Need advice

Bumblebee22

Hi all im new to this site and looking for advice. Ive recently been diagnosed with ra due to a flu, I ended up in hospital for three days with no mobility swelling of ankles kneecap and also I had blood tests an xrays done was quite a shock to hear I caught ra threw a flu. After having been diagnosed with ra im still in pain I thought once infection cleared so would the pain, im going to see a rheumatology specialist next week having still been in pain ive tried everything to ease it any suggestions would be greatful.


Thanks!

barbara12

Hello Bumblebee22
welcome to the forum..sorry I wont be much help,I have OA but I am sure someone will be along soon..it must be so scary for you it coming on so quickly ..I do hope you can get some relief soon..

Bumblebee22

Hi thanks for reply I was meant to put reactivate arthritis down instead of ra still trying to get used to the sayings of it.

stickywicket

Hello Bumblebee22 and welcome from me, too.

I'm glad you clarified that as I was a bit puzzled by your post. Reactive arthritis can come on as a result of an infection and sometimes it goes away again once the infection is dealt with. Sometimes it can take a while and sometimes it does go but returns again.

You say you have 'tried everything' to ease the pain but I doubt over-the-counter meds would do much. You could ask your GP for some anti-inflammatories as a stop gap measure and / or stronger pain relief but the rheumatologist will be the one to decide what you really need and prescribe it. Pain is an unfortunate fact with any kind of arthritis. I hope the rheumatologist will soon start you on some medication that will make a difference. You might find this helpful http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/AboutArthritis/Conditions/Reactivearthritis

Bumblebee22

Thank you very much for your kind reply stickywicket.

My doctor gave me anti inflammatory gel but it doesn't help ive tried hot baths ice packs, exercise to help my joints from stiffness but nothing seems to help. My doctor thinks it could another episode coming on again its going into my hip he wants me down for bloods tomorrow. Im going to rheumatology next Friday I hoping they will help me with this pain it keeps me awake at night also..

Bumblebee22

stickywicket

I'm not surprised it keeps you awake at night. Gels are very weak weapons in the fight against any form of arthritis. Your GP could prescribe anti-inflammatory pills and pain relief. I'm not sure why he hasn't unless he's assuming it's better for the rheumatologist to see you when things are bad. He could still prescribe pain relief though. Are you not taking any?

Bumblebee22

Sorry I should of wrote down that I also have chronic asthma an my doctor is worried that given me a strong dose of anti inflammorty would cause my chest to wheeze or tighten. Yes im taken 30/500 co drydmol but there not working I will speak with the rhematolisgt next week to see what he suggests. Im sorry for any confusion.

stickywicket

Ah, I see. You do have a problem. Anti - inflammatories can indeed make asthma worse. The co - dydramol is the strongest dose of those. The GP might be able to give you something to help you sleep at night but pain is the backdrop to our lives and we do have to learn to live with it, I'm afraid.

Bumblebee22

Thanks again for the reply.

I will have a chat with the rheumatologist see if he can gave me a anti inflammatory that wouldn't set of my asthma. I will see doctor to see if I can get something to help me sleep, thank yoy very.much for your reply and help it means alot.

Bumblebee22

dreamdaisy

Reactive arthritis (RctA is my chosen abbreivation) is a tricky beast, at least yours has been spotted and will be investigated. Obviously we don't know your full medical history or how controlled your asthma is: I have it too but mine is under very good control thanks to the meds I take for my auto-immune arthritis and my inhalers. I have diclofenac (with a stomach protector) as my anti-inflammatory, it's my third one. My first (Celebrex) worked like a dream but it was too expensive for my GP to prescribe so he switched me to naproxen and a protector. This combo was rubbish so another GP changed me to diclo, and the results are good. I keep it to the minimum but, after eighteen years of Living with Arthritis I am very used to the pain and realise that nowt deals with it as I would wish.

The good-ish news about RctA is that it can clear up and leave one in peace but, as with any form of auto-immune arthritis, it will do what it wants to do when it wants to do it despite medical interference. I wish you well and I hope your rheumatologist can help you in some way. Please let us know how you get on. DD

Bumblebee22

Hi Dreamdaisy

I have had rea for two months that's why the doctor is sending me to a rheumatologist as my flu has gone but im still in pain so he wants to see what's going on, the pain is manageable at times but sometimes pain relief isn't enough.As for my asthma ive had it since I was 8yrs old I'm now 28 it was under control when I was younger but as Ive grew up I had serve asthma attacks an pneumonia that's left scarring on my lung. I see a lung specialist and a respiratory nurse to help me get my asthma under control, ive heard of arthritis before I didn't know how many types there were its a horrible pain but im trying to deal with it. This forum is helpful thanks to everyone for your kind words and advice.

Bumblebee22

dreamdaisy

I was born with eczema and developed asthma when I was seven - this was in the dark ages before inhalers and all I could take for it was cough medicine, which didn't do much for closed lungs. I had my first inhaler aged twelve (Intal) and it changed my life. Asthma is a disease that is still under-estimated by those who don't have it but I hope yours is under much better control now, in this day and age there is no reason why it shouldn't be.

As for arthritis, there are around 200 kinds of the auto-immune kind and then osteoarthritis - I have a creaky foot in both camps. Two months is no time at all in the arthritis world but, if yours is RctA then there is a very good chance it will clear away in due course, then you will have to do your best to stay as bug-free as possible. It can be done, I have to because I have an immune system which is so suppressed I have to be very wary. My hands are washed frequently and when out and about I use gel and anti-bac wipes. The upshot is that I rarely catch an infection.

We live tricky and sometimes difficult lives but remember you are not the only one who does: family and friends may not understand but we do. DD

stickywicket

I'm sorry your asthma is so bad. I can see that anti-inflammatories wouldn't be a good idea given the circumstances. Let's see what the rheumatologist comes up with. I hope it's good

tjt6768

Just wanted to welcome you to the forum. The ladies have given some good advice. . I have both osteo and rheumatoid arthritis as well as osteoporosis.
I take naproxen, paracetamol along with fentanyl pain patches for the pain and they aren't enough a lot of the time. Sadly pain is a major part of most arthritics lives. .
hope your rheumy can sort something out for ya.

Best wishes and keep us up to date.

theresak

Hello there,

I'm so sorry you are in such a lot of pain. I can't really add anything to what has already been said, but I hope you get some answers when you see the rheumatologist. Hopefully you will get better pain relief.

Tezz x