RA with a side of Lyme.

[zbratianu]

Good morning to all! I have had RA for the past few years with many failed medications where now I cannot seem to stay healthy enough to stay on a biologic. Thank God my PC is taking potty on my because my new rheumy doesn't believe in prescribing pain meds for RA. So..... yesterday I woke up with a body wide rash of large red circles. To which the walk in doc said Lyme. Now on day to of a 21 day doxixycline purge. Yay, anyway. Before all of this Lyme stuff I had my horse yank on my left arm pretty hard. (I was scrubbing a 10" cut so you can imagine he wasn't happy) now I'm sitting here unable to get dressed with pain in my elbow that will make me black out if I use it wrong. It seems to be a bit better; but I also took my am meds...so, do I return back to doctors? Or is it safe to say that it's just overreacting due to the RA and Lyme running rampid in my body. Suggestions? Anyone know of a good doctor in VT who's not afraid to treat symptoms and the disease? My last rheumatologist said it was the norm to manage pain until we find a med hat works. This doc makes me feel like I'm doing something g wrong. I've never abused my meds and have never upped the dose for three years. So I'm not just looking for a high, I hate the way they make me feel, but I also have a life and I need to be able to move to live it. With any amount of enjoyment. I have three children 3, 5 and 10. So life doesn't have the option to stop when I need to.

Ok that was much longer but to the points anyone have thoughts on docs point of view on symptom management. And would you have your elbow checked?

Much thanks and please no negativity I don't need any more snide comments.

Thank you all for your time!!

[Gloria814]

Hi,

I am fairly new to RA so don't know if I am giving the right answer but I would have the elbow checked if I were you. You could wait another 24hrs and see how it is and then go from there. But we can't forget just b/c we have RA that something else can't be happening that needs to be looked at. Don't know how long you have been with the new rheumy but it may be time to seek out another specialist. Does the doc check your inflammation markers? Sorry to hear about the Lyme too

I live in MA and don't know of any VT docs. My doc hear does listen to me and b/c I have Crohn/s I also have a GI doc who is very supportive. Have been with her for many years. Hopefully your pain will decrease and that you can get some answers

On my 2nd biologic now for 2 months. It helps some with RA but is not doing well w/ the crohns. I couldn't tol. humira at all. Awful / scarey side effects

I hope you get some pain relief and answers

[zbratianu in reply to Gloria814]

The elbow did clear up. Must have been a flare thing. Thank you though. My inflammatory markers are always normal. Even when I'm visibly inflamed. So it's a source of frustration for me because I then feel like they think I'm faking the pain.

I completely agree about not forgetting that other things can occur! I tend to always pass it all of as must just be the RA.

Yes hopefully this lyme's and RA gets cleaned up but I'm really becoming convinced that the RA was triggered by an infection. Like I don't know...,lyme's. I was tested at first and was negative... But who knows. I did have a rf >6000, so I understand something's up. But curious what.