What diagnostic tests for rheumatism and arthritis? Health Consultation Description: I think I have symptoms of RA. What diagnostic tests will the doctor order, and what do the results mean?

Rheumatism natural home remedy Health Consultation Description: I do what my doctor told me to do and so does my friend but when got to different opinions. My doctor told me to inject my methotrexate IM but my friends doctor told her SQ. Could it be done either way?

Whole body aches caused by fibromyalgia Health Consultation Description: I`ve had plantar faciiatis...cortisone shot, phys. therp., night splint and surgery. During therapy it was discovered that my feet problems were coming from my spine. I have spondylolisthesis. It`s been a few yrs since the surgery and I have bouts of pain in both feet that come and go. I can`t stand in one spot..have to keep swaying and I can`t walk longer than 20 mins and I have to sit. I have arthritis in one knee, one shoulder and I was told I have bursitis in my hip. I really feel crippled and too old for my age. My feet and lower legs swell and I`ve been having this buzzing sensation for the last few days in my ball of my foot and toes (not the foot that had surgery). I go through EXTREME bouts of fatigue. experience tremors, twitches and now my arms are feeling very heavy and my head drops easily. I can`t help but wonder if this is all connected. I`m currently taking 200 mg celebrex 2x a day and if I miss a dose, I`m in trouble. My doctor has me on this because he thinks it might be fibromyalgia but he can`t say for sure. Can fibromyalgia be this bad?

Are there any effective medications for rheumatism? Health Consultation Description: Some of my friends and I have RA, and are on different types of biologics. I have found that well all have been on at least 2 different ones. They either stoped working, didn`t work at all or we had a bad reaction to them. It seem that if they work, they don`t work for a long time, maybe a couple of years. I know that for some people they work longer. Is this pattern typical in general? Are people going to go on a differnet medication every few years? What happens when you have tried them all and still have very active RA like I do? What trends have you seen?

Knee joint weakness and disability caused by rheumatism Health Consultation Description: Once RA causes knee joint weakness and disability, can it be repaired? Is knee replacement the same thing as strengthing the tendons around the knee? And is having swelling beneath the kneecap with both patellas spurriously elevated, a typical sign of RA, or is it found in other forms of arthritis?

Rheumatism and arthritis questions and answers Health Consultation Description: I have been dx`d in RA for 6-7 years now, started to have foot pain 3 years ago. I have had surgery and had nodules removed and bone scraped in the 3rd & 4th metatarsals. That has did well, however the pain now in my heal is unbearable, Dr`s tell me ????? and MRI showed fluid. I have been advised to be basically in bed until this heals. Can you please recommend any test etc that could tell me more?