the pain. So it's really been a relief to get the Voltaren and Plaquenil on board.
Today I was on my feet constantly for about 7 hours. My feet are so swollen and tender, i'm limping. I have ice packs tied to both feet! Good thing I have PT tomorrow.
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