A Patient’s Perspective-
Dealing with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Dorine Milar recalled having severe pain in her hands while she was assisting in the presidential election in 1992. “At first I thought the pain was from carrying campaign signs- they were heavy.” But when the pain persisted, she finally went to see her doctor. After seeing her doctor, her pain continued to worsen. Her left knee became extremely swollen and she described the pain as “agony”. “I ached in every bone of my body. It was so bad, I didn’t want to wake up in the morning.” A rheumatologist finally diagnosed her with rheumatoid arthritis, a chronic, systemic inflammatory disease that is characterized by swollen joints, fatigue, malaise, morning stiffness, and eventual joint deformity if not treated properly.

Dorine was treated with Methotrexate, a medication that helps reduce joint damage and inflammation, and preserves joint function. Although the treatment addressed the pain, there were a few drawbacks. Lab work needs to be performed monthly, to monitor progress and check for side effects. In addition, alcoholic beverages cannot be consumed with Methotrexate. Lastly, Dorine reports, “I just never really felt good while I was taking it.”

Traveling had always been one of Dorine’s passions, and she went on a few trips without taking the Methotrexate. When she came back from a safari in Kenya, she decided to go off the medication, stating “I just got tired of taking the meds.” Six years later, Dorine is still off the Methotrexate. She attributes this to her faith, “I have always been religious- my religion has given me strength to deal with this.” In addition, she swims and walks on the beach daily, and stresses the importance exercise has had on her health. With regards to diet, Dorine stays away from fatty foods, enjoys salads, fruit, chicken, small amounts of meat, and nutritional supplements.

Although Dorine realizes that going off her medications is not necessarily the answer for everyone that suffers from rheumatoid arthritis, she is thankful that it worked for her. She reports she does have periodic flare-ups and is able to control them with an over-the-counter pain reliever. She advises those with rheumatoid arthritis to see their doctor immediately, as the medications can relieve pain quickly, and prevent permanent damage.