IOA or RD: I’m having a really bad day. All my joints... - NRAS

NRAS

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IOA or RD

Caza profile image
Caza
44 Replies

I’m having a really bad day. All my joints are very painful 😖. My hands particularly so.

I thought I’d ask all you knowledgeable folk if the swelling on the base of my thumb is IOA or RD? Obviously I know without actually seeing it it’ll just be an opinion.

Feeling very fed up with myself today 😞. Hope your all having a better day than me.

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Caza profile image
Caza
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44 Replies
Mmrr profile image
Mmrr

Caza, I have swollen base of thumbs which are caused by a mixture of both RA and OA. MTX has helped my hands a lot, but I am also waiting to have surgery for OA damage.

It would be wise to show your photographs to your rheumatologist, when is your next appointment ?

Caza profile image
Caza in reply to Mmrr

Thanks for replying, not until January. Might try sleeping in splints tonight. I’ve only ever taken Hydroxychoroquine. Hopefully it’s just a flare & it'll be much improved by the weekend 🤞

VeronicaF profile image
VeronicaF in reply to Caza

oh yes arm splints that works for me caza, I just started CBD oil tonight, too early to see if it works but worth a go

Mmrr profile image
Mmrr in reply to VeronicaF

I'd be interested in how you get on with CBD oil VeronicaF ?

VeronicaF profile image
VeronicaF in reply to Mmrr

THANK YOU Mmrr,I will let you know, it tastes yuck :O)

VeronicaF profile image
VeronicaF in reply to Mmrr

its working Mmrr, I started them Thursday night 2 drops, again yesterday and this morning, they are working!! its only two drops so far, doing it slowly working up to morning and evening but it is working made a massive difference and that's just two drops a day for 3 days.

Caza profile image
Caza in reply to VeronicaF

Really hope that it works for you, keep us updated

VeronicaF profile image
VeronicaF in reply to Caza

so far so good caza, if it carrys on like this I will be very chuffed, thank you caza

Mmrr profile image
Mmrr in reply to VeronicaF

Wow, that is so good for you. In what way are you feeling better ?

I think I might give it a go. ..my son in law who is a bio medical scientist keeps trying to persuade me to give it a go.

VeronicaF profile image
VeronicaF in reply to Mmrr

it works so well I can feel it wearing off, can't take the two times a day yet, as trying to go into it slowly, so only two drops once a day to start with, no pain or discomfort what so ever, feel normal, untl it wears off

only one thing I felt a bit ratty but that might be homones or anything?

Mmrr profile image
Mmrr in reply to VeronicaF

Can I ask where you got yours from ?

VeronicaF profile image
VeronicaF in reply to Mmrr

the brothers, I will look up link cbdbrothers.com/

Mmrr profile image
Mmrr in reply to VeronicaF

Thank you looking at it now !

Mmrr profile image
Mmrr in reply to VeronicaF

Ordered 😉

My bank refused the initial payment x2, then texted to ask if it was me who tried to make the purchase. Got through eventually !

VeronicaF profile image
VeronicaF in reply to Mmrr

It took till today to start working for me 3 days in

but I don't take tablets unless I can help it, so things would work quicker for me

VeronicaF profile image
VeronicaF in reply to Mmrr

ps mines the green one to start with

VeronicaF profile image
VeronicaF in reply to VeronicaF

it came the next day after ordering too

VeronicaF profile image
VeronicaF in reply to Mmrr

it takes about an hour to start working 3 days in, I am going to take another two drops in the evening tonight I was going to give it longer before doing that but sod it

VeronicaF profile image
VeronicaF in reply to VeronicaF

when it starts to work you feel the relief ,it drains away and you feel ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

Caza profile image
Caza in reply to VeronicaF

I tried CBD oil, not for me hope it works well for you

VeronicaF profile image
VeronicaF in reply to Caza

did it not work for you caza, or did it make you ill?

Caza profile image
Caza in reply to VeronicaF

I hope you slept well & it worked for you. When I took it I had horrific nightmares ( as many of the lovely peps on here pointed out, I was terrified of taking it so probably was a result of that) but straight afterwards I had an UTI never had it before or since. I was on antibiotics for 3 weeks. Coincidence I should think but that was enough to scare me away from it.

AgedCrone profile image
AgedCrone in reply to Mmrr

Are you having surgery on OA deformed fingers Mmrr? Do you know anyone who has had that? When I had trigger finger a few months back the hand surgeon who injected it said he could"tidy up" my forefinger which is sort of S shaped. I can't use it, but it doesn't hurt so I am loathe to have elective surgery as the recovery time is so long on the hand.

Mmrr profile image
Mmrr in reply to AgedCrone

Agedcrone, I am waiting for a trapeziectomy with ligament reconstruction and tendon interposition ( quite a mouthful !).

My thumb dislocates if not held in position with a brace.

But I can't get off the steroids , hence no surgery.

Methotrexate is not a problem, the plastic surgeon will operate without me coming off it.

But my steroids have been increased again ...so surgery unlikely for now. Ho hum.

Caza profile image
Caza in reply to Mmrr

Oh that doesn’t good. Puts my poorly thumb into perspective.

Hope it all works out well for you soon.

AgedCrone profile image
AgedCrone in reply to Mmrr

Ouch....even the name of the procedure hurts to pronounce.

I guess you just have keep asking your Rheumy to find something to replace those rotten steroids.

Think I'll hang on to my mis-aligned finger!

Looking back would you have refused to take the steroids? I admit I took them in the beginning, but in the first few days I was away with the fairies & couldn't function.....so just stopped taking them,& luckily my rheumatologist took me seriously & changed my drugs. I do think patients should be told that although they will help the pain they will also be very difficult to stop.

Mmrr profile image
Mmrr in reply to AgedCrone

To be honest I was desperate, otherwise unmedicated and recovering from a bad reaction to sulphasalazine. So I felt I had little option but to try steroids until my lungs recovered.

AgedCrone profile image
AgedCrone in reply to Mmrr

I think there is a great need for honesty from doctors in all fields.

The patient is left uninformed & made to feel they must take what

" Doctor ordered.", but the doctor who is held up as "the expert" is in fact not, but seems incapable of saying " I don't know"...causing all sorts of problems down the line.

I do hope you find something to improve your quality of life.

Mmrr profile image
Mmrr in reply to AgedCrone

Thank you and I share your sentiments re: the medical profession.

AgedCrone profile image
AgedCrone in reply to Mmrr

I've been listening to the news on the radio all day to day.........what happened to Harvest Festival Pumpkin competitions, & the number I'd days to Christmas?

It seems the media are determined to frighten every body witless over everything from Brexit to Donald Trump to Vladimir Putin!

It's so depressing.....especially as it's all pathetic guesswork!

Caza profile image
Caza in reply to AgedCrone

Well just to cheer you up, we moved into a little village a cple of yrs ago now & the local village school bake cakes 🍰 to give to all the villagers for harvest day. They dressed up as farmers, so sweet. There’s a harvest supper next wk & loads of pumpkins 🎃 on show here. As for Christmas don’t even go there 😡 way too soon

AgedCrone profile image
AgedCrone in reply to Caza

Your village sounds lovely......but Tesco are already selling three boxes of Christmas cards for the price of two....thought that only happened after Christmas!

VeronicaF profile image
VeronicaF

I have that on my left had, its very very painful at times, so know what your going through, its RA for me, it comes and goes in that area

I have right jaw, left base thumb

left shoulder, right elbow

and right wrist and index finger, and feet and toes, left being worse

it chops and changes but its unbearable when all together,thats when I can't cope

its not too bad tonight

hope you get better real soon

Caza profile image
Caza in reply to VeronicaF

Thank you

in reply to Caza

Last appt I had, rheumatology said achey base of thumbs (turning pages, scrolling hurts) was typical OA but didn’t seem too concerned as already have RD. This doesn’t mean yours is but just thought I’d say x they’ve referred to OH (fingers n wrists ok, unless I try and do things with them 🙂)

Caza profile image
Caza in reply to

Thanks for replying. My rheumatologist never seems interested in my IOA & yet in my opinion it’s just as painful as my RD.

Gnarli profile image
Gnarli

Oh bless you Caza I'm sorry you feel rubbish. The base of my thumb looks very like yours but I was told yesterday there is no sign of active disease. Time to get professional help maybe. Hugs

J

VeronicaF profile image
VeronicaF in reply to Gnarli

my rheum on first appointment did a scan after xrays, and all my problems showed on the scan

sometimes it doesn't show on xrays but will on a scan

Caza profile image
Caza in reply to VeronicaF

I had scans a cple of years ago & X-rays last year. My joints showed mild damage apart from my shoulder which I had a steroid injection for & ongoing physio

Caza profile image
Caza in reply to Gnarli

They were bad yesterday but I’ve been doing an awful lot of driving Anyway splints overnight & then made myself do 20mins stretching 🙆‍♀️ (physios instructions 🙄) then straight to aqua 🤦‍♀️ I push myself too much me thinks!!

Matt06 profile image
Matt06

Know how you feel my wrist has been very sore for months. Have a resting splint and have been wearing it at night. It’s a nuisance as it’s heavy but think it helps a bit. Started back on methotrexate a few weeks ago and tocillizumba has just been added. A bit worried about all these strong drugs but will have to wait to see what happens.

Caza profile image
Caza in reply to Matt06

Thanks for replying. It’s hard isn’t it weighing it all up. The ‘heavy’ drugs really scare me but I know I’ll take them when it comes to it. The splints really help me although my rheumatologist told me not to wear them at night, I do & they really help when they’re bad.

VeronicaF profile image
VeronicaF

looking for support for myself I thought of you too Caza

ebay.co.uk/itm/LTG-PRO-Thum...

Caza profile image
Caza in reply to VeronicaF

Thanks Veronica, I’ll look in to it

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