Please help?

sillyswede
sillyswede Member Posts: 47
edited 22. Aug 2010, 13:33 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi everyone. Just want a quick piece of advice. I've got what my GP at the moment thinks is Reactive Arthritis. 7 months since it's started and it's slowly got worse, moving from knees to ankles/heels/toes and hips and hands aswell. The pain has got quite bad in the last 3 weeks to a point of almost unbearable, at least at times.

Now, today, this afternoon, my left leg is suddenliy feeling very hot, "tingly" and a little bit stiff. Is this normal for arthritis/ReA? Should I worry or will this kind of thing just come and go?

Sorry if the question sounds daft to all you Arthritis pro's in here, but I still know very little... :!:

Thanks x

Comments

  • ironic
    ironic Member Posts: 2,361
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi, I have RA but I think some of the symptoms are the same as yours.
    Sadly yes things start up and can then disappear. Everyone is different. Sometimes my toes burn and tingle it's just the way we feel pain at that time.
    As DD says keep a record of all your symptoms to take with you for your appt. Have you got any anti-inflam gel? Sorry I do'nt know what you are taking at the moment. Sometimes heat can help but mainly rest if you can.
    Make another appt with your dr if you are worried as stress and pain can make things worse.
    Hope you get a good nights sleep and things have improved by morning.
    Lv, Ix
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Oh dear, poor you, I do sympathise. RA is an inflammatory condition, I don't know about reactive arthritis, but I do have something similar to RA and I remember well the swelling and the heat of affected joints. I used to use frozen peas as a cold compress as they mould well to the affected joints. The stiffness is par for the course - support the affected areas as best you can - even now I sleep with a pillow between my knees, either lengthways or across, to ease the strain. Umm, I'm tired, there must be more that i can offer but I can't think what! Sorrry sillyswede (you might be swedish but I'm sure you are rarely silly) I'll get back to you tomorrow with better thoughts. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • marion1952
    marion1952 Member Posts: 963
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Sillyswede

    Inflammatory arthritis can/does move around and can cause all sorts of funny sensations..

    When I first developed RA a couple of years ago (and before the treatment 'kicked in') I used to be very very stiff all over in the morning, then in the afternoon my body would 'tingle' and would start to 'defrost', and then in the evening it would start to 'seize up' again. That tingling sensation when it was 'defrosting' was a very strange sensation indeed!

    I also used to get 'hot spots' on the tops of my feet and toes .. they would feel like they were on fire --- and then it would pass off..

    I also used to get very hot at night - especially around my head - and used to have to change the pillow during the night..

    Marion
  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Sillyswede... nice to meet you. :D

    It is very difficult to predict what arther will do next and what joints will be involved..... and for each of us the pattern of pain and inflammation is as individual as we are. :wink:

    As others have said...keep a daily note of which joints are stiff, swollen or painful as this information can be very useful for the rheummy when you see him/ her.

    please let us know how you get on and keep posting..there are no 'daft' questions so never be afraid to ask!

    Iris x
  • skezier
    skezier Member Posts: 11,333
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi SillySwede,

    I got oa and pa and my body does the defrosting type thing as well. Its better in the afternoon as the drugs have done their job by then.

    Mine (and its the oa and pa so might be different for you) needs to be stretched and 'worked' a bit first thing else its bad all day... For me it does seem to be use it or loose it.

    Its a good idea to keep a diary and take it with you when you next see a rumo. A lot f this bone stuff is diagnosed from the history as well as the presented symptoms.

    I really hope they soon get you sorted and sending a ((( ))) and some hopes. Cris x
  • sillyswede
    sillyswede Member Posts: 47
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Good morning all.

    The burning, throbbing and hot feeling in my leg subsided last night but it's more painful right now than it normally is in the morning, and my leg feels 'tight'. There's no redness or obvious swelling, other than a little bit around my ankle perhaps.

    Thanks for the advice everyone; I've now started writing a pain diary to bring my rheumy appointment next month. :) Hopefully, he can make more sense of this than I can... :|
  • sillyswede
    sillyswede Member Posts: 47
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    And now the burning and tingling's back in my foot... I clearly spoke to soon :roll:
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Oh dear, I hope things have eased a little by now. I too have been troubled by/with pain overnight so, useless tho it is, you have my sympathy. Try gentle massage, gentle stretches, gentle anything to try and get things moving. As my arthritis is different I can't really offer much advice. Sorry. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Morning sillyswede

    Sorry that the burning and tingling in your legs continues :roll:

    If it is increasingly painful perhaps you should give your doc a call? or even speak to NHS 24 if your doc doesn't have a Saturday surgery.

    You might be better being seen and not wait until you see rheummy to get advice and perhaps some meds to relieve some of your pain and discomfort. :?

    hope it all eases...if not, think about seeking professional medical advice. :wink:

    Iris x
  • sillyswede
    sillyswede Member Posts: 47
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks Iris. If it doesn't get any better, I think I might. It seems to stem from my ankle/Achilles tendon. It's still throbbing. Will see how it goes...! :)
  • Rainbow77
    Rainbow77 Member Posts: 275
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Silly Swede

    Sorry to hear about your recent discomfort. You mention your achilles tendon, this is a well known place for Reactive Arthritis to attack so it is all definitely related. It attacks the tendon because the make up of it is very similar to bacteria that triggers ReA and so is trying to clear it, but has got confused. (That is one school of thought of it)

    Yep, keep writing it all down.

    Take care

    Fayann xxx
  • dreamdaisy
    dreamdaisy Member Posts: 31,520
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi sillyswede. How are things today? Easing, I hope. DD
    Have you got the despatches? No, I always walk like this. Eddie Braben
  • sillyswede
    sillyswede Member Posts: 47
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi everyone.

    Fayann: yep, Achilles tendon and knee tendons are the worst affected, but joints in my knees and ankles are hurting today. Starting to get aches in my elbows now aswell :? Project pain diary launched, and I've written a brief summary of how it's all progressed since it started some 7 months ago aswell. Hopefully that will give my Rheumy a clear picture! :) x

    DD: Feeling much better today. Had remnants of the inflammatory pains yesterday so rang the doc on call and was told it sounds like I have sciatica.... :roll: Just general pains in joints today, but without the red hot and tingling feeling, so quite happy for now. Full day at work tomorrow now, and unbearble pains in ankles and knees to be expected, followed by stiffness.... :roll: :( x
  • sillyswede
    sillyswede Member Posts: 47
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    By the way, I do have a week off work after tomorrow, which will mean less pains! :D x
  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi sillyswede

    glad some of the pain and burning sensation has eased a little.

    good for you getting things down on paper in preparation for seeing the rheummy.... it does help to see the pattern of pain, swelling, stiffness, tingling.... all tell a story that the doc will interpret when looking at your treatments. :wink:

    will be thinking about your poor ankles and feet when you're back at work.... do you have to stand all day?

    at least you've got the prospect of a week off later to look forward to when you can rest those joints. :mrgreen:

    Take care,

    Iris x
  • sillyswede
    sillyswede Member Posts: 47
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you Iris! :) Yeah, work is in a busy clinic at the local hospital, where I'm on my feet for 8 hours apart from about 20 mins at lunch. Definitely looking forward to a few days off, and being able to sit down every so often for a quick rest...! Took som Brufen gel yesterday which took the edge off the pain, so will keep using that me thinks! :)
  • marion1952
    marion1952 Member Posts: 963
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi Sillyswede

    I have problems with my Achilles tendons sometimes when my RA is flaring up in my ankles/feet and I find that doing gentle exercises, to stretch the tendons, before I get out of bed, helps. You will find them on the internet, but the one I do is just the simple flexing the foot upwards (do it slowly) and holding that position for several seconds - this will stretch the tendon(s)..

    Hope you get through this week OK - cross each day off on the calendar - just 5 days and then you will be on holiday!

    Let us know how you get on.

    Marion

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