My RA is nearly always one-sided

[tazman3]

Does anyone experience worse pain on one side? I am having a flare (2nd one after Pfizer boosters) and it's in my hips. Again, my right side is much more painful and I'm waddling around the house not knowing what to do. Rheumy nurse has noticed that my symptoms are also worse down the right side.

After 3 years since diagnosis, I am still searching for a biologic that does not cause my blood tests to show negative and unacceptable results. I am having my 3rd infusion in 9 months on Wednesday (Tocilizumab). This is due to starting/stopping due to neutrophils dropping. They have said that if this happens again I will be starting yet another biologic. Incidentally, since my first infusion, I have gained half a stone and my cholesterol and blood sugars have increased for the first time.

The main reason I am writing is to ask if anyone has any tips to ease the pain during the day. I use Ibuprofen and at night I seem to be able to get comfy and sleep as well as I normally do. As soon as I get up I can barely put weight on my right leg. Should I be resting or push myself?

[Hidden]

I’m like you mainly one sided. I can’t use nsaids but use co codamol and pregablin. You could ask your Gp for help there are other drugs for pain control. This disease is a right b****r !

[tazman3 in reply to Hidden]

Hi J1707, thanks for the reply. I have recently weaned myself off Co codamol after 25 years! I realised that they were no longer killing any of my pain and I had a constant headache. Analgesic headache I think it's called. I feel more awake, my skin has improved and I don't have many headaches. However, the RA pain remains. My GP surgery is a nightmare. Never speak to the same doctor and they don't have a clue about RA. I will try to speak to one of the docs when I go for my infusion and see if they can help.

[Hidden in reply to tazman3]

Good luck . Why is it so difficult? Xxx

[Wobbies]

Although all my joints hurt, my left side is much worse and after walking a few steps i start to list to the left which is my worse side. Waddling around like duck - so annoying and painful.

[Madmusiclover]

I use nefopam for pain (prescription only) and yes I’m more right pain sided. Except wrists. Which is more left pain sided. Chuck out the textbook!

[sylvi]

My RA is only down my right side and that is the worst side, It has been like that fir the 20 odd years i have had RA.xxxxx

[Bookworm55]

Yes my current pain is mainly on the right side - hand, shoulder and knee- though with some on the left for good measure ☹️. RA suffers are always told that both sides of the body is affected symmetrically - partly to differentiate from OA pain I think. I decided that the right side was affected more because I ‘m right handed but don’t know! I use naproxen during a flare but it’s not on repeat prescription so I ‘fill in’ with co code mil for a few days.

[Hidden]

Yes my pain is always worse on the right side but both sides are affected at the same time. I can feel my self walking differently to accommodate this pain which can’t be a good thing. I use pain relief but get the headache and then take something else for that...... bit of a vicious circle.So I soak in a hot bath In The mornings to release the muscles and use a topical 2% gel on the worst joints to avoid being full of codeine everyday. This way I can generally avoid oral pain relief alternate days, it helps a bit but does mean tolerating a bit more pain on those days off if you see what I mean. It helps control constipation a bit as well. I find the wrists splints very comforting and compression knee wraps too.

[medway-lady]

I'm in remission with AZA and Orencia but it used to be asymetrical. So left right hand and left knee. But today after 5th jab its in both hand knuckles. Hopefully be gone by tomorrow and I'm doing a lot of painful stretching to keep the fingers going and straight. x

[Brychni]

Hi tazman - I have Undifferentiated Inflammatory Arthritis and my pain has always been mainly one sided. It usually starts on both sides with equal intensity and then slowly shifts to the right where it becomes unbearable. Most recently my right shoulder was horrendous and I think I have permanent damage. The pain subsided after about a year or more and about 50% mobility but I still have trouble with it. Even now sometimes it's painful enough to wake me up at night and there is a very tender spot at the top of my arm. I'm having a scan soon.

In terms of pain relief the only thing that has ever helped is oral steroids. I've taken them short term about three times and they worked like magic.

I've now ditched the methotrexate and am on hydroxychloroquine and hrt which seems to have also helped.

Steroids all the way!