I'm learning all the time about this horrible RA …
Conscious my joints ache at the moment with movement, making me feel emotional. Too numb to cry…the pain isn’t agony , but it’s there constant a reminder that something is not right…my elbows hurt, have to roll out of bed because getting up hurts…this has all happened in a matter of weeks.
I move tentatively …
Is live RA as the nurse called it, the same as flare up RA.
Maybe it all feels so much worse this evening because I’m exhausted..I didn’t sleep too good
I feel irritable
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Adorable1
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I was diagnosed in 2004, and my symptoms came on really quickly over a few hours. It was half term holiday and we were in France. Getting home was absolute agony! Although I was seen quite quickly by a rheumatologist, it took a while to get the cocktail of medication correct to make life even bearable. I wish you well in your journey.
I remember those first few months - my feet were swollen by the little toe so I couldn't wear my usual shoes/boots and I couldn't squeeze the pegs to hang out the washing. Fatigue is another gift of RA which can appear even if you are sleeping ok so learning to pace is really important. It's ok to feel low occasionally; be kind to yourself and keep telling yourself that this too will pass 💐
oh bless you 🥰. It’s so overwhelming isn’t it. Take a warm bath or shower if you can, that may ease some pain. Lack of sleep won’t help you, I tend to listen to some reiki music to distract me . Maybe thinking that once the meds bed in you hopefully will start to feel better. Be kind to yourself as one person has said, pop outside and take in some fresh air, deep breaths in and slowly out. You’ll get through this ☺️
Pain is overwhelming, lack of sleep never helps either. As well as the pain you need to consider your mental health. Have you tried meditation? Even breathing exercises like slowing and regulating your breathing I have found these things really help me both in the moment and through the day. They can help with sleep too. It's not always easy but keep trying and like most things gets easier with practice. 😘
I too find that listening to my breathing and shutting everything else out (not easy) does help.
This is the only way I deal with it when going to bed,as for counting sheep - I am searching for the Border Collie, Holiday on a beach ...I am looking at other people etc etc. Just quieten down get comfortable and listen to your breathing pattern may possibly help you.
Rubbish isn't it? But you are doing the right thing by talking about it. There are good people here and so much experience. I have had 38 years, others have more, some have less but think how much that must be, 1,000s of years? Could be!
Your head will tell you to do things that your body can't do anymore. That is a hard one to learn, most of us still do that at times. Look up Spoon Theory. It will help you manage your energy so you don't run out. Or think of it like a battery.
You will make improvements, you will cope better but it is a marathon and not a sprint. Your outlook is far better that it was when I was first diagnosed but I am far better than my mother was. You WILL get there, just keep going.
And use all the good advice here as shortcuts. Very best wishes
curious as to how kany of us have had RA blood test done, and result was seronegative, so rheumy discards that theory and simply says osteoarthritis, even though all joints hurt and hands swell, cant bend fingers barely, and middle fingers lock up
My consultant was convinced I had ostio A until CPP bloods came back over 195. Sometimes I guess they aren’t sure and the tests can come back negative it seems even if you have RA
hi took me 18 months to get diagnosed in that time I wanted to end it all . But my family and friends and talking on here helped me so much I am in good medication now and my life is good . But the early days was horrible so I understand what your going through. Stay with it things do get better you learn to adapt and live with RA . Good luck good days are ahead
note my diagnosis is Adult onset stills disease made in 1979 aged 17,
I understand, really I do, some days I can’t brush my hair but other days I do half an hour ironing, I trade activity against coming pain and immobility. Each day is different and always has been for me. I find it helps to use a scale of 1-10 to monitor pain. In a day any joints reaches 4 I take OTC pain relief and if more than one joint joins in at the same time take I allow myself prescription pain killers. I accepted long ago that this is my normal. Wishing you better days.
PS: heat and compression bandages help my wrists and knees a lot
The more tense you are because of the pain and the anticipation that it’s not going to go, the more pain your brain signals (all pain comes from the brain) and so it goes on.
So advice would be to concentrate on your breathing, keep warm, relax all your muscles from the feet upwards while you’re in bed and distract your thoughts by reading, watching tv , doing puzzles etc.
Take regular pain killers -practice preventative pain control - so that your pain levels are not fluctuating and you’re on top of pain before it starts to get control of you. By doing that the level of pain killers will stay constant in your bloodstream.
Use all the tips and hints from everyone on here and by the time we’ve all finished giving you advice you’ll be so distracted you’ll feel much better…………😀 Do hope so!
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Aching posterior
Stating the "bleeping" Obvious?
feeling a bit sorry for myself :(
Is this 'normal' for RA??!!
