Stress...

[Sjhoney]

Hi! Quick question, does stress affect RA? 🤔

[PinkLamb]

Hi Sjhoney,

Yes it does!!

X

[Sjhoney in reply to PinkLamb]

Short and sweet 😄

[helixhelix]

Totally, amd not in a good way!

[Caza]

Absolutely 100%.

[Hidden]

I am sure

[Ruth12345]

I dont understand it but yes most definately does.

[Gnarli]

Yup

[sunnyweek]

Yes it definitely does

[Mmrr]

Yup

[Zip1]

I am afraid it does and I find the more I try not to stress the more I do!

[Downtime]

Absolutely it does. I find that I’m better when I’m in a routine and I don’t have things worrying me. Even good things like holidays can worsen my pain etc if I’m a bit anxious about travelling or being in different situations. It’s really pathetic and annoying . I used to be so adventurous and strong. I think we need to be challenged and a bit of stress can be good, but not when you’ve got RA it seems.

[Sjhoney in reply to Downtime]

Yes I totally get this! I worry about stuff that never bothered me before, and then of course I get a bit stressed and am in more pain 🙄

[PINKY246 in reply to Downtime]

Yes I agree the least little stress can make it worse

[vonniesims]

yes definitely

[fred42]

Certainly affects me and I can now stress about almost everything.

[Mccarj2017]

Most definitely! I also find hormone imbalance also have an affect on RA symptoms.

[Sjhoney in reply to Mccarj2017]

My diagnosis coincided with the onset of menopause so it’s been a bit of a rollercoaster to say the least! I do think there’s a connection between the two, altho rheumatologist says no 🙄

[Thingybob in reply to Sjhoney]

I agree with you. Menpause and all of its delights is definately a probable factor in onset. My rheumy agrees

[Sjhoney in reply to Thingybob]

Why do some drs deny this? I wonder if I had started HRT at the beginning, (I was offered but turned it down as I wanted to go thru it naturally, I now use patches 🙄), whether it would have helped/halted the onset?

[sunnyweek in reply to Sjhoney]

I know that my RA escalated quickly during the menopause, I already had it, from 36, but it became much worse at 50 and the exhaustion was severe for many years, and as with many other people, its still there.

[Anne_57 in reply to Sjhoney]

i was on HRT for about 5 years but GP suggested i stop due to other issues, 2 months later i had aching knees then a RA flare up. I'd had nothing like this previously. Also went back into menopause symptoms with an absolute 'whoosh'. Went back on HRT after 2 months but now stuck with RA etc, etc!

[Hidden in reply to Anne_57]

Hi Anne 57,

This is exactly my experience too - there must be something to this, rather than just coincidence….surely?!

Thanks for sharing as I've often wondered about this.

[Beviejon1]

I had a very stressful situation a few days ago.I collapsed in total agony😔

[Troygirl]

Yeap!

[GranAmie]

yes yes yes but try mindfulness, meditation... if u can't change yr situation try to change yr reaction to stressees... stressors. xx

[GranAmie]

yup yup .. fight or flight are normal reactions ... but if ufeel u can do neither then you are likely to freeze...into an auto-immune condition... i write as a retired psych acadmic, btw

[Fred67]

At 32 stress brought on my Rhumatoid.And 20 years later still every day can be a struggle.trying to get that balance is hard sit about you seize up do to much and you are busted.

[Sjhoney in reply to Fred67]

Yep, it can be a delicate balance 🙁

[Nanna71]

Stress is what triggered my RA.

[gailyb in reply to Nanna71]

Me too. Work related I'm sure of it.x

[12Chrissy34]

For me, definitely!

[NanaFifi]

Quick question- quick answer - yes!

[gailyb]

Definitely. X

[Nicanoo]

If I'm stressed I usual havea flare up 24hrs later x

[mistymeana]

Oh my goodness yes!

[Leonwp]

Pain cause stress, stress magnifies pain, viscious cycle.

[turtlemom2]

I can say yes to that. Most definately stress effects RA. I can take off 3 days from work and my symptoms stop in the middle of a flare up. Then I go back and two days later I start the flare up again. You can't stop stress in your life but you have to manage to control it and how you deal with it. I am not sure why getting R A is not automatic disablility as although the meds help our lives are never really the same are they?

[Sjhoney in reply to turtlemom2]

No your life is so different after a diagnosis, but it takes you a while to work this out!

[PINKY246 in reply to turtlemom2]

You got that right. Taking Meds do help and I hate taking them.

Hardly ever took a pill before this

[medway-lady]

Probably but life is back to normal once in remission and stress affects many people with or without RA. I don't believe it causes either. Before my kidney damage I'd had RA for years and it really was no problem I did not suffer with it and think this applies to the majority of people. RA can be palandromic so it does move around anyway in some cases. Remission is the aim for everyone and it might take a while to get the right meds but it is acheivable and then life is different yes but only becuase you have to take a medication not because you can't waslk, swim, ramble, dance etc.Try to be optamistic and stay active too, I'd urge you to read the information on the NRAS website and good luck on this journey.

[PINKY246 in reply to medway-lady]

Stay positive (optamistic) and staying active.

I'll have to remember this, thanks

[Sjhoney]

I do keep active, walk my dog, look after my granddaughter. I rest when I need to and know my limits. Swimming is good altho I wish there was a way of clicking my fingers and instantly being in my cossie 😄

[Hidden]

My rheumatologist said to me that if he could find out what stressed me I would be heaps better. 🙂