Pain but no inflammation

Star2001

Hello can someone tell me how the pain can be bad if registrar says he can see no inflammation please. I know I am in a lot of pain but the joints are not red just a bit swollen. I have ra. Thanks.

stickywicket

Oh it can be, Star2001. Swelling, in itself, can indicate inflammation. What are you taking for it?

valval

often my joints do not even look very swollen but can feel the swelling inside when try to move the joints it a strange disease this arther

dreamdaisy

How long have you had RA, what meds are you taking? As your joints are swollen that would indicate that inflammation is present so yes, of course your joints will hurt. They are not designed to have any extra fluid in them or around them. Your registrar sounds a bit of a clot to me, perhaps he needs a refresher course in arthritis. Do you have a rheumatology helpline at your hospital that you can contact? I wish you well and I hope things ease soon. DD

Star2001

Thankyou. I am going to be given treatment when my latest blood tests come back I don't know what tests they are because the last ones were positive for rfactor. I dont know when I will see the main consultant but I hope it will not take too long. He will write to me. I dont know what treatment they will start me on. I am just taking ordinary painkillers and anti inflammetory tablets at the moment. I have not been told about a helpline but maybe I will be told when I am a regular visitor.

stickywicket

It’s all a bit bewildering at first, isn’t it Star2001? The main thing is that things are moving, they have some test results and are awaiting others and then you will be started on something that will, hopefully, slow down the course of the arthritis.

In the meantime, if things get tough, see your GP as (s)he may be able to suggest something to help. And, any time you want support, come here. There are some good people on these forums.

Starburst

Hello Star,

Pain and stiffness is a bigger issue for me than swelling. You are not alone in this. There is a medical explanation for why you're in pain, if you're interested. The helpline are really good at explaining this to you if you're curious and I very much was.

It sounds like you're in the early stages of being diagnosed and it's always hard. I promise you it does get easier. If you're still suffering, perhaps a GP appt would be useful to discuss pain relief. Some find ice and heat useful. Personally, a combination of both is good for me. I use ice for swelling and heat for general stiffness.

This forum is such an amazing place. I know you'll find plenty of support, information and understanding here.

All the best.

dreamdaisy

You sound as though you are at the very beginning of this. A positive RF indicates an inflammatory arthritis, I am surprised and saddened that you have not seen a consultant as yet and I hope that appointment comes through sooner rather than later. To find out if your hospital has a helpline you could try ringing the rheumatology department and ask them, but they won't be able to help you until the consultant has seen you.

What pain killers are you on and what sort of anti-inflammatory? Your GP may be able to help with those if they are not helping you that much. DD

PS I see sticky has beaten me to it! The forum is a good place to be, we know our stuff, please don't google anything. Talk to your docs, us or ring the AC helpline - there are some fab people on there too.

Star2001

Thanks to you all. It is early days for me and the consultant wasn't in the clinic when I had my appointment, just the registrar or whatever the equivalent is in rheumatolgy departments. He just said that treatment would be decided when my latest results were back and that I would get a letter. I take paracetamol and ibuprofen when it's worse but I think I am going to have to take it every 4 to 6 hours if the pain stays like it is. Today I couldn't say where I ache the most because I swear it's a whole body thing! I am glad I heard about this group.

valval

the secret is take enough pain meds to help you cope and move as close to normal as possible they will give you meds that help you better what you are on will not be helping much so stay strong things should get better but be aware most of meds take 12 weeks to kick in and not all suit or work on all of us val

Star2001

Thankyou all very much for the help today.

dreamdaisy

You are more than welcome. We are a knowledgeable bunch on here and good at supporting people. DD

frogmorton

Hi Star

good to meet you and l agree with the others you can be in pain when 'they' can see nothing!!!

very frustrating for us isn't it?

Hopefully when they start you on some halfway decent meds things will improve for you and the medical support will be there too.

In the meantime us lot are here and will help anytime we can

Love

Toni xx

traluvie

Hi Star..

Welcome to the forum..
I see you have been introduced to ome of the others on the forum..We are a good bunch and will help out if we can..
I have inflammatory arthritis with no RF factor and no inflammation showed on my bloods but i still get lots of pain and sometimes minimal or no swelling , so i presume it is this arthur.. it certainly likes to attack in mysterious ways..
Hope ypou get results soon and get started on treatment.. I was put on hydroxychloroquine and i have felt the benefits for that along with other meds such as tramadol(pain duller) diclofenac(anti inflammatory)..It can be a case of trial and error when first starting off as what works for one may not work for others..
I wish you well and keep u informed how you are..

nanasue

Hello Star, welcome to the forum, as others have said we're a good bunch for info: and support. I have RA (6 years ) and often when I used to see rheumy he would look at my hands and say "they're not swollen so you can't be in pain", when I would be in so much pain I could barely walk, and he was supposed to be good, but I found him uncaring and dismissive so I got myself changed to a different doc and she is so much better, she listens to me and doesn't tell me I can't be in pain when I am. You'll get used to some doctors being better than others and just because they're a consultant doesn't mean they're the best as mine is a registrar. It will take time to get sorted on the right dose and right meds but you will get there and things will be a lot better and we're always here if you want to moan or ask advice. Hope it soon gets sorted for you

Sue x

Star2001

Hello. I have been given some codeine by my doctor to help until I go back to the hospital. It makes me feel a bit spaced out but it has definitely helped me today. I have been reading the messages on here and there is such a lot of information in them. Thank you to the latest people who have welcomed me. If they say the same thing about no inflammation next time I will ask them what is causing the pain in their opinion.

sennacharib

Welc Star, I am new here too

Glad the codeine is helping you, hopefully the spaced out feeling will pass soon.

Yes definately ask them what is causing the pain and see what they say...Let us know how you get on hun.

hugs love senna xxx

stickywicket

An excellent question, Star2001, especially if asked nicely (Which I'm sure you would) rather than sarcastically. If we can work together with our docs we can usually achieve much more.

I'm glad the new meds are helping. I hope you get a good result from your next appointment.

tiggernut

Hi,
I have had RA for 27 years and very rarely have swollen joints but sometimes very painful.
I also have very painful joints sometimes when my CRP isn't that high.
We are all different and all have different symptoms.
The registrar should remember that.
Anita.

Star2001

Oh thankyou all so much. I feel better just being here and I notice that some of you have been here for a very long time which must count for a lot.

tjt6768

Good morning Star (sounds like a song, lol).. And welcome from me too..
Sorry that you have not had many answers yet, to be honest, answers are a rare comoddity in this world of Arthur..
I very rarely get any swelling in my joints, but boy do they hurt.. I have only recently, maybe past year and a half or something started with the RA but I have had Osteo many years.. They are two very different but equally as vile beasties..
Since starting in my wrists the RA has spread to my hands, elbows, shoulders and now I think that the surgeon I saw recently for my knees was spot on, they have been swelling lately, not too much but enough to cause pain.
Just shows how quickly it can spread..

On a brighter note.. Lol
This forum is a great place for, information, encouragement, friendship etc, so welcome once again..

Star2001

Hello and thankyou for the welcome. Goodmorning Starshine - Oliver - 1969 ( a great song!) My pain sounds very much like yours. Can I ask how they came to the RA diagnosis for you with only a little swelling? I am told it's RA but, as I said earlier, the doctor said there was no inflammation when he examined me even though my joints were painful when touched. I imagine the positive R Factor results is what they go on? I just can't wait for these next results. Have been googling to try and find out what an ultrasound scan will show - can you tell I am itching to move on with this? As many in here have said, once treatment is started, things could start to improve for me. I hate the thought of taking this codeine regularly but, if I miss a dose, the pain is still there.

Thankyou for the reply.

traluvie

Ihad ultrasound of my hands to see if there was any damage..It was inconclusive but i was adament something was going on as the pain i was experiencing was horrendous..because my rheumy believed something was going on he sent me for bone scan which showed up inflammation in various joints(nothing showed up in bloods), so at the moment i know i have inflammatory arthritis but what type am unsure, may never know but i am thankful i have strted treatment and have felt the benefits, hopefully ypou will too soon..keep us posted..

Star2001

Thankyou Tracy. I guess it's just a matter of going through the motions with one test after another until a conclusion is reached. As I was told I have RA, I just didn't understand why I was being tested further. I do hope they will offer me some treatment when they get the results though.