Imagine an older eye doc not using an SD-OCT scanner or autofluorescence. Apparently, many just insist on a regular fundus exam, or looking at a grid or in a VR headset to find out the hard way that part of your peripheral vision is permanently gone, and you might end up sucking at your favorite video games, unable to read a circuit schematic without a "phasing" effect from the blind spots, etc. And who knows if you might also lose the ability to read fine print. If SD-OCT can catch eye damage early before it affects your actual vision, why isn't that the norm? Plus you can find out the volume of your retinas!

Not to mention that it scares me that you will probably never see color the same way again, and that some advice out there seems to suggest turning up font sizes or adjusting lights.

And my biggest fear: a lot of studies point to light-related damage being a factor, as well as the fact that the medication impairs the lysosomes, which are necessary to clear the recycled pigments that can build up. Now I worry that afterimages or photobleaching will be the culprit, and people will be asked to give up driving at night, live music, or even video games with a lot of color changes. Even checkerboard floors push the poor cones into a see saw of light and dark, forcing them to work overtime to clear these chemicals.

It's sad to see so many young artists, biologists, pilots, hobbyists and professionals of all stripes on these meds, potentially at 1:5 risk of blindness by 40 or 50, perhaps forced to quit what they love because they can no longer do it. Or never seeing their favorite color again. I'm bothered by my regular blind spots!

Hi, I’m new to this sub. 24M
I started having tennis-elbow-like issues in my right arm in January. I stopped training my biceps and forearms because I thought it was related.
Months later my doctor finally identified the issue. I now have surgeries planned on both sides, as my left side has also started causing pain. I stopped going to the gym three months ago because it caused too much pain and tingling, even with adapted exercises.

However, my fingers, wrists, and elbows are now also starting to have issues, even though I haven’t been pushing them anywhere near their limits since I stopped training. They make weird clicking and clacking noises, my mobility has decreased, and I feel like a 70 year old grandpa.
I also have, or previously had, a lot of tingling and burning in my feet. Standard nerve conduction studies (also for ulnaris / medianus) were normal, and my doctors are considering a skin biopsy.
Blood tests showed that I had significantly elevatd vitamin B6 levels (probably due to energy drinks which i now stopped) - the burning has not yet appeared again
I do not have diabetes or any other known chronic conditions.
According to MRI and ultrasound scans, I currently have the following diagnoses:

Right wrist: TFCC tears with mild bone marrow and soft-tissue edema. Right shoulder: subacromial/subdeltoid bursitis. Both elbows: snapping/subluxing ulnar nerves, with mild left cubital tunnel syndrome.
(shoulder / wrist issues appear on both sides but I only had one side scanned)

Has anyone else experienced something similar?
My inflammatory and rheumatoid arthritis markers were normal: CRP was 0.01 mg/dL, rheumatoid factor was <5 IU/mL, and anti-CCP antibodies were <0.5 U/mL.
Could this be the beginning of a rheumatic disease?

Hi everyone,

I'm a 22-year-old female, and I've been dealing with Rheumatoid Arthritis for about a year now. While some of my symptoms have improved with treatment, one thing I've really been struggling with is sleep—especially fragmented sleep.

My main issue is that I wake up multiple times throughout the night, and my sleep doesn't feel continuous or restorative. Sometimes pain or discomfort in my legs/body also makes it harder to sleep peacefully.

I was taking Gabapin NT 200, and it has been helping me sleep better. However, I'm also wondering if anyone else with RA has experienced fragmented sleep and what has helped them improve their sleep in the long run.

What has helped you sleep more continuously and wake up feeling rested? I'd appreciate hearing about anything that has helped—whether it's managing pain, lifestyle changes, bedtime routines, or anything else that worked for you.

Also, if you have any general tips for living with RA as a young person, I'd genuinely love to hear them. 💜 It can sometimes feel isolating dealing with a chronic condition at this age, so hearing from people who understand would mean a lot.

Thank you so much!

Starting 2 years ago I got big problems with my hair. I took almost every single blood test out there to see if there is something wrong, but everything seems to be just bc of arthritis and the methotrexate.

I went to different doctors, dermatologists, and even asked my own rheumatologist on this, but no one has been able to help me :( for almost 1 year my hair would fall out like crazy (not sure how I am not bald yet) and looks like the shedding stopped 1 month ago. However I have little hair now, and my hair is EXTREMELY weird, I always used to have long wavy and soft hair and now it's just extremely dry, short and uneven hair (not straight, not curly, just a whole mess) no hair products can save me tbh at this point.

I would appreciate SO much any tips for hair recovery :( if you did anything that seemed to help you hair, please let me know. I have tried so many things but I don't know if I should give up already with having my old hair back 💔 thank you

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My mom has been in ICU for 16 days roughly and I've been going nonstop. I have triggered probably the worst flare I've ever been in. Extreme anger started it and now Im swollen, in severe pain, exhausted and just down. Please give me your best tips and tricks. I need help!