PA

[lett]

Hi, I have just been diagnosed with PA. My docotor wants me to start taking Enbrel. I know that this drug has just been FDA approved in Jan. of this year. Is anyone out there taking this drug? Has anyone ever read any books on curing arthritis...some people detox the body...was wondering if anyone ever tried this method instead of drugs. Thanks for your time

[rhop]

Hi - Please beware of the "cure" books - if it was truly so, then all of us would be cured by now, and we wouldn't still be here supporting each other in this forum. There are so many unscrupulous people out there willing to profit on the misery of others, and many of the products and books that are out there might help a little, but so does vinegar, epson salts, dead sea salts or visits, and so many other things. It is hard when we want to take control and DO something about this insidious disease - but it is, in fact, a serious, auto-immune disease which manifests itself very differently in different individuals, and each person reacts to different meds, topicals, treatments differently. The hardest thing to accept is that there isn't a CURE - and that we might have to try this, try that, and that there is not going to be a "once and forever" solution. It is a day to day, one day at a time, time-consuming, emotionally draining and visible disease, and you just have to learn to laugh with it, and not let it dominate your life. You are so much more than the big P and PA. You are not causing this disease by eating wrong, living wrong, etc., and "detoxing" your body is not going to cure it - although there are many who naively would have us believe that if we just lived right (which means purchasing their products or books to teach us how to live right)then we would not be afflicted with this. I WISH is could be that simple.

Anyway, I have heard of good results with Enbrel, although I haven't taken it myself. Please keep us informed of how you do on it. The more info we all have, but more power we have to conquer this plague. Good luck. Rosemary

[redhead]

Hi-
Rosemary is right. Nothing works miracles on this disease. One thing everyone on this site rightly advised me of I do want to share with you. PA is a degenerative disease that can cause PERMANENT DAMAGE. Do not waste a lot of time before getting it treated properly. We all try many treatments, and will continue trying new stuff - but be sure you are under a good rheum's care - while you experiment with hopeful, but safe "cures".
Hope for the best,
Lauri