Shooting, stabbing pains

dvaidr
dvaidr Member Posts: 25
edited 20. Oct 2010, 20:30 in Living with Arthritis archive
I have PA and was diagnosed in 2000ish. For the past three to four years I've experienced what I can only describe as stabbing shooting pains which run from my feet up to my hips. This sometimes results in loss of leg power - I've fallen up the stairs at work on a number of ocassions. These pains are not exclusive to my legs. I also have them in my fingers, right from the finger tips up through the hands and arms an into my neck. It literally takes my breath away. It only lasts a few seconds, but that's enough to really floor me on ocassions.

I am taking Co-codamol (30/500), Naproxen, Amytriptilline, and Tramadol, when my pains are almost unbearable.

Has anyone else experienced this sort of pain, I wonder?

Comments

  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,781
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi david

    Welcome to the forums from me - there are loads od PA-ers on here - I have inflamatory arthritis too , but not pA.

    I so know what you mean about the horrible shooting pains - can make you shout (embarrassingly).

    You could ask the GP about it and maybe try one of the nerve blocking types of meds liek gabapentin or lyrica as it may well be nerves??

    I will let my PA friends fill you in with their ideas - probably more use :wink:

    Best wishes

    Toni xx
  • barbara12
    barbara12 Member Posts: 21,281
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi David
    Like Toni says, this sounds like nerve pain I am on gabapentin for this, but if your legs give way go and see your GP.
    Hope it improves very soon
    Barbara
    Love
    Barbara
  • Starburst
    Starburst Member Posts: 2,546
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Another one who think it sounds like nerve pain. Could it be an actual trapped nerve? They are very painful!
  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 19. Sep 2010, 08:33
    Hi david :D

    Sorry you're having such pain.. :roll:

    I have PA and experience shooting pains down my left arm and down both legs.... docs say it's the PA damage causing pressure or pinching of the nerves in the neck and back. I'm on Amatriptyline at night but it doesn't really help during the day! I also take the same pain meds as you.... taking the heavy duty ones and rest seems to be the only thing that helps.. but it's unpredictable and very painful.

    Best see the doc to have the symptoms investigated though.... as you can't assume it's the PA ; especially as it's causing you to fall down :shock:

    let us know soon how you are?

    Iris xxx
  • beowolf
    beowolf Member Posts: 88
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi David

    just wanted to welcome you :D

    sorry you're suffering with so much pain.... I hope you get some relief soon

    sorry I can't be of any help I have OA

    but i would like to wish you all the best :D
  • dvaidr
    dvaidr Member Posts: 25
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thanks for taking the time to get back to me.

    I had thought it might be nerves or something along those lines. Every Dr I've mentioned this to seems to dismiss it almost as a typical sympton of PA....
  • skezier
    skezier Member Posts: 11,333
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi David,

    Nice to meet you :D

    I am sorry you have this kind of pain... its so draining. I agree t sounds like nerve pain and I take pregabalin and for me, it works so well. Doesn't stop the pain but does bring it down t a bearable level.

    I really think they could be doing more for you and maybe ask about either the gabapentin or the pregabalin. Cris x
  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 29,781
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Even if it IS a typical PA symptom doesn't mean they shouldn't try to help you.

    Hope you do go to the docs.

    LOve

    Toni xx
  • dvaidr
    dvaidr Member Posts: 25
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Just thought I'd let you know the latest scare - cancer.

    I went to the Doc's about losing my voice as the day went on. In the morning it's back to normal and then I lose it by tea time(ish).

    The Doc whipped me off to hospital for the camera up the nose and down into the throat, to check for cancer - not good....

    Turns out that they think it's my joints in my voice box which are to blame....They think I'll lose my voice altogether eventually.

    Could have been the big C though, so I'm thankful really.

    Anyone else experienced the same?
  • joanneredshaw
    joanneredshaw Member Posts: 62
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    dvaidr wrote:
    I have PA and was diagnosed in 2000ish. For the past three to four years I've experienced what I can only describe as stabbing shooting pains which run from my feet up to my hips. This sometimes results in loss of leg power - I've fallen up the stairs at work on a number of ocassions. These pains are not exclusive to my legs. I also have them in my fingers, right from the finger tips up through the hands and arms an into my neck. It literally takes my breath away. It only lasts a few seconds, but that's enough to really floor me on ocassions.

    I am taking Co-codamol (30/500), Naproxen, Amytriptilline, and Tramadol, when my pains are almost unbearable.

    Has anyone else experienced this sort of pain, I wonder?

    Hi David

    I have recently been experiencing shooting pains in my fingers, it is awful, really painful. Like you say lasts for seconds. But comes back now and again and catches you off guard.I have also experienced my leg which started to shake when I was just sitting with my feet up resting.
    I have recently been suffering with myalgia, which in short is muscle pain. It affects my shoulder and goes right down my arm, but also tennis elbow as well.
    I think we are falling apart!! on top of the RA it gets a bit much sometime. I have hypertension and take meds for that as well as methotrixate, sulphursalezine, diclofenic, parcetamol etc.

    Hope things improve for you.
    Best Wishes

    Jo
    :D
  • dorcas
    dorcas Member Posts: 3,516
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hi David,

    thanks for the update.... but oh my gosh :shock: what a scare you've had. :roll:

    I'm glad it's not the big C though it's not a nice prospect to be losing your voice. :? I didn't know that PA could affect that too ....is there no end to what this condition can do. :x

    Are the docs going to change your meds?? is there anything that they think would be more effective...what about different anti-inflams or the anti tnfs? (sorry David you may have mentioned them in your first post)

    please let us know how you are....and what the docs are going to do to help you.

    Iris xxx
  • lavenderlady
    lavenderlady Member Posts: 409
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I also suffer from SMA spinal muscular atrophy and this causes nerve pain and loss of use my right arm is very very weak and i cannot hold anything as I cannot lift so is quite useless even tucking anything in the back is impossible as I cannot use that arm much am having a TWR on my left side on 2nd Nov so am going to be well out of action for a while, I went to a pain clinic who after checking me out said I have a badly damaged spine (spondelothesis) and he gave me gabapentin for pain which helps believe me I suffer bad nerve pain in my legs arms and along with my back and arther, I know what you mean about all of a sudden it grabs at you and have let a totally idiot when waiting in a queue one day I let out a hugh scream as the pain bit,