Metoject Pen

[runningbracken]

Hi everyone, been a while since i posted. I have for the last two years almost had my RA under control. Not flaring and pain well under control.

Back in August i was doing my normal Monday routine, injecting the metoject into my left thigh.

As soon as i did i seemed to get a dead leg in the thigh area. Over the next week it never really went a way. In early December i had to go to hospital because i couldnt walk. The left thigh and knee was excruciating. The thigh was like it was numb and tingling and the knee cap was tingling and aching. It was like there was a tingling waterfall inside my knee travelling down my calf.

After pain management, Oura morphin etc. I went home. It never really went but pain was not as bad.

Two weeks ago i had another episode and ended back in hospital with the same symptoms.

Am going through everything that may have caused it, doctors are stumped. Am getting my bloods taken today to see if i have Limes disease because i did spend alot of time in the hills and mountains.

But thinking back it started after injecting Methotrexate. I have stopped injecting into my left thigh from that day but its still not gone any better. Probably worse if am honest.

Am now taking Gabapentin brown and 500mg co-codamol as well as the meds for the RA.

Am posting to see if anyone else has had a similar experience.

Thanks in advance

[medway-lady]

If this sounds the same then yes but not with MTX but an antibiotic injection done by a surgeon. He hit by sheer bad luck a blood vessel it leaked into muscle and was agony. I mean agony only thing could be done was ice, rest and time. It’s really a bruise in large thigh mussel. It has a posh name that escapes me but it was really nasty. A chance in millions to hit the wrong place apparently. It really hurt then was numb and I could see a egg shaped lump but I was told that’s just the bit visable the rest is deep in.

[runningbracken in reply to medway-lady]

Thanks Medway-lady. I've just looked at the side affects for Metrojectpen. And it does say 1 in 10,000 can have numbness tingling and loss of strength in leg muscle.

Will phone Rhumy team see what they think. Didnt seem that concerned last appointment when i mentioned my leg.

Thanks

[medway-lady in reply to runningbracken]

No they weren’t concerned about my leg either said it was harmless unless it got so big it needed an operation to remove the clot. And that could hurt worse and they caused it. I hope you issues resolves as these things are sent to try us. MTX didn’t suit me and I often get a bruise from Etanercept but have found going in sideways helps a bit but use a syringe as the pens were really hard to use and painful. Might be worth asking about a syringe far less painful and more controllable.

[runningbracken in reply to medway-lady]

I've just left a message with rhuemy team, hopefully they answer before the end of the day. Thanks i'll mention the syringe see what they say.

I think i may need to come off the Mtx and get on the Bio-logicials, they did talk about them early last year. Think i need to push a bit harder.

[medway-lady in reply to runningbracken]

I was stopped MTX but biologics go with it. It might be another DMRD is prescribed. Have a look on NRAS website you’ll see there are a good number. I was prescribed Lefludamide which worked for years very well indeed. Now Azathyoprine plus Etanercept. Do look at NRAS information it will really help.

[Doodlereggie in reply to runningbracken]

Just a thought.I was on biologics Benepali for a year but did not work for me.Am now on JAK Filgotinib,one tablet a day,no injecting and it is wonderful,with no side effects.May be this is an alternative to injections! Let us know how you get on .Goos Luck.

[runningbracken in reply to Doodlereggie]

Thanks Doodle. That's really interesting. Did you start to flare and start feeling the RA again when you swapped from the Benepali for the JAK Filgotinib or was it fairly a gentle transition.

[Doodlereggie in reply to runningbracken]

I felt the difference in a few days and my crp went down from 78 to 7 at first blood tests.Rheumy then lowered dose from 200 to 100mg because of my age and crp went up again so back on 200 mg for last few weeks and pain is much better.As Benepali did not work for me anyway I had no flare at all and for me the JAK has been amazing,as others on here have found.I just take one tablet at night,and 5mg prednisolone in the morning,which I have been on for last 23 years and it keeps me active at 79 .So ,so far all good.xIt does seem that nowadays there is some combination that works for most of us,and I know many take JAK in conjunction with methotrexate.x

[KittyJ]

Just my immediate thoughts but Have you thought about a back problem as all these symptoms sound very much like mine when I had disc problems and have been ongoing ever since, especially the waterfall tingling and dead thigh. I hope you get some answers and recover soon.

[runningbracken in reply to KittyJ]

Thanks Kitty, i did have a lower back pain. I will mention this when the team ring.

Hope you get your back sorted out . Nightmare being in constant pain.

Thanks

[KittyJ in reply to runningbracken]

Thank you, it’s a longstanding thing but it is okish unless I do something stupid 😁

[cyberbarn]

Like Kitty I was going to suggest thinking about your back. I had a very similar situation long before I was on MTX (it disagreed with me so not on anything right now). I had a really acute pain in my upper leg and eventually I couldn't walk on that leg for a while. I couldn't lift the leg, which was hilarious when I tried to get into the car. One leg went in but then my body didn't follow because my other leg didn't lift up when my brain told it to! There was nothing that preceded this; no injury, over use or aching. It started with a bit of a pain in the top of my leg on the front, and then blew up into full blown acute crisis. Pain worse than childbirth.

This was during the pandemic lockdown so no one would see me. I was left with no pain relief either as I can't take opioids, other than paracetamol which didn't touch it.

Eventually six months later they did an MRI and found nothing, but the rheumatologist pointed out that a previous rheumatologist had ordered x-rays and that showed spondylolisthesis. So it could have been that shifting which put pressure on one of the nerves in my spine.

Previous rheumatologist had neglected to mention spondylolisthesis! Always ask for a copy of your imagining reports!

There is so much going on in the pelvis, and just because one thing follows another, doesn't mean to say they are related.

[runningbracken in reply to cyberbarn]

Thanks Cyberbarn. will mention this to the Rhumy team. Just need to find what's going on and if it can be treated. Puzzled iam.

[Central_Perk]

Hi. I had a very heavy thigh when I first started injecting Methotrexate, when working I would only get comfort by flinging my leg up on my desk. I spoke to a rheumatologist who said that the nurse who told me to inject into my leg should never have done that because I'm slim and don't have enough fat there, so I switched to injecting into my stomach and I've been fine ever since. Perhaps you could try this.

[runningbracken]

Hi, sounds about right Central, am runner, well i was up until i got RA. Not no more. But i have legs like an ostrich, hardly any meat on them.

i was always fairly firm when using the Metoject, almost pressing it into the leg. I think you might be right. It all started after i injected into the left leg. Think i might of damaged the nerves or bone if so just hope it can be treated fingers crossed.