need help please

daftun

Hi about 7 weeks ago i started getting pain in my hand after 2 nights up in agony i went to the doctors hand was now swollen she gave me pain killers nothing helped blood showed slight inflammation. after a further 3 weeks in complete agony i eventually saw a rhumatologist by that time my inflammatory markers had gone up a lot and still rising even now was told i have sero neg arthritis. i was given a steroid injection in the butt given sulfasalazine i also take naproxen parcetamol and codeine also something to line my stomach cause of the naproxen . Well that evening i felt great could move the hand etc but next day back to normal awful pain and could n't move it plus very swollen. Anyway to cut this short i then went into have a steroid infusion same thing next day brilliant day after back to excruciating pain and it has now moved mainly into my middle finger which is twice its size and i cant bear to even touch it if i do i nearly shoot through the ceiling other fingers are also swollen i dont think i will ever be able to bend it again. my rhummy phoned me on thursday and if it hasnt eased off by next week i have to either have another infusion or steroid tablets.what i would like to know is how long has other peoples flare ups lasted is this normal for it to last this long and be this painful the pain killers dont touch the pain i get it in my feet as well i get shooting pains like pins being stuck in my fingers i cant dress hold anything drive i feel like my life has been taken away from me i also have suffered with back pain since the age of 16 im now 47 so i have lived with pain i also suffer with panic attacks and depression for 20 yrs and this seems to have started them off again. Sorry to moan but i feel so upset at the moment any advice would be really appreciated.

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franki

Hi

Sorry to hear you are not feeling so good. Unfortunately I don't think there is anything to guide how long a flare will last. From a personal point of view I find anything from a few days to several weeks. Perhaps you could ask your Rheumy if you could increase your dmard (sulfasalazine) dosage. You can take up to 3 grams a day, which is usually 6 tablets. This might help to control the severity of flares in the future. Steroids help in the short term, but in the long term it is the dmards that are most effective.

I hope that things calm down quickly for you.
Best wishes
frankie

daftun

Hi Frankie thanks for your reply well starting tomorrow i shall be on the high dosage of salfasazine i had to increase them over 4 weeks really hope they kick in soon not had a good day today again, my other hand is stiff now and my finger is so swollen i want to just chop my hand off 7 weeks of continuous pain is really getting me down now ive never felt pain like it i wish it would just ease off a bit at least .

woodbon

Hello, Sorry to hear you're having such pain. I think these things are different for everyone. It sounds as if you'r getting the treatment you need, but it may take some time for the docs to come up with the right drugs to help you. I'm sure you will feel better before too long. At the moment its a new thing for you and a shock, so you need some time to get used to things.
Lots of Good Wishes Sue

daftun

Hi Sue
Thanks for the kind reply i just feel so fed up at the moment i went to bed at about 1.30 am as the pain seemed to have eased off just slightly and by 2.45 am i was up again i get terrible shooting pains in my hand feels like electric shocks awful anyone eles had this?. Also as i said in my previous post i haven't been able to bend my fingers to clench a fist for about 6 weeks and the middle finger now for about 2 weeks will i ever be able to bend it again i only have to touch it and i could shoot through the ceiling sorryto moan all the time just such a shock to me x

breane

Hi,I recently had a severe flare up in my hands and feet.Pain which kept me awake all night and it was very difficult to pick up anything as I had no grip in my hands. My Gp put me on Naproxen,Omeprazole stomach protector plus a course of steroid tablets and the steroids really did help.Since I've been on them I've had no pain or stiffness.Been on them three weeks now but am gradually being weaned off them so don't know if the pain will return once I'm off them completely.Flare ups can last from a few day to several weeks,very unpredictable I'm afraid.I would have another word with your GP as it does take a while to get meds which are right for you. Take care. Breane.x

daftun

Hi ther thsnkyou all for the support and help i've just started this week on the full amount of sulf which is 2 tablets twice a day plus i take naproxen, i take paracetamol/30 or 45 but only seems to take the edge off slightly . On my first visit to the rhumatologist i had a steroid injection but didn't do much and 2 weeks ago i went in for a steroid infusion the next day i felt great but the day after back to normal. the rhumatologist rang me in the evening last week and is going to ring me this week as if things haven't improved i might have to have another infusion or take the steroid tablets.As i say this has hit me like a ton of bricks although i have suffered with back pain all my life i have alsways plodded on but like u say i cant cook i cant dress , drive i feel like all my independance has gone and as i have suffered with panic attacksfor over 20 years what independance i did have had taken me a long time to feel good about and now feels like it has come crashing down. so sorry i'm moaning again. I just would like to say i'm so glad i found this forum and dont feel so alone now thankyou xx