recently diagnosed

kaz34ni

Hi can anyone give me some advice.. dont know where to start, was diagnosed by my GP a few weeks ago with RA, that was it you have RA take painkillers oh and ur in the wrong job. I left with so many questions, like will i need to see a specialist being one of them, so went back to GP to be told im riddled with RA keep taking painkillers and theres nothing more he could do (im asthmatic) so cant take anti inflamitaries. Ive been off work for 8 weeks and time running out as im sure they are going to either push me or make me jump out of job. I just dont know which way to turn, what my rights are, if i will get benifits, im just lost to what to do next. HELP :?

skezier

Hi,

First welcome to the site, this is the place for answers so ask as many questions as you need.

Your doctor should refer you to a Rumo, not just leave you like that. Sometimes doctors are brutal..... Mine are but with the right help and medication it will be alright so please don't worry.

I am not much help cus I have oa but I am sure there will be a lot who can. Take care, Cris

kathbee

HI Kaz

Welcome to the forum, sorry to hear you
arent too well.

I think I am right in saying that its unusual
for a GP to confirm diagnosis and you should now
be at least referred to a Rheumatologist who will
be able to offer the correct medication, painkillers
alone are not enough to cope with R.A.
(You do mean Rheumatoid Arthritis I take it, as there
is also Reactive Arthritis as well as the many dozens
of other Arthritis complaints.)

You need some answers and advice, especially as you
have a job to consider.

I would be going back to the GP and asking for a referral
ASAP as its best to get on the correct meds sooner rather
than later. Personally I dont think your GP has been
forthcoming enough.

Good luck and let us know how things go with you please.

Take care
Kath

angel1

Kaz, hello, First, welcome to the forum. You will get all the help and support you need here. Like Cris, I`m OA so can`t help you there.

I think you would benefit by giving the Helpline a call, number at the top right hand of the page.

Also ,you will get some terrific advice from others if you post on the Working with Arthritis -I think thats what it`s called - forum..........You`re not alone......Ange.

frogmorton

Hi Kaz welcome from me too!
Blimey what a rubbish GP!!!
You need to see a reheumy and start odn DMARDs asap. they are not anti-inflams so don't worry. This is the right place for you to get your head round all this.
Get an apt with CAB to find out all your benefit rights and anyway what IS your job - who says you can't carry on?
Take care
Toni x

kaz34ni

thank you all for your replies. I work as a community careworker, which involves alot of manual handling. Have joined a union so hopefully they can help when it comes to my control of absence interview. as for my GP well im at a lose there. ive been having problems for a few years now ultrasound on my kidneys have shown up alot of scarring on my left kidney and some on the right, this absence from work was put down to "tennis elbow" Last one was down to sciatica and golfers elbow. fatigue was put down to depression, only now it has come to light that I have Rheumitoid arthritis. I actually thought i was going mad, hate going to gp (feel like a moan) so glad i found this site, you have all been very welcoming... thank you again x

joyous

hi kaz , im new on here to i have ra as well ive had it 14 years now i have asthma as well i cant take brufen now but can take celebrex which does the same job as them you cant have anythin asprin based either , i have been on lots of diff meds from the beggin , predisolne " steriods " still am low dose 5 mg a day 2 celebrex 200 mg , methetrexate injc , enbrel inj thats an anti tnf drug its brill , i take a tab to protect my tum thats called lanzoprozle and one for the allergies caused thru takin enbrel its a bit like hay fever the drug is loratradine "hayfever " tab . plus statin for cholestral and the usal strong pain killers mine is called solpodol its got codine in them , you have to keep mitherin at your dr's to get reffered i did but they do look after you well its all trial an error with ra what works for one doesn always work for another , the fatigue is always there part of the illness how many pick me ups you have doesn make any differnce . you have your good days and bad ones mine bit bad at the mo , they will get you sorted if you have to reduce your hours do it there are lots of help out there dla , working tax credits the min hours is 16 which i do , i get free presc eye test , dentists , bus pass , blue badge . have had lots of equipment to help me stair rails bath chairs tap turners tetc had a chair as well no longer needed it so they came for it today good luck with your ra joy

prayerman1973

I have, for about 7 years, suffered back, foot and knee pains.
I visited the GP who told me the stiffness was due to work (manual labourer). Again I went back with pains and stiffness, was sent for blood test which showed white count was high and was told to take paracetemol for pain.
Another visit for my knees, was told I have little cartilage and was prescribed Ibuprofen.
These visists went on and on and on so much so that when I got pains, which was often, I would become short with my wife who would prompt me to visit GP " why would I go to someone who is happy to get me out of the surgery?"

I have over the years bit down hard with the pain and at 35 I don't think that is normal, nor any age for that matter.
In Dec 2008 I suffered a severe lower back episode which left me needing crutches to get around, again I refused to visit the Dr.
May 2009 I had another episode but this time I did visit the GP who sent me for lower back x-ray, sadly it showed there is narrowing of disc space L4-L5. My Gp told me this was probably due to Arthritis but need worry about nothing just quit smoking, I don't smoke so I have no Idea what that meant. My wife was frantic and demandecd that I get a second opinion, so again I went back where the GP asked why the other Dr had not sent me to see a specialist. She then asked me a few questions about stiffness, pain and family history and instantly said "i'm not 100% sure but I am 95% sure you have Rheumatoid Arthritis"

My appointment with the Rheumatologist is 2nd July but I am having to return to GP on Friday 12th June as the pain in my hands, feet and legs are almost unbearable.

That is where I am so far, any help with how to live with this pain is welcomed.

sarahbenn

Hiya first of all welcome to the forum. I too have RA and find lots of things much more difficult than they used to be, as others have said you need to see a specialist at the hospital I went to several GPS with inflamed hands/fingers when my RA first started out only to be told repeatedly the blood tests i was having were coming back normal, it was one boxing day around about 6 years ago now, I sat on the living room floor and couldn't get back up again I'd had enough so took myself off to A&E I was in so much pain they were the ones who referred me to my specialist and now my Ra is under control i take methotrexate weekly which does have side effects but helps a lot with the Ra, I hope you all get sorted and get some help quickly as there's nothing worse than being in pain 24/7, there are lots of people on here with RA who will be able to answer most questions for you, i'm still finding out new stuff all the time all which is very helpful, take care
sarah

woodbon

Hello to the new people. Glad you've found this site as it seems you have a lot of problems to sort out. Firstly I was a care worker for the council but have oa in my spine and neck and so have had to except ill health retirement. It is a hard job to do when you are physically challenged but its taken nearly 2 years from my first sickness, maybe more. for them to get me to this point and I do have a full pension, as if I were 65. I'm 54. I had quite a few visits to occupational health before they made the decision, so perhaps the first lady (sorry, can't remember you name!) needs to get help from CAB, or if your in a union, they will give you a lot of help.

The diagnosis sounds strangely made and I think you should see a rhummy, to get the right medication. This is important for RA as some of the drugs slow the disease down, I think. The others have told you this, though.

Many people here have RA, so you'll get lots of advice and tips from them. I hope things get sorted out for you quickly Love Sue

debsmartin

Hello and welcome, I too echo all the other posts you need to get your doctor to refer you to the hospital to see a rheumatology doctor as its very important that you start taking DMARDS to prevent any further damage to your joints. I remember my doctor telling me that tey can only suspect that its RA and that it was rheumatology that would do the proper checks and confirm it.

You've found a great place to get all the help and support that you need.

debs