Help

[Claire_h]

Looking for any help or advice! I am 30 and since around June 2015 I have had a lot of pain and stiffness in my hands wrists and feet. My esr is 19 and crp 6, rheumatoid factor slightly positive and waiting on results of ultrasound on my hands! Struggle daily with pain and don't seem to be getting anywhere fast with a diagnosis 😢! Thanks

[helixhelix]

That's quite a while to be waiting! Has your GP or rheumatologist not suggested any temporary relief, like stronger non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs)? if you're waiting for ultrasound as you don't want anything to mask inflammation, so make sure you stop 3 or 4 days before the scan, and maybe avoid a steroid shot until you know when scan will be.

You might also find that tradional remedies help, like hot and cold packs or a wax bath.

Hope you get an appointment soon.

[Claire_h in reply to helixhelix]

Thanks for the reply! I've had the scan on 14.1.16 but not got the results yet, I've got 30/500 co-codamol to take every 4 hrs and I've to continue with this until I het the results! Just spoke to the secretary for the rheumatologist and she can't give me a timescale of when results will be ready! It took my own doctor until m October to refer me to rheumatology in the first place! X

[nomoreheels]

Hiya Claire & welcome. I feel for you, it's this difficult time between symptoms & your GP suspecting something autoimmune going on. My GP prescribed pain relief & an NSAID (anti inflammatory) which helped somewhat but I was fortunate that I was seen quickly so didn't have the situation you have for too long.

It's worth trying non medicinal treatments such as hot or cold compresses. I react better to heat & have my trusty electric heat pad & electric foot warmer (in use as I type!) but others find a pack of frozen peas wrapped in a towel for up to 20 mins helpful. Many find warm water soothing, both hands & feet & of course a relaxing bath, maybe with Epsom salts, eases pain.

I do hope your appointment comes through soon, it doesn't help you have no definitive date to work off. My GP suggested I stopped taking the meds she prescribed a couple of days before my diagnostic clinic appointment so they had clear baseline results for imaging, examination & blood tests. It was long enough believe me but thankfully some of the meds I was started on helped within the day.

If you have any other questions ask away, someone will have experience or relate to how things are for you just now & sometimes just knowing someone's there who's been there & had it makes things a little more tolerable!