Devastated and scared

marouko86

Hello everyone. 4 days ago I went to sleep happily looking forward for my holiday in Greece, making plans for the weekend with my kids and thinking what to eat for lunch at work. I woke up with swollen ankles and unable to walk. As the day went by it progressed to knees, elbows, wrists, fingers, toes. Worst pain I have ever imagined (and I thought I'd never say this after I gave birth naturally a 12lb baby). Emergency doctor burted out the term reactive arthritis. I'm petrified and hopeless. It's been 4 days stuck in bed not being able to stand unaided or play with my kids. The uncertainty of the future is killing me. I'm the middle of a divorce and I have to relay on my ex for taking to toilet or bringing food. I cannot just comprehend how my life changed overnight. Is there light at the end of the tunnel?

Naomi33

Hello @marouko86 and welcome to the online community.

Sorry to hear your concerns and completely understand and believe me you are not alone !!

The following link maybe of help…..

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/reactive-arthritis/

Stay positive best wishes @Naomi33

Emmasknackeredjoints

@marouko86 I hope you dont have reactive arthritis . The pain is unbelievable and no one understands or believes the challenges, as this condition is thought to self resolve in 3-6 months.

I'm at 4 yrs in and still struggling.

If your in that level.of pain ask if you can have prednisone to start with, to get out of the pain and feel settled for now.

That will at least get you sleeping and thinking straight.

Lorraine_24

Hi @marouko86 what you're describing is exactly what happened to my 26 year old son last year, he had been on holiday to Mexico, got food poisoning the bacteria from from the food poisoning gave him reactive arthritis, he spent over a month in hospital unable to walk at all, thankfully his mobility improved and he can walk but unfortunately nearly a year on he's still no better, I truly believe if they can get right meds to suit him he'd start to improve, he's tried all combinations they have prescribed none have worked and are causing issues with his liver, currently waiting on appointment from consultant to start something new, I can honestly say I'm at my wit's end trying to get him help, they don't seem to have a clue when it comes to reactive arthritis, I'm still trying to find a specialist and have yet to find one, some people are lucky and it can go away in a few weeks or months, I was told 1 to 3 year's, it's so frustrating the lack of knowledge around it and heartbreaking watching him, and how his life has become, the only advice I can offer you is to keep on top of things with consultant's, and if you feel something not working for you insist on trying something new

Lorraine