RA advice

smidsy

first of all hi to you all this is my first post on this site. I was diagnosed with ra last year after 6 years of joint pain and swelling. Sice just before xmas ive been having really bad pain in my shoulder,wrists hands ankles etc and for the last 4 weeks ive been having weekly visits to my doctor for cortisone injections and blood tests, he also told me to up my medication which ive done, but it doesnt seem to be helping, my right side is especially painful at present and i cant use my right hand its so swollen. Is there any advice anyone could give me on how to help relieve this as im also really worried about my job as im having to have time off as i cant work with only one hand to use. Any advice welcome.

lindalegs

Hi Smidsy and welcome to the Forums.

Sorry to hear you have RA, I'm also a rheumatoid.

Don't you see a Rheumatologist and if yes could you bring your next visit forward as you're so uncomfortable at the moment?

What medication are you on ....I'm wondering if you need something stronger to help you overcome this bad patch?

Have you tried a heat pack or ice pack to help get rid of the swellings?

I'm sorry for all the questions ...you'll probably get finger ache typing the answers :roll:

Luv Legs

smidsy

lindalegs wrote:

Hi Smidsy and welcome to the Forums.

Sorry to hear you have RA, I'm also a rheumatoid.

Don't you see a Rheumatologist and if yes could you bring your next visit forward as you're so uncomfortable at the moment?

What medication are you on ....I'm wondering if you need something stronger to help you overcome this bad patch?

Have you tried a heat pack or ice pack to help get rid of the swellings?

I'm sorry for all the questions ...you'll probably get finger ache typing the answers :roll:

Luv Legs

hi and thanks for replying

I do see a rheumatologist but cant get an earlier appointment than next month, im currently taking naproxen, sulfasalazine and co-codamol as well as the cotisone injections, have tried heat packs and bathing it in warm water but it doesnt seem to help .

katat1

smidsy wrote:

first of all hi to you all this is my first post on this site. I was diagnosed with ra last year after 6 years of joint pain and swelling. Sice just before xmas ive been having really bad pain in my shoulder,wrists hands ankles etc and for the last 4 weeks ive been having weekly visits to my doctor for cortisone injections and blood tests, he also told me to up my medication which ive done, but it doesnt seem to be helping, my right side is especially painful at present and i cant use my right hand its so swollen. Is there any advice anyone could give me on how to help relieve this as im also really worried about my job as im having to have time off as i cant work with only one hand to use. Any advice welcome.

Hello Smidsy
Glad you have found this site where the members are the nicest and most helpful folks you could meet! I was diagnosed with RA a year ago and I have found the site invaluable for support and information and hope you will too, even if it is just to have a rant and a moan!

When I was diagnosed I had very bad wrist problems - it was painful just to hold a toothbrush or do up my buttons. The rheumatolgy nurse gave me some wrist splints which really helped. Initially I wore them at night and during the day when I needed wrist support to enable me to do stuff. I sometimes took them off and used a heated wheatbag to warm my joints and this also helped. Gradually it got better and I used them less and less as the meds I was put on started to work (which took a few months).
One year on and I have no problems with my wrists at all - which is good because as an illustrator I need to use 'em!
Anyway, just wanted to say 'welcome' and tell you what helped me though I am sure you will soon get replies from others here who can give you additional advice based on what worked for them.

I hope you start to feel better soon. Though I know it is hard to be patient, it will get better now you have a diagnosis and teatment has begun.

((( )))

Kat

smidsy

well ive been back to doctors this morning and he told me he cant do anything else and im to wait till my appointment at the rhematology clinic next month, if i cant get it moved forward. Can i lose my job over this, i know that under the dda i cant but they have ways of wording things to cover this area. Like we are making cutbacks etc. This is really worrying me as the pain etc is bad enough without the extra financial worries.

breane

Hi,I have both RA and OA and recently had a steroid injection to help with the pain but it didn't work for me. However,last year I was given a short course of steroid tablets and the pain went almost overnight.Perhaps you could ask your GP if he thinks steroid tablets would be worth trying until you next see the rheumy consultant.My pain was in the hands,wrists,shoulders,knees and feet and I was prescribed the tablets as a 'quick fix' and they kept the pain at bay for several months.At the moment I'm on Hydroxy,Naproxen,Omeprazole and Tramadol but none of these have been as effective as the steroid tablets.I know steroids don't work for everyone so I was lucky and I didn't get any side effects from them either.Do hope you will soon be able to get some pain relief.Take care,Breane.

lindalegs

Try ice Smidsy if the heat packs aren't working.

If you haven't got an ice pack (which can be bought from the chemists) use a bag of frozen peas. Put a damp cloth on your wrist and hand and put the frozen peas on top, leave on for 20 minutes. When you take them off gently move your hand, wriggly your fingers and making a fist. This should help disperse some of the fluid and ease the pain.

Mark the peas and refreeze for using again but DO NOT EAT :shock: .

I find ice works very well for me, it's not as comforting as heat, but is better for reducing swellings.

I can't answer your question about losing your job but you could talk it over with the people on the Helpline at the top of the page as they might be able to help.

Luv Legs