newly diagnosed with reactive arthritis

Hi, I just wanted to reply till the helpline get back to you. It is a total shock to be diagnosed with arthritis especially when so young. It is natural to be struggling with depression when you are in pain and have had a total life change.

Painkillers are best taken reguarly, if the nsaids do not take the edge off enough, speak to your gp or rheumy again. There are loads of pain meds about, so no need to suffer. You can also ask for referral to a pain clinic to help you or physio.

Talk to your gp about the depression as well, they can offer you counselling and support as well as antidepressants.

Also try other parts of the forum, as peeps here are very supportive.

Take care

Hi sweetprincess

I also have reactive arthritis, I was diagnoses with it approx 4 years ago when I was 19. I was a very sporty person and went to the gym 3 times a week. With in a few days I was unable to walk on my right foot due to excess inflammation. It took my G.P along with many visits to the hospital, blood tests, ultra-sound, x-ray M.R.I and 8 months later an injection of steroids to get it under control. I went through the stage you are now of feeling depressed. I would get home from work on crutches on a Friday afternoon, And not go down stairs in my house until Monday morning because it was so painful to move unless I absolutely had too. I got to the point were I expected not to be able to talk again.

After the injection, with in a few weeks it was as if nothing was ever wrong with me.. Apart from I was 9 stone 7 and I was 13 stone before hand. I lost all of my muscle that I built for years due to not exercising and eating the minimum.

Ever since then I have had a few flair-ups but nothing that Diclofenac from my G.P could not control then it would go again. I am now going through a bad stage again (This is why I am on the forums) were my feet, lower back, left collarbone and neck. Its very painful to just sit up in bed. I had blood tests today to count the inflammation or something like that. My GP said there are different drugs that can be prescribed.

The things I think will help a lot:
Talk about it with other people that have it as you are on this forum
Find out all you can about it. A good website is http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org
Scientists are always carrying out research and looking for new treatments
Find out what you can from your GP. For example my GP has said to me that reactive arthritis causes inflammation and is painful but working that joint does not cause damage. So at the moment during the flair-up I try my best to push though it. It hurts like hell to take my t-shirt off. But I wont let it stop me. You will also read everywhere that you should keep your affected joints active. Swimming is what most recommend because there is no weight on your joints whilst working them.
Also know there are many different treatments and drugs for reactive arthritis and it may just be a case of finding the correct one for you. The best thing I can say is that, as hard as it is, try to keep your head up and not let it get the better of you. Make the most out of life. Stay in control.

All the best
If you would like to talk or any other info PM me
. I would be more then happy to help.

Glad that I was able to help. I hope that the website I linked was of use too. The nurse at my clinic used a web site http://www.webmentorlibrary.com to access information on reactive arthritis but this web site is not available for public use as far I as know.

Anyway I have the section on Reactive arthritis printed off in front of me that I obtained from the nurse, I believe this is what General practitioners refer to as well. about five A4 pages worth.

You asked what the treatments were for reactive arthritis. Copying in short from the list I have here:

If the trigger is an infection of the urethra, a short course of antibiotics, Gut infections have often cleared on their own by the time the reactive arthritis develops.

(Clearing the triggering does not usually alter the course of the arthritis, Once triggered, it will usually run its course well after any infection has gone.

Anti-inflammatory painkillers easy the pain and stiffness, there are many different brands and your doctor will usually prescribe one. There are no ‘best buy’ and some people find suits them better then others. So if one does not suit at first, another may be fine.
Some joins become very swollen, the fluid may be removed by a doctor with a needle and syringe which can easy the pain
An injection of steroids medicine directly into the joint, Rest, But as soon as you can it is important to get the joint exercising and moving again. Sometimes steroid tablets if its very bad.
Physiotherapy help keeps joints moving, and build muscle around them if you are not using them.
Disease-modifying medicine. Reduce damage done to joints, there are several for example suphasalazine and methotrexate. They don’t have immediate effect on pain or inflammation but they may help to prevent long term joint damage if symptoms persist.

I have shorted that information somewhat when copying it. I would be happy to Scan it and e-mail the lot to you if you think it would help. I am sorry to hear about your condition and wish you all the best.

I the first web site I linked there was information on a study carried out in Florida university about people with reactive arthritis that were put on a long course of antibiotics and another group that were on the placebo. Something like 1/3 of people on the antibiotics arthritis cleared completely and the others had significant reductions in pain and symptoms. Were as the placebo has no change of course.

Needs to be studied in more detail but it just gives you hope that in the future as medicines improve and our understanding of things increase there may be something in the future that can help to fight or even cure our condition.

Hi DreamDaisy and thanks for the invite. i will have a look when i get a chance. Hope that i have helped shine some light sweetprincess, wishing you the best and hope to hear from you again,

I was a technician for Audi when I got it and for the 8 months I was on crutches I was unable to because I was not allowed into the workshop for health and safety reasons. But after the period I got back into it. I have since left there, and now have just been accepted as a FireFighter. Since this original flair up I have been able to live my life quite well. Few weeks here and their of pain but nothing I can remember. Now I am going through pain in my left shoulder, Lower back, Both feet, toes etc. And at times it can be hard to get my jumper off or sit up in bed when I wake up. Makes me worry a lot about if I am going to be able to do this new Job in the Future? And if I should not bother wasting their time. But I want it so bad that I will do everything I can. The GP is helpful and I should have my blood test results back next week. I am hoping that a different type of Anti-inflammatory will help and this flair up will pass and allow to get back to normal. So It does effect me from time to time. And some times worse then others. But I have only had it 4 years so I don’t know how it will change other time. GP says it should get better but we will see. Everyone is different. It could be a completely different story for you. I hope that you can get back to normal. Wish you all the best.