Fibromyalgia / RA

[kudos]

Morning All

I have had RA for 8 years now but recently I have been getting different pains in my joints, hard to describe, not stiff and swollen but more intense pain. I just wondered if the two are connected.

[Hidden]

Well from what I've read, RA certainly can cause intense pain in joints. I have PsA and haven't had the disease for as long as you have. But I notice that the pain and overall sensations I get have changed quite a bit over time. Although my disease is said to be under control, pain is sometimes worse than it used to be. But it's easy-ish to handle because I feel so well in other ways.

If you're feeling generally unwell and / or the pain's too much I guess you should see your rheumy.

Might it be that your joints are somewhat damaged? I don't like suggesting that, but I know that sometimes a bit of erosion or secondary OA can hurt like hell and sometimes more severe damage doesn't .... so even intense pain might not indicate that anything serious is happening.

Having fibro and RA must get confusing.

[Witchygirl]

How long have you had Fibro? Im currently awaiting test for RA but several members of my family including my mother have Fibro so I wonder if I have both too.

[kudos in reply to Witchygirl]

Thank you postle2 + Witchygirl

Sorry for the delay in replying, I've just come back from the Rheumy appointment. He says as well as having RA which he's upped the Methotrexate and changed from Ibuprofen to some other anti inflammatory.

I've got OA and Fibro so he's given me Tramadol for extra pain relief.

Seeing all this pain has dragged me down he suggests I get a course of anti-depressants "oh happy days" it can only get better.

[Coastwalker in reply to Witchygirl]

Hi Witchygirl,

Fibromyalgia/CFS (Cronic Fatigue syndrome/ME 'can' be just down to untreated or under medicated Hypothyroidism.

(Low Thyroid/Underactive Thyroid)

Not saying all Fibromyalgia is down to thyroids though.

Do Google the American website Stop The Thyroid Madness

(the name says it all,) or try 'Thyroid UK' brilliant helpful website.

(go to the Fibromyalgia section to see what I am talking about.)

I got rid of all my fibromyalgia pains etc., by just taking thyroid medication and asking for my Doctor to keep upping my dose to get rid of my symptoms.

(even though my Doctor did not want to up my dose.)

Many Fibromyalgias are 'missed' due to doctors relying on 'unreliable bloods.'

Doctors will say your thyroid bloods are 'within range' so OK, nothing is wrong, yet you do not feel alright. Many Fibro's blood results fall 'within range' they get missed out and are just left to struggle on trying to find their own cures.

[nomoreheels]

I'm sorry to hear you've now OA to add to your list but believe me I know what pain it can cause. Mine has now been controlled thanks to my GP seeing me monthly & increasing my chosen meds until we got the pain to an acceptable level. I didn't want to go the anti depressant route suggested by my Rheumy but as one of the meds which by GP considered would help my OA in my neck specifically is also prescibed to treat depression I have a bogof. The other is an hourly release patch which again helps so it is possible to get the horrible pain of OA controlled. I find gentle exercise has also helped, swimming but not to win any titles, just gentle relaxing movements! Little much else I could do as I'm not overweight but you'll recognise the signs of OA having a go if your med doesn't help or starts becoming less effective. Stiffness I still find an issue more specifically in the evenings or when I've been sitting for any length of time but as long as I take my time & shuffle to the edge of the chair rather than using my knees to weight bear me getting upright it's not so bad.

I hope you find ways of dealing with it as well as your RD & fibro.

[kudos]

Thanks for that nomoreheels

I've got an appointment later this afternoon with the doc, what are the tabs called

that are good for neck pain as well as depression?

I used to go to the gym but I found the fatigue I suffered with afterwards wasn't worth it. I go to yoga now and have found it great for keeping me supple as well as building up stamina. I can also pick my times to do as much or as little as I want to do at home.

[Hidden in reply to kudos]

You're on the right track with yoga, I'm sure of it. Looks like OA might be responsible for your increased pain levels? All too often docs don't mention that RD causes OA in joints. Obviously it is quite possible to have both and for them to be unrelated, but when RA attacks joints, the stress of that does cause secondary OA.

I'm convinced that regular movement / exercise controls the pain of both as well as helping to prevent joint damage by strengthening the supporting muscles.

[kudos in reply to Hidden]

Yes I'm sure your right, I believe in use it or lose it. Even when I don't feel like it I make sure I do some gentle stretching.

Anyway today has been one long round of being poked, prodded and x-rayed, I have a new anti inflammatory Meloxicam which I take just once a day and an antidepressant Citalopram and my Methotrexate has been increased. So one way or another I am hoping for an improvement.

[nomoreheels in reply to kudos]

I'm so sorry, I've only just seen this (didn't receive an alert as you didn't reply under my answer, just so you don't think I was ignoring you, especially as you needed an answer for your appointment).

The med is amitriptyline, maybe your GP suggested it? I'm a bit funny about some drugs but this was one suggested by my GP that I was willing to try & over a few months have titrated from 10mg up to 50mg a night. It helps with my cervical spondylosis particularly successful as I was suffering cervicogenic headaches as a result.

Again apologies.

[kudos in reply to nomoreheels]

Thanks for all your advice. I don't think missing the name of the tablets would have mattered, they will only prescribe what they think is right so we'll just have to wait and see. Thanks again.

[nomoreheels in reply to kudos]

It's all relevant to our needs that's true kudos. I hope you find the meloxicam helpful, it was one of my early NSAIDS but been on etoricoxib some time now which suits my needs. Oddly enough I've recently had an increase in MTX, feet showing disease activity & presently on 17.5m & trying to get it up to 20mg with some success so I hope you notice an improvement as well.