Flare up

[Garnacha]

Hi all, I’ve had chronic pain in my left hamstring, left elbow & right shoulder for 2 years, eventually saw a rheumatologist in January who said it was tendinitis, after having cortisone injections in all areas & prescribing me acoxia & hydroxichloroquin their was no relief in my hamstring, after about 6 weeks the pain in all areas came back, went to a chiropractor who tried exercises, electro therapy & acupuncture none of which worked, went back to rheumatologist who diagnosed psoriatic arthritis, said to stop the hydroxichloroquin & put me on methotrexate, within a week of stopping the hydroxichloroquin pain was spreading throughout my body I was in tears & couldn’t go to work, my son had to cut up my food due to the pain in my fingers, I contacted the rheumatologist who said to start taking the hydroxichloroquin again but in another week been in absolute agony, my gp said it was a flare & has put me on steroids for a week, whilst I’ve been in pain for the last 2 years it’s never been throughout my body just in the specific areas mentioned, has anyone else experienced this? I’m worried now that this is what my life is going to be, in & out of severe pain. Sorry for the war & peace I’ve only just found this site x

[allanah]

My personal opinion for what it's worth is that you need to talk to the rheumy as it sounds like your RA has got out control. He has plenty of drugs that can help you longterm. Steroids are great but at reasonable doses, you will find gps are not used to prescribing the larger amounts rheumy do. So make sure you check with rheumy if thus dose is what they would advise I think. Flares, yes they come and go , but if they can get your RA more stable you tend, I found, to get less of them. Gis are great though for pain relief advice, if the painkillers arent helping ask for a review and maybe even stronger ones. Dont forget the old fashioned methods of heat or cold pads too, they can be very soothing.

Lovely to have you here though not in these circumstances of course!!

[Garnacha in reply to allanah]

Thank you for replying, my chiropractor has been really helpful too, he arranged for an X-ray of my elbow where they could see the degeneration of my elbow, he arranged for an ultrasound guided cortisone injection to be carried out but at the scan the dr found the inside of my elbow bone was deformed & there was a big build up of calcium, he said the outer part of my elbow was also badly inflamed & to arrange another injection for there, tbh, I’ve chickened out of it so far as when I had it done in February I was in absolute agony for 72 hours, I’ve only been on mtx for a month & back on hydroxichloroquin for nearly 2 weeks, the consultant said I’m to increase the mtx from 15mg to 20mg when I finish this course but wasn’t expecting such a flare up, I’m back to the consultant on the 19th January, I’m in two minds to text the chiropractor tomorrow & ask his opinion as I’ve had this awful burning sensation in my wrists, my cousin said she’d had this in her arm & it was eventually found she had a build up of calcium in her shoulder, if it had been found early enough they could have dispersed it but instead had to have physio, I’m worried that I may be getting a build up of this too, oh dear, it’s never ending x

[allanah in reply to Garnacha]

Oh it is , its upsetting, annoying and blooming frustrating. Yeah good idea about the email and chatting at your rheumy appointment. In the meantime really on hearing you've just started mtx, which often takes about 12 weeks to get into the system, it's a case of getting the pain under control with a good dose of steroids and very good painkillers that work for you . Hope it eases up ...and quickly !! Physio should really help too. Keep chatting on here too xxx thinking of you !

[Garnacha in reply to allanah]

Thank you so much x

[allanah in reply to Garnacha]

Have a better night xx 😃

[Marionfromhappydays]

Really glad you found this site, its been a big help to me so hope it is to you too.

So sorry to read what you are going through, hopefully between the GP amd rheumatologist they will be able to sort you out. One thing I do know is it takes time which is a pain in the arse when you are hurting but you've got the steroids so fingers crossed these will help on a temporary basis.

I found an electric blanket can be your best friend also got water bottles ! I'm not on treatment at the moment and heat really helps alot.

Take care and it sounds like you are on the road to getting some solid help, hope the DMARDS work for you.

BTW I was told by my rhemy nurses just because I have alot of joints affected doesn't mean the DMARDS won't work and their is light at the end if the tunnel x

[Garnacha in reply to Marionfromhappydays]

Aaw thank you for taking the time to reply, & thank you for your response, I’m guessing like everything it’s going to take time to adjust & find the right medication, I do believe that stress is probably a big factor in a flare up & working for the family business for the last 21 years is proving even more so, it doesn’t help that my dad is old school & doesn’t believe in stress or illnesses really, he’s of the kilt dust yourself off, take some pills & carry on, but the last month has become unbearable, I’ve been put on the sick for next week by the dr & he doesn’t know yet 🙄 but think he’s starting to realize slowly how ill I actually am at the moment x

[Marionfromhappydays in reply to Garnacha]

Yeah stress is a major ball buster when you've got RA, hope this week your having off work helps and it might show your dad to be a bit more understanding 🤷‍♀️

My mum is of the same club as your dad but even she has mellowed because she can see I'm in pain so they can change 😁

You take care x

[Biofreak]

It's a rollercoaster with this disease. You have to keep plugging away, Try everything that the rheumatologist suggests and you will get it under control eventually. The methotrexate is a good starting point and can take 12 weeks to start working. If it doesn't there are many others to try. It can be a long process but you will get there in the end. Your father needs a good talking to. It's not a simple thing of pulling your socks up and carrying on- you physically can't do that. It's a disease and he needs to understand that, like any other disease, it can be debilitating. If he doesn't get it, point him to this website and then he may understand the seriousness of it and how it can stop you in your tracks when you really would rather not but cannot carry on as you would normally. Wishing you well and some relief soon. We have all been there.

[oldtimer]

I find that telling people it's an auto-immune disease where the immune system is attacking the body and causing pain and inflammation ( and fatigue) helps them to realise that it's not 'just a bit of arthritis' to be dealt with by getting off your butt and doing something! But you can't win them all so don't fight against them if they don't accept that you have a long-term illness.

[Garnacha]

Thank you everyone, you’re all very kind, I think as it’s been a roller coaster of a year with everything going on & being in pain but finally getting a diagnosis, it’s trying to get my head around it all, I was shocked last week when the gp said it was a flare up, I thought that I would only have to get my hamstring, shoulder & elbow under control, I wasn’t expecting to have sudden severe pain in my wrist, fingers, toes & heel of my foot. To be fair to my dad, I’ve been brought up to always carry on & just get on with it, I too have not been that sympathetic with hidden illnesses, payback time 🙄 but he is a man of few words when it comes to showing feelings & did say he knows things have been difficult for me & to take as long as needed (by email) 🙄 but as I went back to work last week after taking 3 days off I’m guessing (probably wrongly) that he’ll be thinking it’s all sorted now, think it’s a guilt thing I’m feeling too working for the family business & knowing not only other staff but mainly my son will have to pick up the slack of me not being in work which I feel really guilty for, my immediate family ie my husband & sons are so supportive and are really trying to get me to take it easy.Thank you all, this site is a great help x