Is a sudden onset of RA possible from cold viruses?

[Lillibet1970]

Hi all, I hope you can help. I was wondering if there is any connection with a sudden onset of RA following a cold virus? Had a couple of mild winter cold viruses this year & both times I am in agony with really tender joints & stiffness for weeks afterwards. My last bug was 2 weeks ago and I am completely over it except for the tender joint pain & general stiffness which is getting worse. Arthritis runs in the family so have been getting sore & stuff throughout my 40s but wondered if it may be RA? Thank you.

[helixhelix]

There is a form called reactive arthritis. Usually occurs after a virus, and usually never lasts more than a year, often less.

But go to your doctor and talk to them.

[Lillibet1970 in reply to helixhelix]

Thanks for the response. I will definitely see my GP I think

[PFKAAde]

Hi Lillibet1970

I came down with a flu-like Illness in 1999 that floored my for 2 weeks. When I say flu-like, I mean in. I couldn’t get out of bed and developed a cough that was so bad I eventually had a chest x-ray (they were looking for malignancies as I was anaemic, young and male) where they discovered a ‘plural rub’ <—these hurt!

Long story short but over the next months I was prodded and poked and eventually they said you don’t have cancer you have reactive arthritis (ReA). Seemed like a good outcome at the time.

3 years after that I was diagnosed with RA.

So, infections can trigger arthropathies, sometimes temporarily — but in my case it never went away. If you are saying it came on following a cold / infection, but then improved spontaneously it sounds more like ReA. Mine never improved fully, but did respond to prednisolone (which is all I was given apart from diclofenac).

20 years on and I’m in remission and have been for a few years. Where it goes from here is anybody’s guess.

Good luck.

🙏🏻

[Lillibet1970 in reply to PFKAAde]

Thanks so much for your response, that's really useful. It's strange but I feel like I haven't been quite the same since I caught chicken pox aged 40 (which was horrendous) I always seem to suffer such awful pains when my immune system has to kick in, my liver, kidneys and joints are so painful! I think I will pop along to doctors. I am glad you are doing okay right now, sounds like you have really had a tough time. Thanks for sharing your experiences, really appreciate it.

All the best.

[PFKAAde in reply to Lillibet1970]

No worries.

Post-viral ‘issues’ are surprisingly common and often vague enough to be hard to diagnose or even categorise.

I don’t know if there is any particular link between chicken-pox and post-viral (let’s call it) malaise. But it wouldn’t surprise me; and as you know the older we are when we get chicken-pox, the worse it tends to be (chicken-pox parties anyone?!).

Unfortunately ‘not feeling quite right’ is one of those vague things that doctors are often at a bit of a loss to explain, until and unless it becomes something more, erm, specific.

If you haven’t already seen your GP about it, I would suggest that you do and I would also suggest that you are quite forceful and don’t hold back when describing your symptoms to the doc. Personally I would say that a referral to a rheumatologist was what you really need. Stiff and tender joints are something that is firmly in their remit.

If it did turn out to be a reactive form of arthritis then the good news is it should be temporary and self-limiting, but a course of steroids (for example - I’m not a doctor) would certainly help you feel better (if it is ReA).

It was described to me as improving in ‘waves’. So it would typically peak, then improve to some extent, and then possibly another (slightly less painful) peak etc etc until it sort of burns itself out.

That didn’t, unfortunately, happen for me. But that doesn’t mean the same will happen for you.

I also have a close friend that was diagnosed with ReA in his 20’s. It most often presents in males aged 20-40 and usually is self-limiting. My friend still has problems now (49), but has never had the joint erosions that I have had and it was never in most joints and symmetrical (like mine was). And just because it is most prevalent in young men doesn’t exclude women from getting it. After all I get sick of reading about how RA ‘typically’ affects women!

I hope that gives you some more information, and I’m not trying to say anything frightening, but I would still say that the sooner the doc investigates — the better for you.

🙏🏻

[Gnarli]

An awful lot of us tell of how a viral infection seemed to 'trigger' inflammatory arthritis, me included. However, there are many causes of stiff and painful joints so your GP would be a good place to start. I sincerely hope you don't have an inflammatory arthritis but if you do it isn't the end of the world. Wishing you well

[Lillibet1970 in reply to Gnarli]

Thank you Gnarli. That's exactly what I was wondering if other people had experienced. I feel more confident & justified about visiting the GP!

Many thanks, all the best to you

[PFKAAde in reply to Lillibet1970]

Don’t worry about ‘bothering’ the doctor, it is absolutely a valid reason.

Those of us with chronic conditions usually get past that feeling quite quickly. Learning how not to say ‘I’m fine’ is difficult, but doctors need the low-down, you can save the ‘I’m fine’ for your acquaintances that don’t really want the truth!

🙏🏻

[Lillibet1970 in reply to PFKAAde]

Thank you so much for the advice & sharing. Exactly the sort of help I was looking for on here, best thing I did was posting. I have made an appointment to see the GP. Hopefully it will not be anything serious...will keep you posted!

Thanks so much, feels better just knowing you're not alone or going mad x

[PFKAAde in reply to Lillibet1970]

You’re most welcome and definitely not going mad, or at least no madder than the rest of us.

And whatever happens you’re not alone, let us know what the doc says and fingers crossed it isn’t anything to worry about.

🙏🏻

[Lillibet1970 in reply to PFKAAde]

Thank you, will do!