Did anyone experienced neuropathy caused by RA? How did you treat it?

[evochka]

rituximab

[earthwitch]

Talk to your GP or rheumatologist. There are a variety of meds you can take - ones like Gabapentin or Pregabalin (anti-convulsant meds, but work well on neuropathic pain) or amitryptylline (anti-depressant, but at low doses works really well on modifying pain and helping control it). Also, if its localised areas, then capsaicin cream can help. I've tried a few of those, but found that most of the time I tolerate the altered sensations and buzzing and tingling, and the side effects of the meds were almost worse than the problem.

[julie_warwick]

hi. what symptoms do you have ? I have been having weird sensations and general tingling , i wasn't sure whether it was the RA or the meds. be interesting to hear of similar experiences.

[tilstongal in reply to julie_warwick]

I have had (and still sometimes get) a sensation that I can only describe as someone with a tiny tiny bottle brush scrubbing out my veins! It is horrible - but a sensation albeit a severe one, rather than out and out pain. Like your previous reply I found Gabapentin a good though nit perfect solution.

Hope this helps. - good luck!

[evochka in reply to julie_warwick]

This is my mom who have neuropathy, so I ask for her Symptoms are numbness in the ankles, foots, hands and fingers, tingling as well. It become stronger and stronger although she tries to treat it with her neuropathist, she has been take vitamins B and lipoic acid meds. Nothing helps. Now make few steps to our kitchen or bathroom is hard for her, she have very unsteady gait.

Docs says it can be caused by RA itself or medicines, its not clear enough, but problem is she can abolish nothing of drugs she takes. Her RA is extremely aggressive. She also had rituximab infusions in november (neuropathy symptoms appeared before that). We are waiting for improvement like crazy but there is no guarantee she will feel better, cause earlier she failed with actemra and enbrel. We just don’t know what to do.

[Hidden in reply to evochka]

I am taking Pregabalin for the symptoms you describe - I was falling over frequently due to lack of sensation in my feet. The symptoms have reduced but not totally improved but my doctor says we can gradually increase the dosage until we reach a therapeutic dose. I had horrid side effects for the first 3-4 weeks but persisted and have no side effects now. It's worth giving it a try. I was told that it was being caused by a combination of RA [tingling and numbness] and that I have had shingles [shooting stabbing pains in my arms].

Good luck,

Cece x