how many people manage to keep working?

Bones, joints and muscles
1

Have been diagnosed for 10 years and been well enough to work consistently the whole time.  However I am now suffering a serious degeneration in health and have been off work for a month.  I am beginning to wonder whether I will be able to go back at all. How many people ultimately have to give up work... how did you cope if it happened to you?  Thanks xxx

2

Hiya, 

ive not been able to work so far, (diagnosed in December last year) I've been off sick since the beginning of September, each attempt to return has been buffered by a flare up. touch wood everything works out well as I'm back tomorrow on phased return. My jobs very demanding so it's going to take a while to find a balance! 

3

Thanks for sharing your story,  very best of luck with the return.  

4

Hi, I know from the FB RA group I belong to that it's equal numbers who do or don't work. RA's a condition that's sometimes difficult to prove to your employer that it's affecting you working. I worked f/t till last year when I was made redundant. Fortunately financially I was ok, but without work you may suffer and lots of people find they can't claim the new PIP either. Get some advice or look on the NRAS website as they have lots of useful information on there.

5

Thanks connie, what fb group do you belong to please?

6

Hi Georgina, I belong to 2 : Rheumatoid Arthritis Information which is an international group and my favourite group called Rheumatoid Arthritis Wonky Club. This is a more light hearted group that's UK only. We used to all belong to another group but they got too heavy & serious so some of use started a breakaway group. We're called the Wonkys after a children's story book about a wonky donkey. Hope one of them might be useful to you. If you ask to join the Wonky group say you heard about it from me. 

7

Thanks will do

8

Hi, I was diagnosed in 1987 when I was a full time mum with five children. When my youngest started school I got a part time job working in a school for disabled children. Sometimes it was difficult, but the meds I was on enabled me to travel to work and back on a push bike. I did have to leave eventually, when in my late 50s. Not because of RA, but because of Bronchiectasis and breathing difficulties.

9

Thanks very much :-)

10

Georgina, the key is to get aggressive and appropriate medical treatment from the start. Very few people with RA must discontinue working and it's been my observation that those who delay treatment or don't get to see a rheumatologist right off the bat AND see a rheumatologist every 6 months, have the hardest time of it.

Remember, most people who post here are having issues. By and large, the vast majority of RA patients [in he US at least] are on drugs that work and are out playing and not visiting these forums.

11

Hi there, I have had regular rheumatology appointments through the years, and have been on a range of drugs, most recently on humira which stppoed working for me so have now started on rituximab as well as staying on high dose mtx and leflunomide... have been well and worked for 10 years with disease but it is very agressive now and no sign of rituximab working yet! I will take your comment as a good sign that it will start eorking for me soon and I will be able to go back to my job! Thznks

12

hi Georgina

I have had RA for about 16 years and have tried all the mess, I am now on Etanercept (Enbrel) before that Infliximab. I honestly believe that without the biological drugs I would have had to give up work. they have been a godsend and I can only hope that they continue. I could not imagine having to give up work. Have you tried any of the newer biological drugs?

Bill

13

Hi there Georgina,I have had RA for 2 years and had to give up work.My job was a cook.I cannot do anything with my hands without them swelling and in agony.I really miss the contact with people.I can no longer drive due to my condition with alienates me. Hope you can find meds that will help you.

14

Thanks for your story,  sorry things have been difficult,  best wishes for you too. 

15

Gosh, I really hope so.

Incidentally, the RA forum in the US [I can't post the link because the moderators don't seem to like that] that I'm a member of is moving to a new website.  But you might want to join up. It's a great source of information with lots of people with years of experience.

Just copy/paste the term below in your browser [which I have truncated in hopes of it flying past the moderator]:

Emis Moderator comment: It didn't fly past me. If you want to exchange links such as these please use the Private Message service.

16

Doggone it........

17

If you are in the UK - don't forget Access to Work (google it). they can help with equipment and travel to and from work.