flare and more steroids

[Pink75928]

hi, I posted recently about working hours and have decided to cut my hours down by two days a week. I am a single parent so I am hoping universal credit can help me somehow. My consultant called me and has prescribed another course of steroids while I’m waiting for biologics. My question is, has anyone felt RA pains they usually get in smaller joints in their jaw?? I have accepted the shoulder pain as RA, but it is new to this flare, and the usual I get, but jaw is new. I wondered if it’s a thing or more so I am just feeling unwell and achey all over?

[AgedCrone]

No it’s not just you…in my experience, pain in the jaw is quite common in early RA.

I found it just faded in time ….it was a long time ago - and once I was on a regular medication regime it disappeared. It only appears sporadically now….for no rhyme nor reason

But that is just my experience…I’m sure others will have other information for you.

[Pink75928 in reply to AgedCrone]

thank you. I thought I was going mad! I am a yeah and half in. So far on methotrexate, Sulfasalazine and now about to start Benepali. It’s like a pick and mix of medication

[AgedCrone in reply to Pink75928]

I hope the Benepali helps.One thing to help you deal with RA is to not get used to blaming it for everything….& not believing it could be something else. …altho jaw pain probably is RA…..Everyone gets exhausted & suffer aches & pains….more or less serious than RA.

So when on Benipali try to pace yourself…I have never taken it….but I imagine like most RA drugs it’s going to take a while to have any affect….so don’t go mad doing everything you might have let slip recently.

Wait until you feel you can manage things without causing stress. …& like the majority of people with RA you will feel better & start thanking your lucky stars for modern medicine. But it takes time….being patient now pays off in the long run,

[MichMx]

sorry to hear about your flare and glad you are having steroids to help until your new medication starts working. I’ve also had jaw pain during RA flare up. It settled when my medication started working. Take care and hope things settle soon. I also got Lidocaine patches to wear at night for my RA shoulder pain which really helped too.

[oldtimer2]

The Benapali may take a while to work, or be quick - it does seem to vary between people. But you do need to look after yourself until it does. But you may then find that you can do much more.

I really thought that age was catching up with me until I went on the biological treatment and it gave me a new lease of life. But it may equally well be that it takes some time to find the right biological treatment for you - unfortunately there is still no way yet of predicting which part of a person's immune system needs to be suppressed.

[Angjoplin]

Yes, I've had RA in my jaw. At one time I had trouble eating. My jaw cracks terribly if I have to open my mouth wide at the dentists. RA tries to get blooming everywhere.

[Pink75928 in reply to Angjoplin]

Doesnt it?? My jaw clicks when I open wide as well

[marie66]

Yes! I have intermittent jaw pain too. M x

[Hidden]

Hi Pink75928,

Sorry to hear you've developed symptoms in your jaw. We do actually have an article on jaw problems and RA which can be accessed here: nras.org.uk/resource/jaw-pr...

I hope you find this information useful and wish you all the best. Should you require any additional information or support please contact our helpline on 0800 298 7650 (Mon-Fri, 9.30am-4.30pm) or email us at [e-mail]

Best wishes,

Hannah - NRAS Information and support coordinator

[cropredy]

Hi Pink75928, you are not alone when I was first diagnosed with RA some 50 yrs ago one symptom I had was my jaw locked and to this day I still get aches in my jaw. RA Huh!

Ray