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Paula, I tend to blame the foot problem on the rheumatoid arthritis. It started with my toes curling under and got so bad I could hardly walk. I had surgery on 3 toes one on the right foot and the second and third toe on my left foot (the side with the tremor). These surgeries were done each on separated occassions in the hospital outpatient department by a licensed podiatrist. Wore special shoe until each was healed (about 2 weeks.) I am not satisfied with the results because I still have pain and the toes are still curling up. I am about to return to the doctor. To make matters worse in cutting my toenails I cut to close and got infection in my toe which resulted in celulitis and I spent a week in the hospital in January fighting the infection - 50 IVs later and a hospital bill to choke a horse I was released and warned not to cut my own toenails again. I was taking a low dose of prednesone for the arthuritis and that I hear lower the ability of the immune system to fight off infection. Now I have finally managed to get in to a rheumatoloist who put me on methotrexate (3 pills all at once one day a week.) I have to be monitored monthly with blood tests and breathing tests since the drug is qute powerful Truly I feel like a zombie - taking mirapex, sinimet, diueril, folic acid, prednesone, a vitamin, a herbal capsule and the methotrexate. I who never took pills all my life except for tylenol and birth control (4 years) after four children. I hope if you mother has rheumatoid arthuritis she can get to a rheumatoligist who can give her proper meds. He tells me in six weeks or so I will see a great change. (four down and 2 to go) . My hands were my biggest problem with pain in the wrists and sometimes up my arms to my shoulders. The Parade Magazine in our Sunday paper had an excellent article on rheumatoid arthritis and if you cannot get a copy I will send one to you. Need your address. I am in Florida and I see you are in Canada. My husband's family on both sides came in to Canada from Cornwall England and on his mother's side from Switzerland. They eventually settled in Michigan. Best wishes. Marilyn ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn