The arthritis trade-off

Rheumatoid arthritis is a devastating disease. Besides crippling joints, it can leave the victim exhausted and in excruciating pain.

[Tula]

Those of us who live with RA are often desperate for some sort of relief. It's nice to say "be careful", but when given a choice of constant pain and disability and relief from such, the decision is practically made for you. Those who don't suffer the ravages of this disease can't really know what it's like to have to make these choices. I'd like nothing better than to eschew all the potent drugs, but without them, I'd be a complete invalid, in constant severe pain, unable to work, take care of myself, or live my life in any sort of normal fashion. Not much quality in a life like that, so making the decision to risk the side effects of the drugs can be easier than you might think.

[Sandra P]

I''ve been taking Indocin for headaches for 2 years. I now have heart disease and my cardiologist insists I get off it because it is so bad for my heart. How do I get off it ? It has been 10 days and have had horrible headaches. I have tried acytaminaphrin with limited success and naproxin, but it's the same kind of medicine. What to do? What to do?