Poor mdmc's right arm no longer straightens out - always bent forever!

[mdmc]

My Rheumatoid Arthritis has caused my elbow to be permanently crimped. I try to straighten out my arm, but it now has a permanent bend to it. My elbow just won't allow my arm to be straight anymore.

Oh, the horror of it all..

[Moondog]

1. Bummer. Are you right-handed?

[mdmc]

3. nope..

i'm a leftie..

[Moondog]

5. Well, wait for it ...

it could be worse. Or, on a more positive note, that's good ....

On edit - lest you think me insensitive, I see a rheumatologist twice a year, and that is when nothing is happening.

[mdmc]

6. perhaps it will change when i get back on my ra meds..

I've been taking methotexate pills and embrel injections and had my ra pain well under control.
then i got a cold.
and i couldn't shake it.
I had a minor cold for three weeks!
My rhuoooommy told me to stop the meds until I was over my cold.
I feel better now - the cold is gone.
so i will restart my meds at the end of this week.
perhaps the arm bend will go away with meds and exercise:shrug:

[Moondog]

8. Some say RA is an autoimmune disorder, so

what you're describing makes sense. Myself, I'm a gout patient. Which is under control, thankfully. For now, at least.

[mdmc]

10. both of my RA meads target my immune system

My white blood cells (actually just one type of white blood cell) goes haywire and sends out the false message that my joints are sick and need to be attacked.
My meds suppress all the white blood cells, so I am prone to illness and I don't heal well when injured.

It is all hard to manage but I keep at it.

THank you kindly for your replies:pals:

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. That's not good. :^(

[Tangerine LaBamba]

4. That happened to me years ago,

after I dislocated my elbow in a fall. It never quite straightened out after that.

I hope it's not a big crimp, because, if it's not, you won't even notice it.

Just so it doesn't hurt. As an RA patient myself, I know how bad that can be.

Good luck................................

[graywarrior]

7. Rheumatoid Arthritis is a cruel son of a bitch.

[KamaAina]

9. My new boss has RA

an emerging national leader in her field, no less.