RA + Neuropathy

[ABwn]

Hi all - I was wondering if anyone else has peripheral neuropathy as well as RA? It is in my right leg. Only just been diagnosed with neuropathy. I take methotrexate via an ipen in my legs. Am not sure whether I ought to change the area of the injections?

[Dawn7]

Hi, I am getting neuropthy symptoms in my left leg for the past few months, Not diagnosed yet, but classic signs. I take methotrexate and inject into my thighs, but hadnt thought of a connection. It may be worth emailing or ringing your RA team and asking them?

[ABwn in reply to Dawn7]

Thank you Dawn7. Am contacting RA team, just thought I would ask this group if anyone else is suffering from neuropathy in legs. Have a good day.

[Shonkie]

I also have pretty bad neuropathy in my feet and legs but am not on methotrexate. Not sure if the nerve damage is from RA or medication. My sensible GP thinks treatment is not a good idea because of side effects. I am targeted with ads for treatments with various devices on the internet and wonder if they work but also pretty sceptical. Anyone tried one?

[ABwn in reply to Shonkie]

I'm also targeted with the ads for treatment and often wonder about them. My physio recommended amiltriptyline to help sleep issues. The pain used to wake me and kept me awake. It's a very mild dose, 10 mg instead of 20 mg. Find if I wake up I can get back to sleep. Can't take codamol, unfortunately.

[ageddancer]

Good Morning, I too inject Methotrexate (into my thighs) and I have peripheral neuropathy in my feet/toes.....I was told this when I visited my foot clinic (private one) she who looks after my feet and also provides suitable orthotics. It doesnt cause me much of a problem (so far).

[Joannos]

I have neuropathy in both my feet and legs not quite up to my knees. I manage but I don't like it

[sunshineday]

Hi ABwn, my hubby has RA, (he's on sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine) amongst many other health problems and developed neuropathy in 2020 affecting his feet and hands. It was mild initially but in mid 2021 it dramatically deteriorated. He was referred to the neurophysiology dept who did nerve conduction tests to identify which nerves were effected. His GP referred him to a neurologist who said he thought the neuropathy was caused by Rheumatoid vasculitis. Hubby had a nerve biopsy done which confirmed RV to be the cause. He now has Rituximab every 6-9 months, this helps with his RA but nothing else. We have scoured and read everything we can about neuropathy, are also on the neuropathies sites on HU but despite all the You Tube blurbs, Medical sites and adverts and trying out various 'remedies' nothing really helps. The neurology consultant said as it was Rheumatoid Vasculitis causing the problem Hubby's RA consultant most appropriate clinician to deal with it. Hubby has had several falls, uses a walking stick and although we try to have walks every day they are slow and short but hubby's motto is never give up and never give in. Best wishes to sorting out the cause of yours and hope it can be controlled somehow.

[ABwn in reply to sunshineday]

So sorry to read about the problems your hubby is having, it's very difficult coming to terms with it. I was advised by my physio to keep active, very difficult. I also use a walking stick, balance has up and left! I find the streching excercises I do when I get up in the morning, started because of RA, help. I also plan to walk in areas where when the pain starts I can sit down for 5 minutes or so, until the pain goes, then walk again. I keep waiting for people to start shouting at me for sitting on their garden walls. Live in the middle of a city so have to be very careful where I walk. Makes all the difference. Sometimes I can walk further than anticipated, so good. Take care both of you.

[sunshineday in reply to ABwn]

Thanks ABwn, just have to keep keeping on !

[Retirednhs]

Hi , you could have touched a nerve in the leg but most likely it's your RA or back that is causing it . I have been on MXT for years now and you can use it on the stomach lean forward a little until you have a bulge and just push the end of the pen into it and inject yourself it's good to change your sites around l have found . Good luck

[ABwn in reply to Retirednhs]

Hi - many thanks for this, much appreciated. I'm assuming that unlike leg I don't need to press with fingers. A number of bulges around stomach😅.

[orange33]

hi i developed PN about 8yrs ago. Many times I have questioned whether it was the methotrexate triggered it, however I was only on a very low dose and I have been on it for well over thirty years. My RA consultant doesn’t think it was the mx. I wish you well.