Tomorrow will be a week since surgery! Anyone heard how she is doing? Should be over the worst of the pain & just needing to go easy for awhile but keep moving. Don't know if they send folks to rehab there or not. Anyway hope she is home soon! We are thinking about you Kathy & praying for your full recovery!! Jan

What a nice surprise to find some old friends here this weekend - Florence, I'm glad to see you're doing well - I think of you! We're getting a little break in weather today (spring has been cool, wet). I pruned roses a little late, then found critical deer had done my job over, which led to me pruning again to straighten up what they'd reshaped. Someone has to come to an understanding around here on who gets the final say on the roses :) My fault, I'd been lax in spraying repellent with the uninviting weather, now this afternoon I've got to get that done so it doesn't happen again. (((((hugs)))))

Junebug, how interesting! Like Joann, I did a search and read some encouraging stuff. What is the potency of your time-release B vitamins? Thanks, Susan

Jenn---I have RA and your symptoms are more like OA than RA. Mine started at age 8, went into remission until age 27 and has been from moderately to very active ever since. It moves from joint to joint. OA on the other hand usually comes with age and usage and the joints effected would most often be those that get the most use. Knees, hips, etc. Excercise is important for both varieties but not done properly can cause more damage than good. It's possible to have both types at the same time. Google recommended exercises for arthritics. I think you'll find the exercises will be of a more gentle nature stressing a lot of stretching with modified versions of those you are probably use to doing. No jumping jacks and hard joint jarring but do use 3 to 5 pound weights and stretcher bands in a slow and controlled manner. You need a doctor to recommend medication. All the drugs used to treat arthritis have side effects that have to be monitored. If you have a history of stomach problems then the nsaids could be a problem if not closley monitored. The same can be said for the OTC drugs advertised for arthritis. Unfortunately, when we are suffering from pain that can be pretty severe, we tend to over medicate. Always know what the medication your taking can do if not taken as directed. Just be as informed as you can.