RA and pain!

kellis

I don't understand my RA!

According to my rheumy, I have a problem with my little toe joints (had an x-ray a couple of weeks ago which showed some deterioration) but I have no, or very little pain in my toes! He took me off mtx 17.5mg and put me on leflunomide 20mg because apparently it's better!

But I do get pain in other places - severe pain!
Through most of January the ball of my right foot was swollen making standing very painful and walking excruciating.
Two days ago it was my left wrist and hand. The wrist was swollen and my fingers wouldn't straighten - but that is fine now.
This morning it's my right shoulder. It started hurting around 10pm last night and I've been up since 5.30am unable to sleep as it feels as if my shoulder is being ripped from it's socket! I've taken 10mg of cortisone and it's starting to ease a little now - it will be fine by lunchtime.

My rheumy only seems to be interested in the joints in my hands and feet and just shrugs off any other moans and winges that I have as being 'part of it'.

Is this normal - am I normal - is my rheumy normal???!!

I'm off for a long hot shower to cheer myself up!

x

jaspercat

Hi Kellis, your Rheumy sounds like mine, only interested in finger joints not anywhere else, you are perfectly normal, the pain travels around all over the place, I have been given Tramadol now for the pain, at least my gp is helpful, have you spoken to your gp about pain relief? hope you feel better soon love Jaspercatxx

colinone

Hi Kellis
if you find out what normal is please let me know. The way i understand it is that if you have inflamation in your hands and feet it is easyer to see and therefore if you have it there you can have it anywhere. however you dont need to be swollen or inflamed to have the pain. The way you explain the wat it moves about and comes and goes sounds like RA to me but hey i'm no doctor lol. Take care
Colin

lindalegs

Hi Kellis,

I think your Rheumy only concentrates on your feet and hands because this is usually where damage first starts to show in RA. The smaller joints are affected before your larger joints like your knees and hips and therefore it's easier for him to see how quickly your disease is progressing.

Also it sounds as if your RA is still at walkabout stage and hasn't settled down yet so these pains that come and go, although they are extremely painful, won't be doing any speccific damage to your joints yet.

.........that's my understanding anyway......so maybe he's not as crazy as you think and you're possibly not crazy either - it's just RA it drives us all crazy

Luv Legs