Joint pain.

[MISSNEATS]

The Dr thinks I may have RA I have had excrutiating pain for some months now but the pain seems to have gone away almost overnight although I still feel a bit stiff. Would this happen? I did have pain early this year and this also disappeared after a couple of weeks but this time has lasted 4 months. I have had xrays for normal arthritis which was clear. Any info please.

[Hidden]

Hello MISSNEATS.

Sorry you’ve had to contact us.

What your describing is a Flare. This is an episode of pain , swelling. Stiffness lack of mobility and fatigue. You can have all together or just individual symptoms they can last hours , days , weeks or even months (then just disappear)This a sign that your disease is active.

You won’t know for sure until you see a rheumatologist and have tests. It may not be RA.

This forum is brilliant the people friendly, understanding and have a wealth of knowledge. Please feel free to ask any questions.

[MISSNEATS in reply to Hidden]

Hi

Thank you for taking the time to reply. I had all the symptoms as you are describing. The Doctors have just been feeding me more and more painkillers until I told them I wanted it sorted because I have had to stop working because of the pain. Now I am feeling suddenly better should I ask to be referred to a rheumatologist and can they diagnose it as the blood test didn't really show anything.

[Hidden in reply to MISSNEATS]

I would insist you see a rheumatologist. My bloods never show as I’m S-negative you are more likely to show up in blood tests if you are positive. My RA is symptomatic so rheumatologist could see active disease confirmed by x rays and scans. A Gp can not diagnose you. The key to RA is early detection and treatment to prevent damage. Unfortunately mine was not diagnosed for years and now have problems wish I knew earlier. I would push for referral if it’s not RA you have lost nothing. Good luck let us know how you get on. In the mean time you know where we are 😁

[MISSNEATS in reply to Hidden]

Thank you I will try getting through to any of the Doctors at my surgery who really do not seem to care.

[Hidden in reply to MISSNEATS]

I have found most GPS have very little knowledge where RA is concerned please insist

[AgedCrone in reply to Hidden]

You can’t possibly say it’s a flare if MISSNEATS has not seen a Rheumatologist J1707.

The first action anyone with those symptoms should do is take themselves

Off to see a consultant rheumatologist ASAP, and get professional clinical advice.

[Hidden in reply to AgedCrone]

I agree that’s why I said you won’t know for sure until you see a rheumatologist and have tests it might not be RA

[Mickymoo]

As j1707 says , a flare up can last days, weeks or even months. It goes into remission for a while but then rears in head again. I have psoriatic arthritis, which is somewhat similar. In the beginning I had pain in my shoulder which subsided only to come back again. The pains then started in my knees, which also subsided. This went on for a few years but as time goes on the disease becomes more active and I know have pains in quite alot of joints on an every day basis. Some days less than others. The earlier you start medication the better. The medication is used to stop the progression of the disease as well as reducing inflammation and pain. Xx

[DiHi]

You need a proper blood test first. Positive proof of RA is necessary before mediation can start, RA really isn’t something that comes and goes , although you need a proper diagnosis before anything

[girli1111 in reply to DiHi]

When I was first diagnosed my disease was diagnosed as ‘palindromic rheumatoid arthritis’... ie, it comes and goes. Unfortunately now it doesn’t seem to go anywhere! 😂

[AgedCrone in reply to girli1111]

How long ago were you diagnosed? It took two years for my palindromic rheumatism to morph into inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis.

But I had been seeing the rheumatologist every six months to keep an eye on it-so I started on DMARD‘s literally within weeks of knowing it was RA, And although I have had many ups and downs I have had no major joint damage and I put that down to the fact that I had started treatment so early.

So keep an eye in it & get checked out by a rheumatologist.

[girli1111 in reply to AgedCrone]

Diagnosed about 15/16 years ago, reasonably managed for over 10 years on just hydroxychloroquine, which was prescribed from the outset, but in more recent years methotrexate was added to the mix.

[AgedCrone in reply to girli1111]

Ah so you are on treatment.....maybe you need to change your Dmards? I lasted 7 years on Mtx...then my DAS score suddenly shot up & I got more pain, so I started on Rtx .....all good........so far!

But try to have a talk with your rheumy....maybe push a bit?

[girli1111 in reply to AgedCrone]

I’m not the original poster. My most recent DAS was very low (mindyou, I was barely examined) and my bloods look good..... I’m supposedly in remission, but my fatigue levels say otherwise). It’s a sore point for me at the moment as I’ve just given up my career as a result of the fatigue not being manageable

[AgedCrone in reply to girli1111]

I cancelled my last contribution as we had wires crossed!

Hang on in there....I still find the fatigue gets to a point where I just can’t get dressed in the morning....so I don’t.

I give in to it, & don’t stress about it...because I now realise if I chill for a week or two....I wake up one morning & actually feel halfway human ....& can start to function again.

I think of it as a warning....& if I ignore it...I just feel even worse.

It might not work for you..... But if nothing else has worked it might be worth a try?

Obviously if you have family to look after you couldn’t do it 100%...but maybe just say you must have a break to feel better ?

Good Luck....but don’t over do things trying to beat fatigue...I don’t think that works.

[girli1111 in reply to AgedCrone]

Thank you, I’ve now taken my working hours right back, and am feeling improvements already.

[AgedCrone in reply to girli1111]

It’s not easy..but I promise you it works...

Take care...look after yourself it really does pay off!💃

[Hidden in reply to girli1111]

I here you Girl1969. I too suffer with fatigue. Saw a friend this morning not seen her since July she said I look so ill and tired even though I’ve reduced my working hours. She said I should just stop working now and I know she’s right 🥺🥺🥺wish I could here about my pip then I would definitely hand in my notice

[greatest]

Hi there. I really don't know if osteoarthritis applies here. But I shall mention my problem anyway! That is what I have and I have it in my wrists. Because the pain was so bad and the bones protruded on the left hand below the thumb at the wrist I had that bone removed...... Should have left it a alone!!! However I am also in kidney failure and now my Nephrologist has started me on a pill called Puricos here in South Africa. I have only been on it for less than a week so cannot say anything yet but it is supposed to help.....Have any of you heard of it?

[oldtimer]

There are many types of arthritis and it's possible that you have had a reactive arthritis but if you are having repeated episodes then the palindromic type might be another possibility. It's often difficult to diagnose and sometimes the only way forward is waiting to see what happens. But I would be pushing for a referral for specialist diagnosis with the extra tests that they can do.

[AgedCrone]

It sounds like it could be Palindromic Rheumatism......I started like that... Every time I made an appointment with my GP the pains went away.

Eventually I insisted on seeing a consultant rheumatologist and he diagnosed me with PR and said it could never come back again, or it could morph into Inflammatory rheumatoid arthritis-which after two years it did.

It is quite rare & wouldn’t be the first thing a GP would think of..... At the early stages it doesn’t cause any damage.

Mine was 20 years ago .... I started treatment on Dmards straight away and although I wouldn’t wish it on anybody I have managed to lead a reasonably normal life.

So get a Consult ASAP with a rheumatologist to get blood tests, & ask if it might be Palindromic & take his advice on how to proceed.

[greatest]

Thanks so much for the advice and I shall definitely get going and see a Rheumatologist.