Virus causing RA?

[notlobphil]

I am new here just trying to get some answers - Has anyone just recently got the symptoms of RA - in feet and hands and feel like they have been brought on by the COVID19 virus. I have not been tested for either so it is just a question. My mother had serious RA and suffered terribly with it. I am mid 50's but have not had any symptoms until just after I was recently ill with some sort of virus in late Jan/early Feb

Anyone got anything similar?

[Mollieharry]

I’m sure I have read somewhere that you can get viral arthritis.dont know if there is any connection between it and covid though.I also remember my daughter telling me that her friends mum had a terrible time with joint pain etc after having food poisoning.luckily this was treated early and she was fine.

[notlobphil in reply to Mollieharry]

Thanks for your response

[Llanberisman]

It was a shock that brought on my R.A. (had to save a drowning child). Have heard of people suffering R.A. for the first time after viral attacks. My neighbour, for example, has recently been diagnosed following a virus attack back in January. R.A. appears to turn up whenever it wants, but particularly when the host is weak.

[Biofreak in reply to Llanberisman]

I have heard that this can happen. I suppose if your immune system has to go into overdrive to fight off a virus, inflammation could be a consequence of that. Hopefully it won't be long term for you but an interesting thought that the two could be connected. I was convinced that my type 1 diabetes back in my 20s was caused by 2 traumatic incidents in the same year and a bout of shingles but the doctors at the time discounted it.

[Neonkittie17 in reply to Biofreak]

My doctor thought my RA was viral arthritis and not rheumatoid at first. Especially as nothing showed up in my bloods.

[notlobphil in reply to Llanberisman]

Thanks

[notlobphil in reply to Llanberisman]

Thanks - so you neighbour has recently been diagnosed following a virus attack - that's a similar timeframe to me

[Llanberisman in reply to notlobphil]

Yea. His gp has put him on preds, pending a rheumy appointment. They seem to be working, but long term he’ll need dmards.

[helixhelix]

Reactive arthritis is often triggered by an infection. The books say most commonly a sexually transmitted one, but from people’s experience on here that is not always the case!

[notlobphil in reply to helixhelix]

Mine as well!! Thanks

[Pippy25]

My RD was triggered 18 years ago by a very nasty bout of flu. I never seemed to pick up after it and I think this and a family history was instrumental (both parents had RD) in it's unwelcome invasion into my life.

[notlobphil in reply to Pippy25]

Thanks

[oldtimer]

My sister developed symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis after suffering from a repeat infection with whooping cough which she had had as a child. She developed Giant Cell Arteritis and then Rheumatoid Arthritis. She blames our inheritance as I had already had it for many years (and our grandmother before that), but it does seem possible that the illness was the trigger.

[notlobphil in reply to oldtimer]

Thanks

[ruth_p]

Mine was triggered by the flu when I was 14.

[notlobphil in reply to ruth_p]

Thanks

[Sheila_G]

I think it could well do but really the cause isn't important as you can't do anything about it. The important thing is that you get tested for RA asap as the sooner you are on medication the better, if of course you prove to be positive. Good luck x

[notlobphil in reply to Sheila_G]

Thanks - had appointment cancelled twice due to Covid-19

Hopefully it won’t be long !

[Pooch22]

Hi there I think it’s possible I’m RA started at a time when I had cancer which i wasn’t aware of at that point, but they both accelerated at the same time, I think if you have a physical or mental trauma or another illness it will bring it on.

[Kalimers65 in reply to Pooch22]

My RA was triggered by my husband’s mental health and alcoholism. He’s an ex now of course.

[JFlay]

Hi, my RA symptoms started in my early forties when I had Rubella (German measles). Wasn't diagnosed as RA until I was 58 though 🙄 was fobbed off that my symptoms were due to the menopause ☹️

[cakenomore in reply to JFlay]

The same thing happened to me. I had the flu for 3 weeks after emotion trauma. Got over both but was left with multiple joint pain. For three years I was told it was early menopause or fybro. After insisting it was neither they finally gave me some tests. An early diagnosis is a rare blessing.

[notlobphil in reply to cakenomore]

Thanks

[Sunnyseas]

Hi - I’ve also had symptoms since before Christmas with many bouts flu like, body aches, fatigue. My hand & feet started to swell & hurt in early May. Blood tests only showed raised rheumatoid factor but no inflammation. I would definitely ask you gp for a blood test to look at all possible markers/rule out thyroid etc. I had an urgent referral & saw a rheumatologist last week. A Unfortunately I think it was all too rushed and I wish I’d had longer to talk about all my symptoms. Hence no definitive diagnosis. Looking at replies so far, ra does seem difficult to diagnose early on. I hope your gp can help to find out what is going on for you, ss