Head, shoulders, knees but not toes

Starburst

I've been on my first anti TNF for 3 months and the results are gooooooooood. Hand and wrist symptoms are 95% GONE. My shoulder symptoms are GONE. My knee and hip symptoms have improved considerably. My fatigue has eased so so so so much. Obviously, the pain is in my already eroded joints is still there but I've hopeful the cimzia will prevent any more damage from happening in the above mentioned joints.

So, what's the problem?! My feet and ankles are! They are as bad as ever, if not worse. They've been looked at again by my (very handsome ) ortho surgeon who's sending me for a 2 hour (!) MRI of both feet and ankles but based on his examination, he thinks it's probably a combination of active RA and possibly some erosions.

Over the years, I've responded in varying degrees to different medications but I've never had any improvement below my knees. It's been agreed by 2 consultant rheumatologists, 2 rheumatology nurses, 1 specialist rheumatology physio and an experienced foot and ankle ortho doc that it is definitely active RA. MRI scans have also confirmed this, so yeah, it's baffling. Any thoughts?

Boomer13

Perhaps you need some more months on the drug to get the inflammation in your feet under control.

Could it be that you're doing a little more because your feeling better and this is aggravating feet and ankles that are still inflamed?

stickywicket

Sorry, I can't help, Sophie. It does seem baffling. I don't suppose you have OA in your feet? I get the anti-tnfs wouldn't touch that.

villier

gosh sophie a 2 hour mri that's going to be some task lying still for that length of time, hopefully though it will show up whats happening in your ankles and feet, I am so pleased that the rest of your joints are a lot better keep us posted how you get on.............marie xx

dreamdaisy

I empathise, my feet and toes hurt all the time, my ankles too. The toes is my PsA, the feet I don't know or care, the ankles my OA together with Achilles tendonitis (left) and plantar fasciitis (right) and my knees are unspeakable. The positive is that you are feeling the benefit of the med and I too wonder if this is leading you to try and do a little too much, hence aggravating the hurty feet. It's not fair, is it? DD

Kittkat

Ooh how annoying glad you have improvement in the other parts and hope you get something sorted soon! Perhaps you need longer on the drug to suppress the active ra and you will improve in time. x

dreamdaisy

Hello, how have things been today? I have been thinking of you. DD

Starburst

Thank you for the replies. I'm in a lot of pain in my feetsies today but I have rested and slept plenty.

I am moving around a bit more because I am feeling better overall. That said, I'm still not very active and certainly not active as I should be. I will know more after the scans on Tuesday but historically, the problem has been synovitis and the consultant thinks it's likely this is the same problem. I'm hoping for answers, so I can move forward and get moving! I'm desperate to move from a crutch to a stick too.

barbara12

Gosh I do feel for you, you must have been so pleased when the pain eased but then it stops at your feet...sorry I cant offer any advice..but I just hope your feet will start to improve very soon...xx