Cold is what causes my joints to swell and ache. As I said in another post, I researched and talked to others that had tried arthritis meds and they have terrible side effects, no thanks.

I certainly get it with the meds, Raye. I "was" on Methotrexate for 3 years-I noticed no difference in the pain whatsoever, and had numerous side effects, so they went away. The weather affects Osteo for me, but not the RA....That RA is a horse of a totally different color.

Rheumatoid arthritis is a very different animal than osteoarthritis. One is an autoimmune disease that gets progressively worse, oftentimes resulting in joint disfigurement, that has to be treated for the rest of one’s life while the other, which results from wear and tear, does not lead to joint deformity and can be cured.

Now, I’m going to try to figure out how arthritis and amaryllis are connected...

RA is so individual as to how it affects the body. A doctor and if possible one who is a specialist, not all areas of the country have specialists available without traveling long distances, should be consulted. Not all medications for it will help and most will need to be changed as the disease progresses.

Learning what used to be called biofeedback to help block out the worst of the pain can be helpful including some types of exercise. Listen to your body. If heat makes it feel better after discussing with doctor use that. If cold or cool makes it feel better use that.

As strange as this will sound what I thought was a type of arthritis turned out to be an allergy to certain foods. When I was tested for food allergies many years ago some were immediately apparent. I can eat small amounts of certain things more than that joint pain will start. Reason I mention this is that you and anyone that has pains and for whatever reason do not or can not give them up should experiment with the amount that causes the pain.

I am at my best when I avoid salt and sugars. I also take higher doses of Krill Oil daily which help too.

About tomatoes - I don't know how valid this is but tomatoes are called a Nightshade plant and has an ingredient in it that can lead to inflammation. Nightshade plants also include potatoes and bell peppers (and some other stuff that I don;t eat) so some recommend staying away from them if you do have arthritis.

I don't have RA but have had arthritis in my fingers since I was 40 and a change in weather really affects them. I do stay away from tomatoes and potatoes and eat peppers sparingly - whether or not it helps I don't know. As for meds, I only take a pain reliever if they are very painful.

I was diagnosed with RA 3.5 years ago. The pain and swelling was extreme before I finally sought treatment. My PP did initial blood tests and put me on a steroid pack which immediately relieved the pain and swollen joints but it quickly returned after finishing the steroids.

I got into a Rheumatologist within a few weeks and she put me on an initial 10 MG daily dose of Leflunomide (Arava) and gave me a steroid shot. The shot relieved the pain while the Arava had a chance to build up in my system. At a one month follow-up the dose was increased to 20 mg. Since then I've been pain free for the most part.

I know that eventually the Arava will stop being effective and I'll be switched to something else and/or a second drug will be added to the mix. The last time in, my RA doctor was pleasantly surprised that the Arava continued to be effective. I have not noticed any side effects taking this med.

I've done some reading on what foods can cause increased pain but haven't really changed my eating habits much. The list is pretty close to the same as it is for Gout. I still eat red meat, seafood, drink beer, etc. but in smaller servings than before RA.

There are many different types of arthritis, mine was first diagnosed when I was in high school. That one had symptoms of pain and loss of motion, treatment unnecessary. About five years ago I started having joints also becoming hot and red with twisting fingers as well as the pain, good possibility it's another type of arthritis. At that point I tried to make an appointment but both docs here weren't taking new patients. After learning more about therapies and their issues there's no reason to pursue finding a doc.

Just an fyi, someone posted (last year?) that Monica had passed away, sad to say. I don't think she was very old.

Blfenton, you are correct. Having recently been diagnosed with a gut disease most accept as an autoimmune-family disease, I can attest that vegetables in the nightshade family do affect those with autoimmune diseases. It might be slight and it might be that you can tolerate cooked versions or small portions. You have to figure it out. Eggplants, Chile peppers, and onions are other nightshade veggies, as is garlic.

I am considering going to a professional dietitian. Most things I can figure out. This has been hard to figure out my other food triggers.

I had a left total knee replacement when I was 53 due to osteoarthritis. My mom had osteoarthritis in her spine, so perhaps it's hereditary. I get twinges of pain in my right knee occasionally. I find a turmeric supplement helps when I take it regularly. It's a flowering plant of the ginger family. I've not read any conclusive evidence that it is indeed an anti-inflammatory, but I know it works for me when I take it regularly.

I have had RA for several years. My mother had it and she had very mangled hands, fingers, huge joints. Her knees and feet were also affected. My sisters had it too. I started going to a Rheumatologist in around 2008. I am still going to her. I started out with a heavy dose of steroids, along with methotrexate and plaquinil (hydrochloriquine). It made a tremendous difference in the swelling and pain. After a few years on the 2 drugs my RA went into remission. Which was amazing. Unfortunately it didn't last forever. I currently take a low dose of pred and plaquinil. I was having side effects from the methotrexate and preferred to stay off of it as long as possible. Stress is the biggest factor for me. It triggers my RA significantly. Going through the floods was a horrible time with my RA. I have several other auto immune disorders as well. Which is often the case, if you have one you will likely have others. Some days are better than others. Some days I can use my hands a little bit better than others. I depend on my husband for most of the things I can no longer do. It's in my spine and hips too. It definitely makes life more difficult.

Thanks everyone.....I too have numerous auto immune issues and am on a biologic for those issues via infusion every 6 weeks

Once I am infused the pain is gone for awhile, but not long, esp if I ingest something that causes inflammation.

Yes, as mentioned above, food allergies, of which I have numerous as well.

Combine all of the above with diabetes-so, some days tend to be difficult-I find if I can keep my sugars under control, the stiffness doesnt bother me near as much.

I have been told that all of this is indeed genetic, and I sometimes can recall me parents having some issues.

currently, potatoes and peppers, onions and garlic to my knowledge do not affect me....its some really odd things that do.

Weather wise-I can predict the weather 2 days in advance with this osteo business.

anyways, thanks again everyone.

"Rheumatoid arthritis is a very different animal than osteoarthritis. One is an autoimmune disease that gets progressively worse, oftentimes resulting in joint disfigurement, that has to be treated for the rest of one’s life while the other, which results from wear and tear, does not lead to joint deformity and can be cured."

@Sammy, please cite your sources for stating osteoarthritis can be cured. I have it in my left big toe, both ankles, my right hip, and my right knee (bursitis in my left knee), but none of my doctors have said it can be cured. Doing a Google search just now on "Can osteoarthritis be cured" came up with these, among other similar results:

You had so much to cope with during the flooding and after, raven ... and having the extra burden of the arthritis surely would have made it so much more difficult and troubling.

I am feeling an extra measure of empathy for you as I read of this additional trial.

ole joyful

I have both RA and osteoarthritis. I was diagnosed 20 years ago. My triggers are wheat and sugar especially white flour, white sugar and beer. I tried numerous meds with limited success. What worked me was and still is:

1. I went for fascial release massages. I started with twice a week for about 4-6 weeks then went once a week for 3 months, then once every other week for 3 months and now I go once a month.

2. Change in diet. I eliminated triggers one by one by trial and error.

3. Hydrate - I find if I do not drink 60-80 ounces of water each day then I start to have issues.

I haven't taken medications for 17 years. I seem to have stopped the degeneration and gained some level of comfort. Strangely though cold bothers me, some times a nice cool bath or dip in the pool give me relief. Heat works but the results are more in the moment than long term.

I do take vitamins, supplements and immunoboosters every day which help as well.

I have osteo arthritis in all my joints. Saw a specialist about 10 years ago, and finally got it confirmed.

Prior to, I started to take the raisins soaked in gin, always volunteered to do the dish washing, as warm/hot water so soothes my finger joints. By the way, they are getting misshapen.

I can't afford to get cold, cause if I do, I end up in pain. Love summer, and heat, and my house is always cozy in the summer (80 degrees).

It was recommended to me to keep moving, if I want to be able to keep moving. Thus, walking, biking, yard work are my norm these days. Some day, when the pandemic isn't raging any more, I will go swimming again. I can't make myself go there right now, as there are always 2 per lane.

I have learned, that beer is very painful for me the next day... and so are other carbonated drinks.

Between my allergies (which are not only pet and plants) and my arthritis there are foods I had to eliminate for comfort.

Also, knee replacements are not an option... unless I can get my shoulders, elbows several fingers, same with toes, and part of my spine replaced. So, moving my joints is for me.

My "drug of choice" is heat. No side effects.

PS, I forgot to mention that I have been taking glucosamine and controiton for about 12 years, and added tumeric about 2 years ago. I also use a lot of tumeric in my cooking.

Moni

A suggestion for those who may be thinking about finding your triggers by using an elimination diet. Rice is listed on most of the ones that I have looked at as a base. Be certain you do not have problems with rice before you start one of this type of experiments. Rice was one of the causes of muscle pain for me during allergy testing. The injection area did swell up nicely and itch but it was on my back so could not see it.

I have osteoarthritis in my hands and knees. I was on a prescription that helped (can't remember what it was) but now take turmeric twice daily and use magnets and hand cream when it gets bad. Haven't focused on diet yet, though I am vegetarian. Diabetic as well and my diet sucks - need to work on that next.

Tomatoes are a definite and very obvious cause of redness and swelling in my fingers - several of which were deforming before I pretty much totally cut out spaghetti sauce and fresh tomatoes. I still will eat pizza, but limit how much and how often I have one with tomato based sauce ( prefer pesto). Cold weather doesn't bother my joints at all.

Drinking tart cherry juice regularly actually reduced some of the (I thought permanent) swelling in 2 joints. I also started taking glucosamine/chondroitin/msm supplements when I started having knee pain - seemed to work, my knees no longer hurt.

I've not gone to any specialist since the progression seems to have been arrested (knock wood!) and don't need to take any pain relievers for it.

I am sorry to hear you are suffering with RA. I have osteoarthritis throughout my body from the wear and tear of physically taking care of people (lifting) over the years and have it really bad in the knee I broke. I also suffer from flare ups of gout in my knees, ankles and wrists if I eat cauliflower, asparagus and mushrooms or don't drink enough water or if I have beef two days in a row. I only take ibuprofen as needed and 2 capsules of Martin Clinic's Daily Curcumin (turmeric and black pepper) which I find does help with inflammation because if I miss taking it I really notice it.. I know RA is more debilitating and glad I don't suffer from that form of arthritis.

I didn't know onions and garlic were in the Nightshade family! I am allergic to garlic, so that is only slightly in my diet in things that I can't avoid. I do limit my tomato based sauces, limit potatoes. I don't like peppers, so don't eat those. Okra is also in the Nightshade family. It's been a while since I Googled it, and don't remember what else is in that family. Vioxx worked for a while, but by the time they took it off of the market it was no longer working. Nothing else was working that my GP tried, so she sent me to a reumetologist. He did find something that worked great, but I am outside a lot in the summer, and ended up with sun poisoning! So that was a no deal. We had just bought a motor home. No avoiding the sun in that. I was on anti-inlammatories for so long I can no longer take even one ibueprofen. He now has me on Voltern Gel for my knees and fingers. It does help. Not inexpensive! But the good news is that it is now available over the counter in the USA. It does enter your system, but not through your stomach, which is what I need. If I remember to drink it, tart cherry juice does work. Cold and wet makes mine worse. The 2 years that we were able to go to Arizona for 3 months were great! I only hurt going and coming, not while we were there. I have one index finger that is starting to twist since my last dr visit. I will be mentioning that in the next month or two, at my next appointment. He has also diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia, and that has it's own set of issues.

My mother said caffeine set off her RA.

Onions, leeks, garlic, chives NONE of them are nightshades. Totally different plant family from the potatoes, tomatoes etc. Both groups are common causes of types of allergic reactions in some people, however.

My late father had RA for decades. It forced him off the farm younger than he wanted. No medication worked indefinitely for him. They all would eventually quit and he and his doctors would have to try something else, many of them worked for a while and then had to be replaced themselves. His RA was a moving target.