Out of the Blue!

[Gina_K]

Hi Everyone,

I have been off the radar for a few days, because I woke up on Thursday night with the worst hip & shoulder pain ever, good god was crying in pain! It was totally out of the blue, I have been doing so well lately and aside from my poor damaged foot and hands, have been going great guns! Wail! so anyway I soldiered into work), it is my right hip and right shoulder, it has been my left wrist and hand that has been giving me trouble all along and am going to hosp on Tues for injection. Could not lift my right arm, anyway cut a long story short and many painkillers later I am ok and it is easing... My husband mentioned he saw a poor chap with no legs and arms recently, I wonder what put that into his head! Hmmmm! Well my daughters were very good over week-end as I could do nothing at all, the eldest did say ' mam you are not princess of the world', when I asked her for the umteenth hotwater bottle/ice pack/cup of tea.I am princess of the world- cheeky!

I want to ask you all a question, especially Lynn - I got the good news recently that all my bloods are in normal range incl ESR & CRP etc etc? and everything good handling meds etc. Well how come I still have this awful pain? Do the blood tests being normal indicate that the disease is under control ie. not progressing or what????

Where, was the party, I could'nt find trace of it?

[Hidden]

Hi Gina , in my experience of 17yrs with RA the short answer is no. My ESR was in "normal" range for a long time and I was still in chronic pain.

It should mean that the RA is not progressing and under control but like I say its not always the case.

Be persistent with them and tell them how much pain you still have otherwise they will think as the bloods are ok you are doing well.

Hope Lyn can shed more light on this for you and you feel better soon.

Take care

mand xx

[Gina_K]

Thanks Mand, It can all be so confusing, my GP sounded so pleased for me. LOL!

[Hidden]

Gina I know how you feel, Ive had my ESR readings at 180 and at this time I struggled to lift my head off a pillow, let alone get out off bed. I have also had readings normally off 80ish then I few months ago just for one month it dropped to 40ish and my doctor was really pleased, but I could not tell the difference, in fact I felt worse! Crazy I know and I dont think the doctor belived me!

[Hidden]

some times think the readings are meaninigless they need to listen to the patient...., sorry to hear you are bad gina lol, not brill either we can chat by mail x alison

[rheumatoidymummy]

Poor you - sounds dreadful. I'm in the same situation as you - bloods stable but recently have had to increase the meds as I was struggling again - there's no rhyme or reason I say!

[Hidden]

Hi Guys

Different tests, different meaning and all open to interpretation!

ESR, common test for inflammation in the body but it doesn't respond quickly. So for example, after I'd had my knees aspirated and injected on a Thursday my Monday ESR had changed little despite feeling better in myself.

CRP, another test to establish inflammation but looking for a particular protein in the blood. Much better provides more accurate data.

However any blood test does not give a full picture of the disease, only the levels of inflammation in the body at a given point. Pain and fatigue can't be measured unless the patient is seen and it is discussed. Hence the need for the doctor to listen to what the patient is saying. It all completes the picture of RA.

Good blood results are a start, good tolerance of meds suggest things are heading in the right direction but they can quickly turn the other way, as you have experienced Gina. Even with well controlled disease there will be the inevitable blips ... stress, common cold, doing too much, all things that add pressure to an already over active immune system. Consequently we flare, it settles down and we're okay again. It's all to do with getting to know your body, your RA pattern and working with it. The disease doesn't stop progressing (even in remission) but it slows down with the right control which is why it is important to understand yourself and your RA. We are each very different.

Lyn x