Question
Karen
My husband is suffering with what doctors say is Rheumatoid. His conditioning has worsened and
the meds he's taking seem to be deminishing for his pain.He's 43. He's taking Naproxin and a sleeping med ( ...somethin tripelene..?)I'm worried. He never feels relief.
I'm desperate to find him a remedy even if it's for short term.Is there anything else thats better in meds that I can enquire of the doctor?
He has knots on his knuckels and has pains that radiate
down his arms. I've noticed his arms seem to have decreased in muscle mass. He losses his grip on things and says his strength has  weakend by at least 60% in
his arms.  

Answer
Dear Pat,  There are a lot of medication on the market for rheumatoid arthritis, but it sounds like to me that your husband should be getting some rehabilitation services also to make him use the exact parts of his body that hurt inorder to keep the strength up AND muscle tone....  Physical therapy is a MAJOR part of dealing with rheumatoid arthritis and whirl pools for the hands and arms might even help to ease the pain and as my doctor said to me "use it even if it hurts"....  This is why I keep going even on days I am in pain, because I know if I stop, I will loose it all....

It might pay to visit the pharacist at your local drug store to ask about a list of all the rheumatoid arthritis drugs and then do your own research on the internet to see what is out there, what might be better that what he is currently using and then talking with his doctor....

As for the Neproxen, I honestly think the doctor could come up with something BETTER for his pain and his inflammation since taking Neproxen is just like taking the over counter medication Aleve, which by the way didn't help me one darn bit....  I personally found that Advil worked a lot better on my pain and heat, soaking hands in warm/hot water and keeping on the move helped the best....  I didn't have money or health insurance for physical therapy or I would have definately done it....

thank you,   karen