Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 .....would you mind sharing more about the weight loss surgery you had? I too have dibeties and am over weight......and nothing i have tried has helped me to lose. Ever since they put me on the new meds for it i just keep gaining. thanks for any input. God bless, bjr -- [ ] toe numbness Hi Everyone, I have just spent some time reading the archives, but still have some questions that I hope someone can help me with. In the last month or so my big toes have gone numb on the tips. Some or all of my toes would go numb sometimes, but the feeling would always come back, this time it didn't in the big ones. Now, I don't seem to be having an active flare in my feet, no swollen/sausage digits or that much pain, just the numbness. I don't think that I have diabiets because I just had a complete blood work up done a few months ago and all seemed to be well, plus I had weight loss surgery 14 months ago and most people who have diabiets and have had weight loss surgery can go off their meds within a few months of the surgery. I am not sure if the numbness if from PA or is something else going on. Ugh! Just what I need, a new disease! LOL! I have an appt with a new primary care doc on Wed and will talk to him about it, and an appt with a new Rheumy on the 20th and will be sure to mention to her too, but I thought I would see if anyone has any info here. Thanks for your time, Bloomington, MN [Moderator's note: , I don't have any information on it, but I too experience a feeling of numbness in my toes at times. I haven't paid much attention to when it's better or worse, but the next time it bothers me I think I'll try pricking a toe with a needle and see if it really is numb, or if it just " feels " that way. I have no noticeable inflammation in my toes, but do have hammertoes in the left foot. Ron] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 4, 2002 Report Share Posted September 4, 2002 Betty, I would be happy too, but lets take it off list to respect list guidelines. Re: [ ] toe numbness .....would you mind sharing more about the weight loss surgery you had? I too have dibeties and am over weight......and nothing i have tried has helped me to lose. Ever since they put me on the new meds for it i just keep gaining. thanks for any input. God bless, bjr Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 13, 2004 Report Share Posted January 13, 2004 You can just buy folic acid over the counter in the drugstore. Also Jay about the shoe inserts. I have had them often and there are a lot of varieties. The best ones I have had were made for me by a person reommended by the orthopedic surgeon who operated on my foot last time. They are the most comfortable and also adjust my gait and weight and make room for other little foot problems like many of us have. So I suggest you find the best orthopedic surgeon around and see who they recommend near you. It's worth the extra money and trouble. Annette > > When I first came down with symptoms pain and swelling > > in my hands. I went to the Dr. thinking it was carpal > > tunnel thisin theend turnsout to be the RA. I spent > > weeks on prednisone before I saw the rhemetologist > > which did absolutly nothing for thepain or the > > swelling and in my hands or my face(also swollen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 13, 2004 Report Share Posted January 13, 2004 Thanks for the advice. The VA will send me to a podiatrist and hopefully he will be a good one. They use some pretty good docs up here in Alaska. Jay > > > When I first came down with symptoms pain and swelling > > > in my hands. I went to the Dr. thinking it was carpal > > > tunnel thisin theend turnsout to be the RA. I spent > > > weeks on prednisone before I saw the rhemetologist > > > which did absolutly nothing for thepain or the > > > swelling and in my hands or my face(also swollen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 13, 2004 Report Share Posted January 13, 2004 , My symtoms started the same as yours with my wrist. I did Six months of prednisone, Arava, bextra and therapy. I got very little improvement with my wrists. Before I got to see a Rheummy doc I had EMG test done(this will tell if you have nerve damage or slowing of the nerve functions in your hands). My test show that I did indeed have carpel tunnel in both hands. But I also had lots of pain and swelling other places, severe fatigue, depression and difficultly sleeping. PLus some abnormal levels on some bloodwork. So I had the carpel tunel surgery done once I got the swelling down a good bit. It made a major difference for about another 6-9 months when the RA suddenly got really bad again and the swelling started putting pressure on the nerves in my wrist once again. My Rheummy then changed my meds to: Methotrexate (first pills, then switched to injections), folic acid, Enbrel, Bextra and prednisone. I first started with the Methotrexate pills and had terrible side effects, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, sore throat and headache and I was only on three pills a week. So he switched me to the injections and I get less GI side effects. The folic acid is essential as methotrexate flushes out all the folic acid in your body. Folic acid also helps to minimize the side effects of the methotrexate. I take from 2-3mg a day. Even with that I still get the side effects they are just less severe. I also take 1500mg of calcium with vitamin D every day as long as I am taking prednisone, since the prednisone robs your body of calcium. I got a good booklet from the arthritis foundation on meds and suppliments. What to use and what is a waste of time. I also sleep with wrist splints at nite. They keep me from bending my wrist in a way that would trap that nerve. I would talk to your doc about having custom made splints. You can also buy them in any pharmacy. I bought my first set but after a year I am having problems with the fit..so I will get custom made ones now. As far as improvement of the pain. When I first started meds I began to see some improvement within about two weeks. My doc also prescribed meds for sleep and pain. Pain makes it difficult to get restful sleep. And exhaustion amplifies pain! Good luck Toni In a message dated 1/13/04 2:58:25 AM Central Standard Time, Rheumatoid Arthritis writes: Message: 7 Date: Mon, 12 Jan 2004 15:45:24 -0800 (PST) From: Kasper <TheCronesCottage@...> Subject: Re: Re: Toe Numbness When I first came down with symptoms pain and swelling in my hands. I went to the Dr. thinking it was carpal tunnel thisin theend turnsout to be the RA. I spent weeks on prednisone before I saw the rhemetologist which did absolutly nothing for thepain or the swelling and in my hands or my face(also swollen accross thebridge of my noseand aroundmy eyes). When I saw the R.A.doctor he injected me in both wrists with steroids Im guessing. The pain left (thank goodness)but swelling and numbness are still here.I can only assume that the swelling in my wrists from the RA is causing the numbness tingling etc.I have been on the new meds for a few weeks now and see no difference as of yet. Although I wish it would go away Ill take the numbness over the pain any day. Is folic acid standard when you are prescribed methotrexate I didnt get it prescribed to me.Just the methotrexate prednisone and doxycillin. Anyone know how long before you should see some results? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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