All I can say, is like my Rheumy told me in the beginning, when I was afraid to take so many drugs, that it's possible that you will just get worse and worse and will end up an invalid, if you don't take it. I was to the point that there was no other choice. I was not going to continue to pretty much be an invalid. The drugs have been the best thing for me. The doctors watch us so closely with blood tests, that if there was something going wrong, it pretty much shows up in our blood. I've had rashes, mouth sores, hair loss, and hair gain too. I have a thick head of hair now because of being on the biologic @Xeljanz, that was first developed for Apolicia, which is an issue with hair loss. My Rheumy would also say that if I wanted to try anything alternative, to give me more relief, go for it, but don't quit the meds., because especially with the biologics, they have proved to either slow down the disease or stop it. Good luck to you and hugs too!

Hello. Yes, I went to an iridologist instead of a rheumatologist, and he put me on the MODIFIED ELIMINATION DIET and gave me a very potent detox of 21 days. I only ever used 10 days worth of prednisone (one a day) and have never taken methotrexate or any other RA meds and anti-inflammatories. The diet works, it;'s as simple as that. I am pain-free and all my inflamed joints are back to normal. When i eat the wrong food, mostly alcohol, I get inflamed within 24 hrs. My "doctor" said RA was incurable and the medical profession doesn't really know what causes it. Well it stands to reason then that they can't fix it! My iridologist knows very well what causes it, and has fixed me. No meds.

I agree with @A myRAteam Member. If it was so easy to "cure" RA with diet and herbs, there wouldn't be so many of us out there suffering.
Not taking meds causes irreversible damage to both joints and in some cases, organs. While the possible side effects can sound scary, the definite side effects of RA is worse.

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A myRAtea...

There is no cure,but dieting n natural herbs can reduce the symptoms. I too was scared of the meds n went off them,the RA ended up attacking my lungs,causing fibrosis. I ended up very sick n on a ventilater for 9 days. From my own personal experience, I wouldn't advise anyone not to take the meds.

I would like to add, lastly, that my sister called me two weeks ago, asking how "my RA" was. I told her I felt fine and she said well she is experiencing aching joints and sometimes has to crawl up her stairs to her bedroom..we all know how that feels. She has been feeling like this for 6 months. i suggested she stop eating the notorious inflammatory foods and as God is my witness, within a week she felt better. Also, any swelling, red and painful joints I had have completely normalised.