Re: Pain without swelling?

[Guest guest]

Heidi...

Before I even found out I had RA...my very first experience/indicator was

severe foot pain and stiffness-every day for weeks and weeks before I went to my

MD. I never noticed any real swelling in my feet-just stiffness and pain to walk

on them. Then it moved into my hands and they are very swollen and painful most

of the time...lots of inflammation at my PIP finger joints. I am an occupational

therapist with education on inflammation-just so you know up to 25% of initial

swelling cannot be seen. Hope this helps...

--

>

> Hi,

>

> I have a question. Since my Rheumy decreased my MTX from 6 to 5 pills a

> week, I've started having pain again. He was thrilled my CRP was 1 and

> convinced all was well and began the process to " wean " me off MTX. Much to

> my disappointment, I don't think it's going to happen.

> My hands hurt so much I just want to cry. Tramadol isn't touching a thing.

> Some fingers are swollen, it's not consistent. But my real concern is my

> foot pain. I've never had any unless I've sprained an ankle or stubbed a

> toe. Now I'm experiencing foot pain. With RA, and I'm afraid this might be

> silly, but can they possibly hurt so much without swelling? Yesterday they

> were burning, I wanted to take them off, but I soaked them, and that gave me

> no relief. I even stuck my hands in the water and that felt pretty good. My

> back hurts, my hips are killing me. I hate to make a call to him to tell

> him all this. I hate that my decrease to freedom off of MTX has failed.

> GRRRRRRRRRRRR. Thanks for listening and any answers/advice you might have.

>

> Heidi in Mass.

> Go Red Sox!

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Thanks, I will be calling my Rheumy tomorrow, this foot pain is crazy, it's

around my ankles, doesn't bother my toes. What confuses me is when the crp

shows 1 but I hurt, he can touch/squeeze my knuckles and I'm about to jump

off the table or clock him. It's like the minute I leave the office the

swelling returns. I feel frustrated. How can I tell him how much pain I'm

in if I have no swelling to show for it. I feel like I've lost my mind

saying that.

Heidi in Mass.

On Sun, Jun 7, 2009 at 9:09 PM, burton_rr <burton_rr@...> wrote:

>

>

> Heidi...

> Before I even found out I had RA...my very first experience/indicator was

> severe foot pain and stiffness-every day for weeks and weeks before I went

> to my MD. I never noticed any real swelling in my feet-just stiffness and

> pain to walk on them. Then it moved into my hands and they are very swollen

> and painful most of the time...lots of inflammation at my PIP finger joints.

> I am an occupational therapist with education on inflammation-just so you

> know up to 25% of initial swelling cannot be seen. Hope this helps...

> --

>

>

>

> >

> > Hi,

> >

> > I have a question. Since my Rheumy decreased my MTX from 6 to 5 pills a

> > week, I've started having pain again. He was thrilled my CRP was 1 and

> > convinced all was well and began the process to " wean " me off MTX. Much

> to

> > my disappointment, I don't think it's going to happen.

> > My hands hurt so much I just want to cry. Tramadol isn't touching a

> thing.

> > Some fingers are swollen, it's not consistent. But my real concern is my

> > foot pain. I've never had any unless I've sprained an ankle or stubbed a

> > toe. Now I'm experiencing foot pain. With RA, and I'm afraid this might

> be

> > silly, but can they possibly hurt so much without swelling? Yesterday

> they

> > were burning, I wanted to take them off, but I soaked them, and that gave

> me

> > no relief. I even stuck my hands in the water and that felt pretty good.

> My

> > back hurts, my hips are killing me. I hate to make a call to him to tell

> > him all this. I hate that my decrease to freedom off of MTX has failed.

> > GRRRRRRRRRRRR. Thanks for listening and any answers/advice you might

> have.

> >

> > Heidi in Mass.

> > Go Red Sox!

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Hello friends

I also have foot pain to the point that I could'nt walk very good , the first

time this happened was about 5 years ago I had x-rays done gone to the rheumy Dr

the first time she said she did'nt think it was Ra so I went on with my life as

much as I could ,last Nov I went to see my GP dr crying because my hole body

hurt he ordered some blood work and sure enough it came back possative for Ra

with very high numbers anyway my feet really did'nt swell at all just pain. went

back to the same Rhemuy Dr 2 weeks ago and did x-rays and sure enough both my

feet have real bad bone erosions, so I do no that you don't have to have

swelling to prove you are in pain, I know I ve been there even some other parts

are not swelled but I feel the pain and the heat. Take care and hope you feel

better.. Marie

________________________________

From: Heidi Oliveri <sposy1584@...>

Sent: Sunday, June 7, 2009 5:27:19 PM

Subject: Re: [ ] Re: Pain without swelling?

Hi ,

Thanks, I will be calling my Rheumy tomorrow, this foot pain is crazy, it's

around my ankles, doesn't bother my toes. What confuses me is when the crp

shows 1 but I hurt, he can touch/squeeze my knuckles and I'm about to jump

off the table or clock him. It's like the minute I leave the office the

swelling returns. I feel frustrated. How can I tell him how much pain I'm

in if I have no swelling to show for it. I feel like I've lost my mind

saying that.

Heidi in Mass.

On Sun, Jun 7, 2009 at 9:09 PM, burton_rr <burton_rr (DOT) com> wrote:

>

>

> Heidi...

> Before I even found out I had RA...my very first experience/indicato r was

> severe foot pain and stiffness-every day for weeks and weeks before I went

> to my MD. I never noticed any real swelling in my feet-just stiffness and

> pain to walk on them. Then it moved into my hands and they are very swollen

> and painful most of the time...lots of inflammation at my PIP finger joints.

> I am an occupational therapist with education on inflammation- just so you

> know up to 25% of initial swelling cannot be seen. Hope this helps...

> --

>

>

>

> >

> > Hi,

> >

> > I have a question. Since my Rheumy decreased my MTX from 6 to 5 pills a

> > week, I've started having pain again. He was thrilled my CRP was 1 and

> > convinced all was well and began the process to " wean " me off MTX. Much

> to

> > my disappointment, I don't think it's going to happen.

> > My hands hurt so much I just want to cry. Tramadol isn't touching a

> thing.

> > Some fingers are swollen, it's not consistent. But my real concern is my

> > foot pain. I've never had any unless I've sprained an ankle or stubbed a

> > toe. Now I'm experiencing foot pain. With RA, and I'm afraid this might

> be

> > silly, but can they possibly hurt so much without swelling? Yesterday

> they

> > were burning, I wanted to take them off, but I soaked them, and that gave

> me

> > no relief. I even stuck my hands in the water and that felt pretty good.

> My

> > back hurts, my hips are killing me. I hate to make a call to him to tell

> > him all this. I hate that my decrease to freedom off of MTX has failed.

> > GRRRRRRRRRRRR. Thanks for listening and any answers/advice you might

> have.

> >

> > Heidi in Mass.

> > Go Red Sox!

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Wow, this i something, I too feel what you feel, not always with noticeable

swelling/redness. Do our famiilies begin to feel we are hyprochondrics? My

people are used to me being the energizer bunny in the house, with the chores,

and on the job even and they feel the meds are doing this to me, so why take

them blah blah.

I try to say anything, this weekend was pretty bad though.

OKD

>

> Hi ,

>

> Thanks, I will be calling my Rheumy tomorrow, this foot pain is crazy, it's

> around my ankles, doesn't bother my toes. What confuses me is when the crp

> shows 1 but I hurt, he can touch/squeeze my knuckles and I'm about to jump

> off the table or clock him. It's like the minute I leave the office the

> swelling returns. I feel frustrated. How can I tell him how much pain I'm

> in if I have no swelling to show for it. I feel like I've lost my mind

> saying that.

>

> Heidi in Mass.

[Guest guest]

I've never had a whole lot of swelling, but boy have I had pain, especially the

burning in my feet. Trying to wean down of off the MTX put me in the same

position you're in Heidi, so I know what you're going through! We ended up

having to increase the dose, and it took awhile for my body to settle back down.

Just when you think you're getting close to remission and then your body throws

you a curve ball! Anyway, in my case, my doctor has always treated me according

to my symptoms and not the bloodwork.

Lori

http://home.comcast.net/~queenstitcher/

http://stitchingqueen.multiply.com

[Guest guest]

Read all replies before chiming in:

I never understood why some doctors feel that if you are going into a

" remission " (which was induced by medication), why would they try to wean you

off the medication that is helped put you into that remission? Yes, some of

these meds have long term side effects however if they help, why try to stop

them? It doesn't make sense to me at all the way they think!!!

Heidi- I feel for you. I hope you call your rheumy not only to ask for that one

pill back but to get something for pain relief. Breakthrough pain is the worst.

*~ Kami ~*

Re: [ ] Pain without swelling?

I've never had a whole lot of swelling, but boy have I had pain, especially

the burning in my feet. Trying to wean down of off the MTX put me in the same

position you're in Heidi, so I know what you're going through! We ended up

having to increase the dose, and it took awhile for my body to settle back down.

Just when you think you're getting close to remission and then your body throws

you a curve ball! Anyway, in my case, my doctor has always treated me according

to my symptoms and not the bloodwork.

Lori

http://home.comcast.net/~queenstitcher/

http://stitchingqueen.multiply.com

[Guest guest]

Hi Heidi - I'm sorry you're feeling so bad. I know how happy you'd been since

being on the Enbrel. My question is this - Did you have some negative blood test

results that made your Rheumy want to decrease your MTX? I've had two doses of

Enbrel so far and my Rheumy told me last week that when I come back in 2 months,

we'd start weaning off some of the other meds. Scared the crap out of me and

almost sent me into a panic attack. What if this combo of meds is THE combo for

me? Why would they want to decrease our meds if our labs are still good and

we're getting relief? I've always been the type that if it ain't broken, leave

it alone - there's nothing to fix.

I've had the foot pain, too. Its especially in my right foot which really sucks

because I can't drive without being in pain just from that little bit of

pressure on the gas and brake pedals. I had x-rays done and there was that good

ole " degenerative change " again.

Hope you feel better, Heidi. You were one of my " inspirations " to achieve the

pain freedom you had enjoyed. I pray you get it back again.....Doreen

>

> Hi,

>

> I have a question. Since my Rheumy decreased my MTX from 6 to 5

> pills a week, I've started having pain again. He was thrilled my

> CRP was 1 and convinced all was well and began the process to

> " wean " me off MTX. Much to my disappointment, I don't think it's

> going to happen. My hands hurt so much I just want to cry. Tramadol

> isn't touching a thing. Some fingers are swollen, it's not

> consistent. But my real concern is my foot pain. I've never had any

> unless I've sprained an ankle or stubbed a toe. Now I'm

> experiencing foot pain. With RA, and I'm afraid this might be

> silly, but can they possibly hurt so much without swelling?

> Yesterday they were burning, I wanted to take them off, but I

> soaked them, and that gave me no relief. I even stuck my hands in

> the water and that felt pretty good. My back hurts, my hips are

> killing me. I hate to make a call to him to tell him all this. I

> hate that my decrease to freedom off of MTX has failed.

> GRRRRRRRRRRRR. Thanks for listening and any answers/advice you

> might have.

>

> Heidi in Mass.

> Go Red Sox!

[Guest guest]

Hi Lori,

That's good to hear, well you know what I mean....I'm really glad I posted

because I was getting really worried. I tried calling him today, he doesn't

have office hours but he is on call. I'll get him tomorrow. At least today

is Enbrel day!

Heidi in Mass.

On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 9:40 AM, Stitching Queen

<queenstitcher@...>wrote:

>

>

> I've never had a whole lot of swelling, but boy have I had pain, especially

> the burning in my feet. Trying to wean down of off the MTX put me in the

> same position you're in Heidi, so I know what you're going through! We ended

> up having to increase the dose, and it took awhile for my body to settle

> back down. Just when you think you're getting close to remission and then

> your body throws you a curve ball! Anyway, in my case, my doctor has always

> treated me according to my symptoms and not the bloodwork.

> Lori

> http://home.comcast.net/~queenstitcher/

> http://stitchingqueen.multiply.com

>

>

[Guest guest]

Kami,

I wholeheartedly agree. Sometimes my husband comes home from the

doctor, and his blood pressure was really good. He says maybe he can

stop taking his BP medication. I tell him the same thing that you say

here.

Sue

On Jun 8, 2009, at 11:07 AM, ~Kami~ wrote:

>

> I never understood why some doctors feel that if you are going into

> a " remission " (which was induced by medication), why would they try

> to wean you off the medication that is helped put you into that

> remission? Yes, some of these meds have long term side effects

> however if they help, why try to stop them? It doesn't make sense to

> me at all the way they think!!!

[Guest guest]

Kami,

This approach is being used increasingly, but usually for early RA

that has been treated aggressively from the start. Long-standing

disease is another story.

Not an MD

On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 10:07 AM, ~Kami~<kamilleon@...> wrote:

>

> Read all replies before chiming in:

>

> I never understood why some doctors feel that if you are going into a

> " remission " (which was induced by medication), why would they try to wean

> you off the medication that is helped put you into that remission? Yes, some

> of these meds have long term side effects however if they help, why try to

> stop them? It doesn't make sense to me at all the way they think!!!

>

> Heidi- I feel for you. I hope you call your rheumy not only to ask for that

> one pill back but to get something for pain relief. Breakthrough pain is the

> worst.

>

> *~ Kami ~*

[Guest guest]

Yes ,

That's true as in my original post I forgot to mention he even wanted me to

go to 4 mtx after a month on 5. There is no way I can do that. Sometimes I

also get the feeling that he is much more dependent on the numbers that the

test results show, as I don't show up all swollen, I just have that pain

without swelling.

This is very frustrating. But tomorrow is the day I call him. I'll keep

you posted on what he says.

Thank you and everyone for your help.

Heidi in Mass.

On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 9:19 PM, <

Rheumatoid.Arthritis.Support@...> wrote:

>

>

> Kami,

>

> This approach is being used increasingly, but usually for early RA

> that has been treated aggressively from the start. Long-standing

> disease is another story.

>

>

> Not an MD

>

> On Mon, Jun 8, 2009 at 10:07 AM,

~Kami~<kamilleon@...<kamilleon%40verizon.net>>

> wrote:

> >

> > Read all replies before chiming in:

> >

> > I never understood why some doctors feel that if you are going into a

> > " remission " (which was induced by medication), why would they try to wean

> > you off the medication that is helped put you into that remission? Yes,

> some

> > of these meds have long term side effects however if they help, why try

> to

> > stop them? It doesn't make sense to me at all the way they think!!!

> >

> > Heidi- I feel for you. I hope you call your rheumy not only to ask for

> that

> > one pill back but to get something for pain relief. Breakthrough pain is

> the

> > worst.

> >

> > *~ Kami ~*

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Heidi:

God, I feel just terrible that you are hurting so badly now, and going

through such hell. I hope your Rheumy has some answers for you, and

also some advise. I can't see reducing your MTX when it has been

working so good for you. I am glad your blood work was good, but that

is due to the meds. you are taking for RA. I can't understand his

thinking to reduce your MTX.

As you know, I am on all the max. doses of MTX, Placquenil,

Sulfasalazine, Leucovorin, and at 10 mg. a day of Pred. I have been on

these doses for a long time, and that is why I am pain free, and my

flares are longer in between, and shorter in duration. My Rheumy keeps

me on these doses, and my blood work is always good. My liver tests

have been perfect since day one. She would never stop or reduce my RA

meds. as I feel good most of the time. Even my feet and ankles are much

better, and you know how much I suffered with them for years.

I pray that you feel better soon, and that you can get the right meds.

for your RA. I am so sorry you are suffering so much. Always remember

how much you mean to me, and I want you to feel better soon. I am

praying for you to be pain free soon.

Write when you can, and I will call you this week. Oh, and go Red Sox,

go!!! Gotta love that Boston team!!!

Monster hugs to you from me.

Barbara

>

> Hi,

>

> I have a question. Since my Rheumy decreased my MTX from 6 to 5 pills

a

> week, I've started having pain again. He was thrilled my CRP was 1 and

> convinced all was well and began the process to " wean " me off MTX.

Much to

> my disappointment, I don't think it's going to happen.

> My hands hurt so much I just want to cry. Tramadol isn't touching a

thing.

> Some fingers are swollen, it's not consistent. But my real concern is

my

> foot pain. I've never had any unless I've sprained an ankle or stubbed

a

> toe. Now I'm experiencing foot pain. With RA, and I'm afraid this

might be

> silly, but can they possibly hurt so much without swelling? Yesterday

they

> were burning, I wanted to take them off, but I soaked them, and that

gave me

> no relief. I even stuck my hands in the water and that felt pretty

good. My

> back hurts, my hips are killing me. I hate to make a call to him to

tell

> him all this. I hate that my decrease to freedom off of MTX has

failed.

> GRRRRRRRRRRRR. Thanks for listening and any answers/advice you might

have.

>

> Heidi in Mass.

> Go Red Sox!

>

>

>