Pain

[mccpain]

I'm suffering from pain over my entire body, my joints are painful but it radiates down my legs, arms, shoulder blades I can barely move or sleep, is this normal? I'm struggling to work but my employer doesn't seem to understand the degree of pain, had enough to be honest

[Hidden]

Hi mccpain,

I am so sorry you are experiencing such bad pain at the moment. I would suggest you give your rheumatology team a call today and let them know how you are feeling. Alternatively have a word with your GP about stronger pain relief.

I have inserted a link here to our publication : When an employee has RA. It has lots of information that you can show to your employer about RA .

nras.org.uk/help_for_you/pu...

Alternatively if you would like a hard copy give us a call and I can put one in the post to you.

Do remember you can always call our helpline M -F 9.30am -4.30pm 0800 298 7650

I do hope you begin to feel a bit better soon,

Best wishes

Sally

[allanah]

Hi mac, quiet today, maybe we are all lounging like sun lizards instead of couch lizards. Hope it's as lovely where you are today.

Great advice from Sallynras for you. I do think you have to ring the Rheumy helpline as it doesn't sound as though you pain and RA is well controlled. Or maybe you are in a flare if it's just come on recently.

I feel for you, the pain is awful and to try and work through it often made me feel much worse. I did sign off sick for a while when I was getting the initial flare controlled. Rest up if you can at all and try and be kind to ourself after work.

My employers were kind when I showed them the nras book and did a lot o change my hours, my workstation etc.

sleeping is also awful. I did talk to he GP and got some stronger night medication , I also sleep on top of a duvet with one over me as it helps the pain, others have body pillows which help them. Others even put their pillows in the fridge before bed just to cool them before sleep.

I hope you get help very soon. Xxx

[Bazzypants]

Hi there mccpain, I think they same as the others get on to the RA team or GP as soon as possible. My employer is just the same keep bunging extra work on me despite telling them I couldn't do any more as I was not able at present. I got so fed up with it I went to my GP and he singed me off work as he said I was not fit enough to do the work and the tasks expected of me, I was sometimes in a worse state than those I was caring for but I then felt as I got worse that it wouldn't be good for me or my clients to continue working at present. May be you to need some time out if possible I know just how your feeling but in this life you don't ask you don't get. I wish you better xxxx now get on that phone xxxlol

[mccpain]

Thank you all for your kind words, I called rheumy help line, they think the tocilizumab isn't working so have booked me in to see my consultant for a different option. I may have to relent and get a sick note for a whole to recover this is a horrid disease

[claireyj]

Hiya - so sorry you are in pain and if you need a sick note then so be it - listen to your body and take time out for you ...i worried for too long , felt guilty and did all that stuff when I worked in my lovely lovely job , but in the end had to leave was heartbroken but my body appreciated it ... Maybe just a few weeks off and you'll feel refreshed and strong again ...x