Posts by restlesstiger10

So, she just got back from seeing another specialist, and here’s what they came up with
Primary generalized osteoarthritis - M15.0
There are signs of osteoarthrosis in the PIP and World Bank joints (specifically Heberden's and Bouchard's nodes)
The prescribed treatment plan is
1. Joint MD tablets and some No-dol cream for rubbing on her hands.

I’ve heard and read quite a bit about how you can't actually cure osteoarthritis, though I guess you can slow down how much it progresses. To be honest, it feels kind of surreal to me that in the 21st century we still don't have a definitive cure for something like this. I'm really interested in hearing from anyone who's dealing with this condition—if you have any personal experiences or advice, I'd love to hear them.

wearyowl29 said:So, I was thinking about this today—what actually happens if someone who isn't dealing with depression decides to pop some antidepressants, like Zoloft or something?
And another thing on my mind... is it even possible to fake depression or anxiety when you're sitting there in a doctor's office?🤷

I mean, if someone starts taking antidepressants, I guess you could argue they might end up feeling even more depressed, though I’m not entirely sure how that works out in practice. It just seems kind of strange to me, honestly... like, why would anyone actually choose to take something meant to treat depression if it makes them feel that way? I don't know, maybe I'm just overthinking it, but it feels like a bit of a paradox, doesn't it?😁 I mean, if she starts taking antidepressants, there’s a chance she might just get hit with this wave of euphoria, and then everyone around her is going to think she’s completely lost it—which, I guess, could lead to her being stuck in a psychiatric ward at a place like Johns Hopkins or something for a much longer stay than anyone intended.

I mean, I was just sitting here thinking, maybe we should actually implement some kind of licensing system for sex, you know? Like, if someone doesn't truly understand the risks involved or how to practice proper protection, they probably shouldn't be getting intimate at all. And then, I guess, you wouldn't even be allowed to retake the exam for another five years, so you'd really have to sit back and think about whether any particular hookup is actually worth the trouble😠.

mistyranger51 said:Honestly, all of this just sounds like arthritis to me, probably rheumatoid arthritis, I guess.
Well, before she actually starts on medications to stop that joint deformity from happening, they really ought to confirm an RA diagnosis first.
I wonder if maybe she’s had her rheumatoid factor, CRP, and anti-CCP tested yet? That would either prove it or rule out an RA diagnosis once and for all.
If I were in her shoes, I wouldn't just stop there. I think I'd definitely seek out a second opinion.
How old is your mom, anyway?

She had some testing done back in 2004—
ASTO: < 200IU
Latex rheumatoid factor test: negative
Waaler-Rose: < 8 IU/ml
The doctors told her at the time that she had a milder form of rheumatism.
She's 52 years old.

mistyranger51 said:Just look at how much her joints are curving like this.
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/symptoms-causes/syc-20354745

It looks a bit less severe than what you see in that photo, so I'm guessing it might be a milder version of the condition.

So, about five years ago, my mom started noticing her fingers were starting to curve—kind of drifting sideways and toward her palm—and when she saw a physical therapist, they basically told her there wasn't much to be done to stop it, other than waiting until it hits some sort of plateau. She’s been doing galvanization therapy lately just to try and keep her hands from getting too stiff, and she takes some Advil Dual Action whenever the weather shifts or the seasons change, because her joints really act up when the barometric pressure moves. Lately, though, these little bumps have started appearing on her finger joints, so she’s been using UnitedHealth Group products for those, which I think is actually helping them recede a bit a little.

Diagnosis: M25.5 Arthralgia
Degenerative arthritis with Heberden's nodes, FDA

I was wondering, does anyone know if there's actually any way to stop that curving progression?

Don't even sweat it, honestly; things could always be looking a whole lot worse than they are right now. So, I guess instead of getting all discouraged, you might as well just march bravely toward the next inevitable defeat, because if there's one thing I've learned, it's that the light at the end of the tunnel isn't actually an exit—it’s probably just an oncoming train. I mean, you might as well find a reason to laugh every once in a while when hanging yourself isn't really on the agenda anymore...

The Star Wars Episodes I, II, III trailers were actually pretty decent, though if I'm being honest, the movies themselves were kind of a mess. I still think the original wars were the way to go.

Use the Force Luke, use the force damn it.