Rheumatoid Arthritis??? Scared to Death

[mappy122]

Hello everyone,

This will be my second post here at allnurses. I have a concern and was wondering if anyone can give me any input. About 2 weeks ago I started to have pain in my fingers, and then in my ankles. The pain is really bad in the morning I can hardly walk, or get down the stairs. I've started taking Aleve and it's seems to help, by mid afternoon my pain is way less severe. I am terrified of going to the doctor, because I know he's gonna say I have arthritis. Yesterday I was on WebMD and I have all the symptoms of RA, I'm only 33 and still only a nursing student. I'm starting to have doubts about whether or not I should even continue. How am I gonna run up and down the halls, when I can barely even get down my 2 front steps. I'm really scared. Does anyone have this and if you do are you still working? Becoming a nurse is my life's dream and now I might lose my chance. Any advise? Words of wisdom?

[kadee7]

I went to the Doctor for my arthritis and she told me to take glucosamin controtin (sp) it is great for the joints.:welcome:

[1jrbirdy]

mappy122, My 5yo granddaughter was diagnosed with JRA this spring. She is doing much better now with taking only Naproxsyn tid and ROM 3x a day. Her Pediatric Rheumatologist told us her goal is perfect joints and she can have that with faithful ROM done by all. I try to make a game of her "exercises" and many times she doesn't even realize we've done them. We also started swimming lessons this past summer ( we had already planned on those before JRA) and those helped tremendously.She rarely complains and it hurts my heart to see her "limping." Children are so resilient, she just goes about her business and only mentions " what hurts" if we ask her. So.... follow your Dr's treatment plan and you will do fine and you can do whatever you want to do.

[ssanders80]

Hi there:

I'm 27 and was diagnosed w/ RA 5 years ago. I'm prenursing and have been having the concerns about whether I'd be able to cut it as a nurse w/ this disease, etc. I've even been thinking about which specialities I should go into that would require the least amount of strain.

But then I started thinking, I'm not going to limit myself because of fear. I take my meds everyday, exercise, and I pray that I will get through another day of no pain and stiffness and I go about my business. Don't let RA (if that is the case) or anything stop you from being a nurse. I know what I can and can not do, I know how to take care of my joints and the rest of my body and I know how to do a good job with any job I have. If I keep reminding myself of that, then I'm good to go, and you will be too! Keep your head up! :monkeydance:

[Rage, RN]

My mother has RA and has had since she was in her 30's. She is 70 years old now and has had a very productive life. She went back to college and got her degree in accounting at 50. Since RA is an inheritiable disease you can be tested for the RA genetic marker. Both my sister and myself have been tested and both of us showed up negative. The available med therapies now afforted to RA patients makes the disease much more manageable. The methotextrate mentioned by wdwpixie falls into the "disease modifying" class for RA. And can drastically change the course of RA...........don't pass judgement on your capabilities just yet.