Parkinson and rheumatoid arthritis

[Jerryk]

I have parkinson and rheumatoid arthritis how do I know my pains and stiffness is rheumatoid arthritis? What I have been seeing is stiffness and pain is also from parkinson

[Jerryk]

Who has both ? Rheumatoid and parkinson

[12stargate]

I have a similar question myself today.

My body hurts all over, and now i have a runny nose, and a little bit of a sore throat.

First I thought it was PD.

Now I think it is just the flu.

How do you know the difference between PD and justt plain ol' colds or any old thing??

Love, Eva

[Hikoi in reply to 12stargate]

Not 'just' the flu Eva. Flu is not nice and It can lay you low so I hope you feel better soon.

[12stargate in reply to Hikoi]

Thanks Hikoi!!

Hugs, Eva

[Court]

I, also have a problem knowing which, if any, of my pain is down to Parkinsons. I have had injections in my spine on occasions and the relief is marvellous. I also have injections for the acute pain in my knees. Again, the relief is instant. How do I know if these pains, which can bring me to a standstill, are due to Parkinsons? Or indeed. does it really matter? Pain is still pain, whatever the cause.

[Beckey in reply to Court]

Well, yes, pain is pain, but it's important to nail down the cause. That's the key to finding a possible remedy. What's in the injections?

I tell you one thing, and that's that I've had it up to here with my doc telling me that pain isn't a part of Parkinson's!

[christymw in reply to Beckey]

You're kidding? Does your doctor mean that PD doesn't cause pain directly? I mean slowness of movement is a direct result of PD-- but shuffling and moving slowly sure as heck are not not pain free. Ditto dystonia! Technically, I guess pain would be a secondary, but jeez how can anyone suggest pain is not a huge part of PD??

[Peaches in reply to christymw]

I agree. Sounds like it is time to find a new doctor.

[Hikoi in reply to Beckey]

Becky perhaps you would like to direct your doctor to some of the U.K. Work around pain in PD in the non motor literature, the U.K. PD survey where pain was number one concern for people with PD and the current Parkinsons Pain Study.

parkinsonspain.org.uk/Study...

Around 70% of patients with Parkinson's disease suffer from chronic pain. There has been relatively little research into the causes of pain in Parkinson's disease and we know very little about how to treat this symptom.

already they have 70 centres within the UK taking part in the Parkinson's Pain Study and hope to recruit over 1500 participants making this the largest ever in depth study of pain in Parkinson's disease.

[Beckey in reply to Hikoi]

WOW. Thank you for this.

[Court in reply to Beckey]

I visited my GP yesterday for another couple of steroid injections in my knees. He has not been my GP for long but my husband and I both like and respect him/

However, we got to talking about Parkinsons and pain. He said that Parkinsons does not, in itself, cause pain but that pain can come as a direct result from Parkinsons ie, change of gait etc.

I will gen myself up next time I see him. However, happy to report that I am almost, but not quite, pain free today.

[Andreajohnson in reply to Court]

I have had two knee replacements ant have unbearable pain in my knees and don't know is it's my arthritis or pd. How long do the injections last for giving you pain free ??

[Hidden in reply to Beckey]

I say bull stein!!!!

[TandT]

Me too! I have been diagnosed for five years. My symptoms worsened 18 months ago, I developed tendinitis in my left leg and what doctors think is arthritis in my right knee.

No one seems to have any strategies to find out whether Parkinson's Is causing it. I think that it is. I think that my changed gait as put pressure on my legs and they have responded

[JeanetteCW]

I don't have rheumatoid arthritis, but I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia 35 years ago and PD 12 years ago. My question was did one lead to the other, but I realize that when I try to determine the cause of my pain, I can't really tell if it's the fibro or PD. I was fortunate to have a neurologist diagnose my FM at a time when many docs didn't believe it was "real" . I know now that I pay close attention to my pain levels and will discuss this with my neurologist. Pain is one of the things that I feel affects me more than some of my other PD symptoms. I do try to keep moving, albeit slowly, but I take a gentle yoga class, and a dance class with a wonderful teacher who researched helpful dance for people with PD. I also have a massage therapist who has been helpful with pain relief as well as dystonia. I believe that you need to build a good team of folks who can help you deal with your specific problems. I would find a new doc if mine told me that there isn't pain associated with PD.

Keeping advocating for yourself and if people, like your doctor, tell you something that isn't true for you or doesn't help you, tell them that it isn't acceptable and keep pushing for help.

Sending good thoughts!

[Beckey in reply to JeanetteCW]

Wise words!

[Hidden in reply to JeanetteCW]

Yes definitely, we must advocate for ourselves, as nobody else can! I set up a support network for myself, several different massage therapies, get your pharmacist on board, alternative health practitioners, and just telling people and talking about it and letting people know what challenges you face on a daily basis!

I was diagnosed 10 yrs. ago, and at first I hid it, and did not want people to know! But once I started talking about it, people understood and listened. Sometimes you just need to get things off your chest! and clarify things!

[Hikoi]

Jerryk

I'd say if the pain is relieved by levadopa (eg sinemet) then at least some of the problem is Parkinsons. Also PD starts on one side so is the problem the affected side or general.

As my neuro observed many people have unnecessary operations on shoulder or hip pre diagnosis. Their problem turns out to be PD.

One other point about all this is PD medication doesn't just help movement it actually gives pain relief to many of us.

[christymw in reply to Hikoi]

Regarding PD meds-- I couldn't agree more! Traditional PD meds are often a subject of scorn on many posts. Granted they have side effects that can take quite a while to adjust to. But for me they are essential for my daily living.

[sassy-tuffy41 in reply to christymw]

I could not survive without my dopimine n sinimet daily. But I mostly take them for anxiety n depression not for pain

[BS-ZIG]

I also have both. I would love to hear some answers. I have always felt that my Embrel might be keeping me from experiencing as much pain as some people. I did mention this to my RA doctor recently.

[Hidden]

I often wondered if PD could be an autoimmune disease. Maybe, people with PD also have other autoimmune conditions other than RA?

[Court]

I was diagnosed with Parkinsons about 8 years ago, but accept that I have probably had it for longer I have a very caring Consultant and a Parkinsons nurse My GP is very supportive and is aways there if I need to see him. I had a steroid injections in my knees yesterday and these have taken the edge off my pain already. I have been having facet injections in my spine about 6/9 months apart. These are wonderful. Sometimes they only last for weeks. Other times for months. I am lucky they suit me.

I believe they do not help everybody. Parkinsons is like negotiating a minefield. It is impossible to say that medication that helps one person, will necessarily help another.

[Bonnie51462]

Was diagnosed at 5 with arthritis and wasn't diagnosed with PD until a year ago, but had tremors in my left arm and was told it was the cervical fusion I had. So for 5 yrs I kept trying to work on my arm when in reality it was PD which wasn't diagnosed even when my left side was trembling and shaking, when my right side decided to join then I was diagnosed. I have often wondered if it has something to do with autoimmune myself.