Living with Ra

My name is Joanie and I have RA. I was diagnosed with degenerative disc disease at 18, had surgery on L2 and L3. Then, in my twenties I became ill, very tired and unable to work. Then this subsided through my 30s and 40s, and about 48 I was diagnosed with RA. Of course, I have no idea if the health problems throughout my life were a prelude to RA, but I feel very much like I did back then. I started out with methotrexate and prednisone, then to Leflunomide, and now on Enbrel. Without Enbrel, I would not be able to work. Without it I feel how much my health is failing. I have pain in the craziest places, on the top of my foot, or my elbow, for example, just random pain that makes absolutely no sense. But anyway, that's my story.

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