Stressing

[windy123]

Does stress add to ra

[Sailaway]

According to my consultant it definitely can. I also wonder if RA adds to stress - I get stressed much more easily than I used to. Seems to be a vicious cycle?

[nomoreheels]

Oh yes! Certainly in my experience & many others here. I'm going through a particularly stressful time at the mo & my RD is controlled so I'm trying hard not to stress but starting to feel it. As Sailaway says it can be a vicious cycle but of course we can also flare if not controlled adequately enough & the disease is progressing. Best to get checked over if you're stressed & it's affecting you.

[Caza]

Absolutely,my rheumy warned me that stress would make the RD worse & of course he's,as with everything so far, right. I try & practice mindfulness which sometimes works. x

[Hidden]

In a word....yes. Avoid stress wherever possible. Sadly this is easier said than done x

[sallydogsmum]

Yes. Yes, it does.

[burtonbradstock]

Keep calm and carry on as the saying goes, stress certainly makes my body hurt more and more. Lived with RA for 12 years and still I battle with my mind/body/thoughts to keep a positive outlook otherwise I get very low- negative is bad , keep positive you have to stay tough !

[windy123 in reply to burtonbradstock]

Thank you

[Hidden]

Hi Windy

I definitely don't feel as well when I'm stressed and I'm sure stress has caused me to flare. I also feel better if I'm eating healthily and getting exercise than I do when I'm not.

Is stress affecting you right now?

[windy123 in reply to Hidden]

I've been through a rough divorce children were separated nasty stuff going on after with the x trying to be positive sometimes is very hard with my Ra flaring and asthma kicking in every night restless nights its getting very depressing but its time to sit with the doc and get things balanced

[windy123 in reply to windy123]

I always thought the best remedy was keep working keep busy would work but lately it hasn't

[nomoreheels in reply to windy123]

Unfortunately not any more windy. Healthy people, maybe, but RD demands that we listen when we overdo things or the stresses of life occur. It's something you can only learn I'm afraid, just how much you can cope with before you're hit with that sledgehammer. I've had to go to my quiet place a few times lately because I've got myself worked up about something & started flaring in spite of recognising I shouldn't, but it's natural, we have built-in defense mechanisms so, as postle says, some things can't be avoided.

I'm sorry you're going through a particularly bad time at the mo, it will all be related to how your body's reacting. Divorce, especially unpleasant ones (is there any other type?) is stressful for everyone, especially so when there are children involved so really it's little wonder your body's taking a bashing. Do you have a good support network? It will help if you can call on for help them if you have.

You'll recognise the signs given time, learn how to manage them better &, where possible, avoid the situations that cause a flare. I hope it settles soon but please seek help if it becomes too much. Your GP or Rheumy should be able to help you.

[windy123 in reply to nomoreheels]

Thank you nomoreheels ill ask my doc when I c him Monday for information on support networks around my area I think its time

[nomoreheels in reply to windy123]

I really meant more like family & friends but yes it's a really good reaching out further afield if there are groups available to you .... pleased you're open minded & thinking that way. Many people resist "help" if you know what I mean & struggle on which can make things worse. I do hope your GP will have some info for your area. Failing that phoning the NRAS are another option for you if you'd like to talk things through Freephone Helpline: 0800 298 7650

I do hope things are a seeming little brighter today.

[Hidden in reply to windy123]

Hope your doc is helpful windy. Sorry to hear about your divorce. Hope things settle for you very soon. Take care kikideelili x

[Hidden in reply to windy123]

Hope your doc is helpful windy. Sorry to hear about your divorce. Hope things settle for you very soon. Take care kikideelili x

[angel-delight]

In a word yes!! My Rhumey Nurse advised me to retire as it was causing me to be stressed out. I have retired but I still feel stressed trying to get use to being retired, it has only been a couple of months, so I am guessing it will take a little while yet, keeping as busy as I can. I agree it is is a vicious cycle. x

[Chmbrln]

The HAVING to retire is the word .i had to retire 2 years ago as I physically couldn't do the work any more.My husband retired by choice last year. It will get better mentally .I am now used to retirement. Just. I spent 10 years juggling work family life and RA. It took a lot of effort and it's taken a while to realise if I have a bad few days. So what. I can take it easy and do things another day but I feel guilty and that stresses.My husband however enjoys retirement.

[Karen77]

Yes, yes, yes!!

[hatshepsut]

Absolutely no doubt!!! Problem is that even if you know that, it's so difficult to stop the vicious circle! M x

[NeonkittyUK]

Agree with Sailaway ... vicious cycle. My muscles/tendons always seize up if I am stressed.

[Hidden]

PsA has done me a favour on the stress front. Stupidly I've always believed that there was nothing I could do about stress but when I realised just how much stress exacerbates the disease I had to at least try. For example, after a silly argument with a neighbour, my hands and arms became really painful within minutes, something that generally never happens. So all that stuff I'd heard (and dismissed) previously about simply breathing, putting things in perspective, being still blah blah blah .... I had to try it and, to an extent, it works! It's amazing how much control we can have (and I don't mean 'stiff upper lip') if we simply go for it.

Some kinds of stress can't be avoided - bereavement and the like. And at the other end of the spectrum we probably can handle a bit of stress. But the needless variety that we all bring on ourselves to a certain extent .... that we can do something about I reckon.

[Hidden]

Yes it does, when we are in chronic pain the body and brain has chemical imbalance and fails to restrict the pain messages to the brain. Sometimes the natural Opiates is our body become depleted that is why we need to take our pain control medications.

When the body suffers the joints that are damaged and swollen cause the transmission of pain through the nerves that are rubbing against effected joints, sometimes the tendon shiefes can become swollen and sore and they can also cause restrictions in movements. Hence this and other reasons we take NSID medications

We also take certain antidepressants to numb down the nerve pain.

With RA our immune systems are working overtime this causes our body to attack our joints so we take DMARD and -TNF to suppress this problem.

With most chronic pain we suffer and if we fail to use our Tens properly we become trapped in our treatments and condition, this is not helped when we try and use the gate theory around affected areas round the sore joints, nerves and tendons

When we suffer Chronic Pain our brain becomes sensitised and the pain that is unproductive becomes to busy and we start to feel fatiqued to the pain and it is only a short distance to become reactive to our suffering. Depression is then diagnosed and a further medication like Citalopram may be given

Please excuse my grasp of our complaint, I am no Doctor or RA Nurse

BOB

[windy123 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you.