Acceptance of RA and hand splints.....

gemmarh100

Hi all, I have RA and have only been on MTX for 3 weeks and already my dose is upped to 10mg (which I know is not high, but I guess there's more to come) :roll:

I have just been feeling a bit down/lost...I guess I just haven't accepted that this will be my life now...endless blood tests, popping pills and appointments... :roll: There always seems to be RA pain, or nausea, or something...I don't remember what 'normal' feels like.....

Also, a question about hand splints....my OT made me a hand splint because I was waking up in the morning, with my fingers stuck into a bent position. But now I'm wearing the splint all night, when I wake up...really painful and can't bend them....ANY SUGGESTIONS??

Thanx, you guys on here are really helpful and friendly
Hope you are all well
Gem xxx

Boomer13

Hi Gemmarh100;

I've been in hand/wrist splints for 8 yrs on one hand and 6 yrs the other, (wow, I had to think about that, didn't realise it has been soo long). I usually have a hot soak of the hands first thing after the splints are off. It takes a while to get mobile and heat is really the only thing that helps me.

Good luck,
Anna

ELAINE55555

HI Gemmarh100,
You have only been on mtx for 3 weeks. I promise you, things will get better. Unfortunately the mtx takes about 12/14 weeks to work, so hang in there!
elaine

trepolpen

hi

think if they get your RA under control you wont need to ware them much , it takes time to get there & think they will increase you MTX a bit

what level of folic acid they giving you , higher dose can help with the side effects from MTX , been on it 15 years myself & its a good drug for RA

hope you feel better soon , its hard when you start out with RA

gemmarh100

Hi, thanx for the replies... I am feeling ok today...but my hands are quite stiff, hard to type, It is my MTX day today, so i'm hoping for not too many side effects.... :roll:

I take a 5mg folic acid the day after MTX (tomorrow) but I think that's quite low...???

I have been prescribed co-codamol for pain...so now the list is
MTX 10mg weekly
Folic acid 5mg weekly
Naproxen 1000mg/day
Omeprazole 20mg/day
Paracetamol 3000mg/day
Co-codamol - 2 tabs a day.

I feel like when I walk, I rattle with all these meds and I'm only 23!!! :roll:

Gem xxx

barbara12

Hello Gem
I have OA so wont be much help..I wear hand splints in the day..but dont need them in the night..
I do hope you get some help very soon...its rotten when the pain is never ending ((()))xx

DebbieT

Hi,

5mg folic acid doesn't seem low to me. I was taking 30mg mtx & 5mg folic acid the following day, like you, then another 5mg 3days later. It seems many people that suffer bad side effects take much higher doses. I was taking two lots coz I was on a high dose of mtx, I haven't had any side effects from it.x

dreamdaisy

You're not taking a great deal of medication at the moment so things won't be under control. The meds take time to build up into one's system so be patient and I hope you will begin to see an improvement soon. Arthritis does not respect age - no matter how old or young one is when it begins it's always bl**dy unfair. DD

gemmarh100

I appreciate the support, and I know everyone goes through this stage at the beginning. It is unfair, but I'm trying to be positive. I know there are a lot of people worse off than me...

Not a lot...??...it must just be because I am starting this journey and am not used to it yet, but it feels like all I ever do is taking tablets...

Thanx for the replies...its always good to hear others stories and to have someone to talk to who knows how you feel

Gem xxx

dreamdaisy

It must be tough in the early days if you are not used to this type of 'drill'. Quantity is not the important factor, I think it's more to do with the quality. 10mg of meth is not a huge dose, neither is 5mg of FA (I've never regarded the FA as a drug, just a general aid). I could take up to twenty five tablets of various things per day but don't regard that as any hardship and normally hold it at eleven. Needs must - luckily for me I was doing this type of thing from the age of seven onwards (I'm now fifty four) so don't think twice about it. You will be OK, Gemma, you will get through this, I realise it's a shock to your system but I am sure you will find a strength you never realised you possessed. DD

charleeh

Hi Gem,

I am 22 and have resting splints for night and daytime splints.

I find that when I am well I try to keep them off as if not your muscle goes to pot in your hand and even when your well you feel really weak. But the splints help me so much I need them so its finding a balance.

Some nights I wouldn't be able to sleep unless I had my resting splints on (I call them my paddles lol) my hands are stiff in a morning but I do really gentle movements that my hand therapist recommended for me to do so maybe your doc could refer you to a hand therapist too?

What are your splints like? My resting splints have a fleece type cover that you can wash and velcro straps. My day time splints are made from a hard plastic that bends when heated in water - so I can't get them hot!

When were you diagnosed? I have had it 5 years now and still feel like I am adapting!

Best wishes
Charleeh

gemmarh100

Hi Charleeh,

I have seen a hand therapist...who gave me exercises to do, which helped a little. Then she made me a moulded hand splint - the one that goes in hot water...that's the one I wear at night. It's not the most comfortable but it is stopping my fingers from curling up in the night, which woke me up with pain :roll:

My fingers are still stiff in mornings, and quite painful to move, but little movement is better than none.

I have been diagnosed since April this year, so I haven't had long to get my head round it, but I'm slowly getting used to the appointments, blood tests and meds...I am on MTX for 4 weeks now, no difference yet but fingers crossed (if I could) What meds are you on?

Hope you're well, Gem xxx

charleeh

Hi Gem,

I had my moulded splint from the hand therapist and my padded more comfy resting splint from the 'orthrotics' (I think it was called) department at my hospital. The padded one gives a bit more movement in the fingers and is soft and comfy (well as comfy as you can be with those things on in bed lol) for sleeping. Maybe if you ask you might get one too? .... I have learned he who shouts the loudest is always heard at hospital LOL

When I was fist diagnosed it took them about 5 months to put me on MTX and when it had settled in and got up to my dose of 25mg I was able to finish college and get a job and carry on with my condition manageable for a couple of years. I took on too much though, I was studying a HND and working a 40 hour week for an employer who was awful and discriminated against me being disabled and put me under so much stress I had a massive flare and the MTX stopped working.

Since I have been on a few biological drugs the 4th one is seeming to work better than any others but I am still in the 'tweaking' the dose stage lol :roll:

the best advice I can give is when the MTX starts working and you feel well again don't over do it - still take it easy as pushing too hard can cause a flare like it did me

I hope everything works out for you!

Best wishes
Charleeh