Ive had rheumatoid arthritis for a while now -i cant remember when i first started with it but I remember thinking how painful it was
My doctor referred me for an xray .Showing your bones & joints in a terrible way shook me up at first then I just got on with it
there are restrictions on what I can & cant do -I cant open tins with ring pulls because of my fingers & simply dont have the strenth-so any tinned food is out of the question
Gripping tends to hurt.I get Volterol for joints on my repeat prescription so glad about that as its expensive to buy
Im looking forward to getting to know you all & hearing of your stories on here
Much love to you all
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horseygirl_0103
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Hello, welcome to the club nobody wants to join 🙄 you will get endless excellent information from lots of lovely people and even sympathy when you are feeling down. I think one of the things that keeps us going is a sense of humour so some of us will come across as a bit wacky 🙃😂
You need a ring puller! Great device. I lift the pull with a knife blade and slide the puller in! I got mine from Lakeland. You can also use an electric can opener on any tin.
Seems that as MML uses a knife she's not aware the other end works well levering the ring pull up, as you say it would be much safer? The one I use there's just the one end that does the lot. Either way they're a big help. 🙂
they dont really give me any medication i think really volterol gives me some sort of relief im taking medication for my lungs & he seems to think other medication for this condiiton might clash
Hiya, welcome horseygirl. I hope you find it helpful. We've lots of info to share so ask anything. I'm sure you'll have some to share mtoo so look forward to seeing you around.
I do hope you're on other meds than Voltarol for your RD? I also use it, 2.32%, it eases my OA bone on bone finger pain. Like you I have reduced strength so have other helpful aids to make things easier & allow more independence than I’d have without them!
When my dogs are on canned food I swear by this ring pull opener (pic below). I think it was gifted to me but I’ve seen them on Amazon for £3 or thereabouts.
yes 2.32 is the highest strenth Im on meds for my lungs & it seems to me my GP isnt too intersted in giving me medication for this in case theres a clash
You need the GP to refer you to a rheumatologist to get a definitive diagnosis as if you have got RA you need to be on specific medication - DMARDS - to stop future damage. It's a systemic disease so can affect organs as well as joints and there are many different medication options so a specialist would be able to find something which isn't a problem with your other conditions/medications. Lots of information on nras.org.uk
I use a ring pull opener and also have an electric tin opener and a handy device for opening jars; I bought them years ago for my elderly Mum and stuck them in the kitchen drawer when she died, little imaging that I'd need them so soon but they've been a boon since I developed RA 3 years ago 😊
I'm afraid your GP can't diagnose, he/she can suspect it & refer you to a Rheumatologist to do so though. He/she can't prescribe the meds needed to attempt to bring RD under control either, with them being specialist meds only a Rheumatologist can. That would explain an alternative reason for your GP being unwilling to prescribe for you, he/she's unable to diagnose & can only take over prescribing the meds once they are initiated by a Rheumy, in the same way he/she has for your lung condition. That brings me to wonder why your GP referred you for X-rays, I take it this was initially, when you first had symptoms? It's just this is something normally your Rheumy would arrange at your initial diagnostic appointment, along with blood tests & performing a full examination of your joints, to determine your prognosis & best treatment. GP's usually only have your blood tested if he/she suspects after you explaining symptoms & him/her examining you to determine possible RD. Are you under Rheumatology at all, or maybe you were discharged? They will be able to advise on the best options for you, taking into consideration your lung condition as well, even consulting with your pulmonary/respiratory team. There are meds which could be available to you, some people here have both lung disease (COPD/ILD etc) & RD & on treatment for both.
Sorry if this is unnecessary info & you do have something other than Voltarol gel. Lung disease whilst thankfully not common can be linked to RD itself & so can be successfully co-medicated. I hope I'm assuming here & you are on DMARDs or biological treatment but if not please request your GP refers you for an official diagnosis.
Yes Im due to see my GP soon for an appointment but Ive got covid at the moment so isolating so when ive tested negative I ll defintelly have a good conversation with her
And yes I go to the combined clinic of Rheumatology/chest medicine in my local hospital
Welcome to the RA club, one that no one really wants to be in but here we are and we have to make the best of it. I was diagnosed with RA in 2004, but in hindsight had it since I was a teenager.
I’ve tried every kitchen aid around, some gimmicks that don’t work, some genuinely good. You need a ring puller for cans with pulls.I have an electric can opener for cans without ring pulls, and theses are the sort of cans I choose if possible. The are many implements you can buy to open jars and bottles that help to grip the tops.
Finally my wrists are fairly useless so cutting and peeling veg isn’t an option so I cook carrots and potatoes in their skins, and buy prepared chilled veg, and frozen chopped onions and peppers. I hope this helps.
Hi and welcome. You don't mention being under a Rheumatologist. I presume you have had a confirmed diagnosis but it seems strange that you are not on any medication. If you don't mind me asking, is that through choice? You will get lots of help on this site but we can't give medical advice. We can share our own stories of course and you will find them helpful. We can also sympathise and help with recommending things that can make life more comfortable. I have a gadget by Culinare that is brilliant for ringpulls and removes bottle tops too. It is a chunky white 'thing.' I don't know how to put photos on here but hope that is enough information. All the best.
no i dont mind you asking at all - its not through choice Its because Im on medication for ILD (interstitial Lung Disease) & she has set up an appointment in sough manchester to see a special clinic that specifically deals with ILD patients to be assessed for a new exprimental tablet - & if I am elligible for it I htink initially she want s to get me on that first
Thank you for that. Your reply shows that you are under a rheumatologist so he/she is obviously dealing with it. I have had RD for 20 years and have never had an xray. My bloods showed clearly that I had it so I suppose there was no need. All the best with your drugs and assessments and I hope you can get on mxt asap.
I’m wondering how RA can be diagnosed from an X-ray? I had to have blood tests and scans . I don’t understand why you haven’t been referred to a Rheumatologist. It sounds like you have other medical conditions as well but there are many medications for RA to choose from. I hope I don’t upset you but I’m wondering if you realise this forum is for Rheumatoid Arthritis, not Osteoarthritis. Two very different disease’s. As I understand it, an X-ray can show Osteoarthritis but not Rheumatoid Arthritis as this is an Autoimmune disease.
Hi - An x-ray will confirm rheumatoid arthritis if it is advanced - the hand knuckles and joints twist in a certain way which with RA. Some people on this forum have that severe stage or form of RA. I have had it eight years, almost without conventional medication, but I do not have that and it had to be diagnosed by MRI and ultrasound. If you go on line, you will see dreadful deformities in years gone by which thankfully are rare nowadays.
I had the usual blood tests, but I was also sent for an X-ray of my feet and hands. While my hands and fingers were swollen like big fat sausages, my GP said the X-ray showed no sign of inflammation, although my RF was positive, also my ESR sky high, but CRP not that bad. 🤷♀️
I was diagnosed with RA though once I actually saw a Rheumatologist.
Hello and welcome to the forum.I have the same questions as others , have you been referred to a rheumatologist, been investigated for RA and are you prescribed DMARDs ?
A GP cannot diagnose RA, only a specialist rheumatologist.
I too have complex lung issues, but am still able to take dmards and biologics. I was also on nsaids till I had a stroke. As others say your GP can’t diagnose rheumatoid arthritis, and should have referred you to a rheumatologist for proper testing and treatment. Has your gp done bloods for inflammatory markers and rheumatoid factor? Please push for referral as RA affects more than just joints, so it’s important to get it under control
Excuse me for a belated welcome, but I saw one of your posts recently about you being let down by hospital transport which led to you missing an important appointment. You felt you could not take enough cylinders of O2 by private transport to safely last for the duration of your visit. I hope I can offer some assistance to your dilemma as a long term oxygen user, currently end stage COPD and on 8lts/min, 24/7. I am housebound now, but before my condition progressed I used to get out and about by car using ambulatory O2 cylinders with the use of a conserver. This is a device which is attached to the cylinder and triples the duration of a cylinder. A cylinder which would normally last 2 hours, would actually last 6 hours. It works on the principle of the breathing cycle. You breathe in for a third of the cycle, and breathe out for 2/3 of the cycle. The conserver only supplies oxygen while you breathe in thereby not wasting it whilst on constant flow. Your oxygen supplier should be able to supply a conserver and show you how to use it. There are 2 types of conserver, a manual one and a battery powered one. I have tried both and preferred the mechanical one as I often forgot to take back up batteries with me and had to cut short my outing as the conserver wouldn't work without battery power. I hope this information proves useful to you. Please let me know how you get on.
Hi horseygirl and welcome. I've been using this ring pull for years and it really is very good and so easy to use. You just lift the ring slightly with the end and with the rounded end, you hook it under the ring and lever it back. I've left the link below.
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hello :)
new here.....Hello
Hello, its me!
New here. No diagnosis.
Hi Everyone, i'm new here.
