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I'd highly, highly recommend the book Freedom from Pain by Peter A. Levine and Maggie Phillips (https://www.amazon.com/Freedom-Pain-Discover-Overcome-Physical/dp/1604076631/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&qid=1491171177&sr=8-1&keywords=freedom+from+pain&linkCode=ll1&tag=outofthehum0e-20&linkId=638ac5de25ce326befd502620bc778ae). Not only does the book explain research and practices in an easy-to-understand way, the book comes with a CD of guided meditation. I can't tell you enough how much reading this book and following it's exercises has helped me.

In addition, I've found that there are several good YouTube channels such as TheHonestGuys (https://www.youtube.com/user/TheHonestGuys). They have a TON of guided meditation and some of them help with pain. I find I like to do a different one every time though - they have so many.

I've also found that Amazon Prime has beaches you can watch - literally beach waves go in and out, which can be very calming. There's also fireplace videos that can do that as well.

On some Blueray players (with Wifi), there is an app called FitYou - that has a whole Guided Meditation channel. The videos are free to watch (and great) but there are usually commercials in it every few minutes or so.

Spotify also has some great music as others have mentioned.

Additionally, I've found that energy meditation along with gentle (very gentle) tai/chi Qi Gong meditation helps a lot and also helps move and stretch the muscles.

One great thing to do, which I've been doing, is check things out at the library first (like a cd or dvd) - then you can see if it help and works for you - before you buy. :)

In general, I spend 20-minutes+ around lunch time every day to do some kind of mindfulness meditation, then I often to tai-chi or gentle exercise later in the evening.

Hello devousivac and welcome to this forum.

(1) I had the classical presentation: pain and stiffness on waking in the morning, bilaterally, in multiple joints.

(2) How disabling is RA? It varies but most people respond well to treatment. My pain is intermittent with flare ups or overexertion; physical fatigue and "mental fog" are the worst constant symptoms.

(3) What else should you know?

• It frequently takes several doctor visits before you get an RA diagnosis.
  
  
• It takes a while for medication to reach full effectiveness, be patient.
  
  
• Medical treatment has greatly improved in the last 20 years and is getting better all the time. There is reason for optimism.
  
  
• There are books that give you a good overview of RA, for example:
  
  The First Year: Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed
  http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1569243646?keywords=rheumatoid%20arthritis&qid=1450423464&ref_=sr_1_1&s=books&sr=1-1
  
  Living with Rheumatoid Arthritis (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book) http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1421414279?keywords=rheumatoid%20arthritis&qid=1450423464&ref_=sr_1_3&s=books&sr=1-3
  
  
• Here is a good web site: http://rawarrior.com/
  
  Best of luck to you!

I have had tremendous success and relief since I started taking probiotics.

I take this one: http://www.amazon.com/Garden-Life-Primal-Defense-Capsules/dp/B000GWG8FS

It has many cultures in it, which I have read is beneficial. Some brands tout that their product has millions of cells, but a variety of cultures has proven to be effective, in my experience.

Best of luck!

HotHands Body & Hand Super Warmers - Long Lasting Safe Natural Odorless Air Activated Warmers - Up to 18 Hours of Heat - 40 Individual Warmers https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0007ZF4Q8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_1SB1DbWJAAYKN

Used to use these for skiing :)

If you have a computer place nearby or work with an occupational therapist perhaps ask them for help. There are joystick options, some ergonomic mice may fit your hand more easily. Lots of stuff with non-traditional shapes. I searched for joystick mice on amazon and came up with lots of different stuff.

Gaming Mouse with 5 D Rocker, TRELC Ergonomic Mouse https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07THFMNQ2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_sxtyDb62H0FN0


Image Wireless USB Handheld Finger Trackball Mouse with Laser Pointer. This one may be nice being handheld.. so you hold it however it works for you rather than turning to meet the mouse. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0057KL2AU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_5ytyDbB1HFN2D

3M Wired Ergonomic Optical Mouse. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00008KWWF/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_lAtyDbZJDKN6M

If you are now on Metho I'm sure your aware that alcohol should be limited. But I have since cut it out completely. Once I really started listening to my body I noticed that even one drink would put me in a world of hurt.

And like others, I am on an anti-inflammation diet. I do feel healthier overall making dietary changes. It has been slow small improvements but I hope over time to notice greater change.

My biggest guide for nutrition is The Paleo Approach by Sarah Ballantyne It is very informative and thorough.

I hope you find what works for you :)

Don't know about braces as I've had both knees replaced. I use a cane all the time because I am not real stable -- so not so much for support as for balance. I use this cane because the handle is easy on my aching hands (sorry for the long url I don't know how else to do it)
http://www.amazon.com/Wood-cane-comfortable-sufferers-distributes/dp/B000VWYYHW/ref=sr_1_3ie=UTF8&qid=1412175935&sr=8-3&keywords=ergonomic+cane

Also, with a cane, be sure to get the right height or have it sawed off to the right height.

Black and Decker makes a great electric jar opener that is a bit expensive but I use mine all the time.

And I totally agree on the paraffin wax bath. Love mine!

I have one friend that really well on "The Plan," https://smile.amazon.com/Plan-Eliminate-Surprising-Healthy-Fat/dp/1455515493/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+plan&qid=1554808606&s=gateway&sr=8-1 The author believes everyone responds differently to foods. She picks the "least inflammatory" foods and then you slowly reintroduce food types to see if you are reactive to a particular food--it helps you pick the best diet for you.

I too have heard about these tenuous links between GI inflammation and RA. Again this is all too new to make any conclusions.

That being said, we know VERY little about how our gut really works. If you're interested, I highly recommend this book:
Gut: The Inside Story of Our Body's Most Underrated Organ. There's so much new research going into how the health of our gut affects pretty much every single other system in our body. It's really a wonderful read.

I've used Cognitive Behavioral Therapy tools to deal with chronic pain with great success. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Teach Yourself is a great book with practical exercises. You don't have to do anything in order and it's easy to put down and pick up again when you need it. (no affiliation, just have the book and have used it for years.)

This is a good book that documents the trials of being young and diagnosed with RA, with a lot of humor and relatable situations. It has been appreciated in the RA community. Enjoy!
https://www.amazon.com/Hard-Grip-Baseball-Chronic-Illness/dp/194315614X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1510080136&sr=8-1&keywords=hard+to+grip

There are electric heating pads designed specifically for shoulders. This one is a bit pricey but it's a trusted brand, I got it earlier this year for my sister and she loves it: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000GC1YAC/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Implementing an elimination diet

Information on implementing Gail Darlington’s elimination diet can be found in this document (Nutrition and Arthritis, pp.237-244).  To briefly summarize the approach:

• The first stage involves eating the ‘safest’ foods:  trout / salmon / cod, fresh pears, carrots (fresh or frozen), mineral water (tap water will be tested later), and sea salt.
  
• No smoking.
  
• No coffee, tea, etc.
  
• No cheat days.
  
• More foods are slowly introduced to see if they lead to increased symptoms.
  
  If you’re interested in trying out the elimination diet, you may find these resources to be of interest:
  
  
• Details of Gail Darlington’s elimination diet, which I’ve mentioned previously.  That appendix comes from Nutrition and Arthritis by Margaret Rayman and Alison Callaghan.
  
• The newspaper article “Out went pizzas and pasta – and with them, the pain“.
  
• Darlington’s 1998 book Diet and Arthritis.
  
• The book Diet and Immune Function, which Darlington co-wrote.  Here is the preview for the chapter on RA.
  
  However, there’s one aspect of Darlington’s protocol that we haven’t figured out yet: why isn’t it as effective as fasting (not eating)?

I have the IMAK ones and I like them since they look a little less "medical" looking. I find that they help

https://www.amazon.com/Compression-Arthritis-Arthritic-Rheumatoid-Osteoarthritis/dp/B000N4G8IQ

This isn't medical advice, but I know of some people that have experienced symptom relief taking capsules filled with the four spices proven to have anti-inflammatory properties: clove, rosemary, turmeric, and ginger.

You can buy capsules here (Note some reviews even mention people filling them with one of these [turmeric] for RA).

This works well.
OXO Good Grips Jar Opener with Base Pad https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002DWA6KM/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_UFA1CbVR82BMF

For anyone also looking for an answer to this... I wound up buying these:

https://www.amazon.com/IMAK-Compression-Arthritis-Original-Foundation/dp/B000N4G8IQ

And they've been a great help. They don't offer the wrist stabilization that I was looking for but there are other products out there that may fix that.

Same happened to me during my last marriage...then I got my engagement and wedding band fused. If it got to spinning - I would use a ring sizer and put it in (here's an example: https://www.amazon.com/Guards-Filled-Ladies-Jewelry-Sizers/dp/B000NXGR9M)



For my second marriage...we got tungsten wedding bands and they aren't a fortune. I purchased two sizes and swap them out...

I use pilot v-5 roller ball click top pens (ink flows easily - no need to press), and i put foam around them so the grip is very thick. the click-top/ retractable feature is important, because it means you can put the foam low on the pen, which you can't do with a capped pen.

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B001E6A9M8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000N8LWB0/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 (red one fits around pen nicely, yellow can be cut and taped)

You could use an arm crutch, it would avoid pressure on the hands and wrists, but there would still be some on the shoulders.

Drive Medical 10105-1 Platform Walker/Crutch Attachment, Silver https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000N8P2X4/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_lKPJDbXCZ2W8N

A jar opener.

http://www.amazon.com/OXO-Good-Grips-Jar-Opener/dp/B002DWA6KM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1417133405&sr=8-1&keywords=jar+opener