New to site

[Titchyj]

Hello everyone, I have just joined this site, but have had Fibro for over 13 years.

Recently I have been diagnosed with RA (but Rheumy not convinced) I have very swollen and painful hands and fingers, I have tried Methotrexate, but had too many side effects so have now been given Sulpasalazine (hope this works). He has suggested I up my pregabalin, by 50mg, at present I am on 150mg as when doubled a few years ago I couldn't function.

The Rheumy seems to think that my Fibro is causing a lot of the pain, but as there is inflammation showing in my hands, as shown on ultra sound scan, he has to treat me as having RA. I also have osteoarthritis and loads of other medical problems.

Has anyone been treated for RA and it turned out to be Fibro?

Any help greatly appreciated.

Gentle ((((((((hugs)))))))

Jan

[vixen49]

Hi titchyj welcome to the site sorry to hear you have this medical problem alot the things causes pain especially fibro, it's seems your in alot of pain hun I no how you feel cos I suffer with fibromyalgia fibrofog plus a couple of other problems hope you have a painfree day sort of like gentle hugs. Rosxx

[Titchyj]

Thanks vixen49 for replying and lovely welcome to the site. Don't think the pain will subside soon, but just have to take each day as it comes.

Hope you are as good as can be.

Jan

[Mdaisy]

Hello Titchyj,

Welcome to the FibroAction Community Forum. I hope you find it very useful as many members report it to be informative & supportive.

Sorry to hear your feeling an increased pain experience lately as well as some swelling which would imply you may have another condition. You sound a little tentative about your diagnosis of RA as does you Rheumatologist. I am assuming you have all the tests as per link below but you seem to imply you feel an increased level of pain which may be your Fibro as suggested by the Rheumatologist

arthritisresearchuk.org/art...

As you've been diagnosed with Fibro for 13 years you probably have a lot of knowledge, however as research is always changing I wanted to provide you with our link to our website to the 'All about Fibro' range of factsheeets that you can download and print for reference. It may be you need to decide upon a different treatment plan for your Fibro and the information has evidence based recommended treatments to help you decide the way forward!

Just as a secondary thought as I am not a Doctor but I wondered if the possibility of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) had been considered as you have symptoms of pain & swelling. I run our local Fibro Support Group and we have members with CRPS that come along. As I say the link is for interest only and may be completely irrelevant, but worth a read maybe?

nhs.uk/Conditions/Complex-R...

Again welcome and please do join in as much as you like, as the more you put into the community the more you'll get out of it !

Best Wishes

Emma

FibroAction Administrator

[Titchyj in reply to Mdaisy]

Thank you Emma for your reply, I have never experienced anything like this with regard to Fibro, had scan of hands which showed inflammation. The blood tests came back ok so my Rheumy is treating it ad sero negative RA. As the MTX did not help, only give me bad side effects he is not convinced it is all RA related.

I have looked at the possibility of CRPS, but no one has mentioned this to me. May be a good idea if I print something out and give to my Rheumy next time I see him.

I am now upping the dose of Pregabalin by adding 50mg in the morning, I already take 150mg in the evening. I cannot tolerate strong pain meds so take 8 paracetamol per day. Everything seems to be getting more painful, joints and muscles. Hope something gets sorted soon.

Thanks again for your welcome and advice.

Jan

[Hidden]

Hi Titchyj I`d just like to say welcome, make yourself at home and like your dog.

Hugs sue xx

[Titchyj in reply to Hidden]

Thank you sue, that's Jackson, our border collie, he is 14 1/2 now and has arthritis, but still going, very stiffly. He's one of the family as is yours I'm sure. Lovely pic of yours too, they are such comfort, not sure what I'll do when he's gone.!!!!!

Jan

[Hidden in reply to Titchyj]

Megan is 8 1/2 and border collie no 4. we started with collies 36 yrs ago with a rescue dog `judy` we then had Tess and Cassie. they were all different from each other. but somehow Meg seems to have a bit from all of them in her. hugs sue xx

[TheAuthor]

Hi Titchyj

I sincerely hope that you are feeling as well as you possibly can be today? Welcome to the forum and I genuinely hope that you find it as useful as I do?

I am so sorry to read that you are experiencing such problems at this time and I genuinely hope that you can find some relief and resolution to these issues.

I have pasted you the link to our mother site, FibroAction, in case you have not seen it. It has lots of useful Fibro information from treatments to symptoms:

fibroaction.org

I sincerely look forward to bumping into you around the forum.

Ken x

[Titchyj in reply to TheAuthor]

Thank you Theauthor, for you kind welcome and information, I will have a look at the fibroaction site, thanks for your reply, look forward to "bumping into You to around the forum.

Jan

[lilian68]

hi titchyj

welcome to the site it is a caring sharing site hope you find it useful you can have a rant or there are usually funny pictures on as we need our spirits lifting.