My doctor just called and told me that i have a rheumatoid factor in my blood. Does that mean that i have rheumatoid arthritis or could something else cause that to show up? And if i do have it, is there any natural treatments for it. I was reading something about Cherry Juice helping… Anyone know?

I was diagnosed in February and am noticed symptoms getting worse.
Scared of taking meds for it but is It worth It?
Have you benefit from the meds now?
any side effects?
should I see a specialist?
I probably should I’m noticing my knuckles and feet getting disfigured…(bigger)
And pain …I just get motrin…the only way to sleep good is on A blow up mattress.

So around two years ago I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA).
I was put on medication (Methotrexite, Naproxin, and Folic Acid) to help the pain and swelling of my knees (they were getting the worst of my arthritis).
I was fed up with taking all that medication, it was just a hassle with all the blood tests and it messed my period up. It has never been regular since.
So I stopped without consultation with my doctor or parents.
My joints were fine for months after stopping with my medication. And my doctor even told me I was fine without it.
But now I feel like my arthritis has been spreading to my elbows, fingers, and toes (is that even possible?).
And my knees ache a lot too.
What should I do?
I hate taking prescriptions, so there’s no way I’m going back on my medication.
Are there any natural excersizes I can do for my knees (which are the biggest problem) that’ll stop the pain?? Please help me!! Having arthritis at such a young age sucks.. For heaven’s sake, I can’t even sit criss-cross apple sauce anymore!!

About two weeks ago, on the drive home from the Rennaisance Festival my neck stiffened up severely and i developed a horrible headache. Ever since then, I have had neck stiffness and pain. I also am having pain/stiffness in my hips and sometimes my ankles, knees and wrists. One day it even effected my upper rib cage and shoulders. I have been taking 4 ibuprofen a couple of times each day to be able to function. It seems the more i move around the less the pain gets, except in my neck – as soon as the drugs wear off it is hurting and stiff. I am the most stiff and in pain in the mornings. I actually got to sleep for an extreme amount of time the other day and my symptoms seemed to subside, until the next day when life was back to normal. My main concern is my neck, which hurts to turn to either side or to look down (try to touch my chin to chest). it seems most of my symptoms point to rheumatiod arthritis, except i haven’t seen much mention of the neck, and that is the main source of pain and discomfort. PLEASE HELP!!

I am 16 and i have hashimoto’s thyritis (auto immune thyroid disease). my mother has the same condition but I do not know the cause of her’s, she also has rheumatoid arthritis, does this increase my chances of having rheumatoid arthritis?

As part of Arthritis Awareness Week, Arthritis Australia and the Australian Rheumatology Association are beginning a campaign to give a voice to the almost 300000 Australian women with rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is the most serious form of arthritis. It is not a rare disease, affecting around half a million Australians. Of these cases almost 60% are women. The Women’s Insights into Rheumatoid Arthritis book features the stories of 12 inspiring Australian women with this condition -as shared with their local female Federal MP. The limited edition book was produced to increase support from the community, healthcare professionals and government for greater understanding and better management of rheumatoid arthritis. It has been supported by healthcare company Abbott with an unrestricted grant This is a short film of some of the women’s stories. To download a copy of the book please visit www.arthritisaustralia.com.au

When I spoke to my Doctors about it they just assumed with treatments. These treatments are not working.
I am only 18 years old. I have had this disease for eleven years, it started as Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis for around 4 years it went into remission and came back to as Rheumatoid Arthritis. I don’t know what to do. I search on the internet for some things but I don’t any straight answers.

I’ve had RA since 1990 and have experienced just about all symptoms including lung nodules, but recently I had a few mini-strokes. Could this be the RA affecting my brain?

I am 16 and my doctor told me i have JRA but before that the problem that lead to me being diagnosed wtih JRA was Metatarsus Adductus or a curvation of the metatarsal bones. So my question is can arthritis cause my bones in my feet to curve?

Toget your questions answered visit Dr. Rowen’s website robert-rowen-md.com. Type in your search words in the search box. Dr. Rowen understands when to use allopathic, conventional, alternative, complimentary and oxidative medicine to help his patients heal and experience optimal health. Robert Rowen, MD, Editor Second Opinion Newsletter uses oxidative therapies and antibiotics to help rheumatoid arthritis, colitis, dermatitis and cellular inflammations