BlueberryHill, I posted to your question the other day but was in a rush and it looks like I didn't click SUBMIT! I'm so sorry. My DD2 is 16, she has a skin condition call Ichthyosis and has had it since she was an infant. It makes her skin look like scales though the scales are not raised. It does break open between the scale delineations and bleed. We use Eucerin Cream on it to help keep it in check because there is no cure for it. She also has excema of the scalp. She's been having a lot of swelling in her knees and pain in her upper back all the time but x-rays and MRI have revealed no problems. I'm going to take her to see a Rheumatologist. That might be an avenue you might want to consider. My son has Psoriasis, he just had his first outbreak this past summer. No signs what-so-ever prior to that and he has it BAD! So far there are no other symptoms of anything else, he is 24. Not to scare you at all but Lupus is often diagnosed by having a combination of a butterfly shaped rash over the nose and cheeks along with painful joints. In some other cases there are other autoimmune diseases that are linked to rashes. I think I would check with a doctor before trying other remedies just to be on the safe side. JMHO. I wish you, and your little daughter, the best in finding answers, she is just too too young to be faced with stuff like this. I hope it's nothing serious. Nancy, I'm very excited for you about the possibility of knee surgery. The Rancher was having terrible pain in his knees and waited six months for an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon just to find out what was going on. In the end he had very badly torn miniscus' in both knees and some ligaments that had detached completely. Additionally there was the osteoarthritis. The surgeon was able to trim away the destroyed parts of the miniscus and reattach the ligaments. Then he cleaned the surfaces of the bone that were rubbing so that even though they rub together they rub more smoothly for now. He has very little pain now, it's really wonderful for him. I hope you have as wonderful a result!! Edna, I appreciate the crossing of fingers and anything else that wouldn't hurt you, LOL!! Hugs, MeMo

Yes, ginnier, this a lifelong battle. I too cannot give you first hand info. But I have watched my 45 year old daughter struggle with this nasty disease for 25 years. First you need to know that treatment has advanced greatly since her grandmother's struggle with RA in the 70's. DD was hospitalized more times than we can remember in the early years. Then came methotrexate, which helped the RA greatly, but she was in the hospital twice with infections caused by her weakened immune system from it. She took it for a time by mouth and it eroded her esophagus, so she was put on injections for 8 or 9 years. She did quite well during that time, but by the age of 40, she had both knees replaced and a wrist fusion. When enbrel came out she was put on it in addition to the methotrexate. Since then she has been doing well, but I am aware of a slow but steady decline in her stamina. She has worked for 20 years as a physical therapist assistant. She knows what to do to keep herself at her physical best. She rides a bike when she can, and does water therapy regularly, but has just applied for SS Disability because she cannot be a reliable support for the patients she works with in her job. What she wants is retraining for perhaps Occupational Therapy through the BVR, but she must be declared unfit for her present occupation first. Stress does play a role in RA. When you are stressed you are more likely to have flareups. And the disease does ebb and flow. DD had months of symptom free time and with the addition of the newer drugs her flareups were further and further apart. The support of family and friends will be a big help to keep you less stressed. A positive outlook (I know it will be almost impossible at times) will be your greatest ally, along with a close relationship with your doctor.

There are many, many kinds of arthritis. I have polymyalgia rheumatica and it isn't much fun either. The occupational therapist suggested I look at the Arthritis Society web site. I'll try to post the link. Go to "the Open Forum Community" and it will give you much info. Hope this helps. Here is a link that might be useful: various arthritis info

Unfortunately, I am very lax on exercising... I used to go to the pool and exercise when I lived in former town, but it got to the place the chemicals made me itch and break out so badly that my skin bled... I walked 3-4 miles a day...then came 3 joint replacements and arthritis in every joint in my body and I have constant pain. The surgeon who relpaced one of my hips, cut the nerves and I walk with a terrible wabble and it feels like it is caving in with each step, and no fixing it...the nerves are dead....so makes my back hurt and have terrible balance when I do try to walk. I have gained a lot of weight and it know it makes all of my health problems worse..plus I am blessed with tremors in my hands..so I think I have just given up on extending my years. I am able to keep up with my house and take care of my personal needs, but life has lost its "fun" for me any more.