Another RA Question

[Guest guest]

Initial symptoms can be fatigue , soreness in your muscles and joints, and

swelling in your glands and throat. Eventually you may experience symptoms like

you have pulled a muscle in your shoulder, arm, or leg put you cannot explain to

yourself how that my have happened. Then you may experience that " first " flare

when your immune system actually attacks one of your joints, the pain is beyond

belief and I found that there were no over-the-counter pain relief to be had.

Then, the random attacks can begin and that's a very good sign that something is

going on because what and where is unpredictable. In most cases, not all, RA can

be confirmed through a blood test. Hope this helps.

Stan

Seattle, Hot!

[ ] Another RA Question

What symptoms do YOU experience with RA?  

Michele

Littleton CO

[Guest guest]

Stan wrote: Then you may experience that " first " flare when your immune system

actually attacks one of your joints, the pain is beyond belief and I found that

there were no over-the-counter pain relief to be had.

Stan,

I am new to the group and do not yet have a diagnoses of RA but what you

describe is what happened to me. I went to bed, was in great spirits, woke up

could not put my foot on the ground it hurt so terribly. It was swollen, red and

pain beyond belief. This continued for several days and then seemed to subside,

until a week or so later, my knees were attacked. Again, I was unable to walk

without assistance. Since then the pain has attacked my wrist and shoulder.

Many articles I have read suggests that the attacks will be mirror images... ie:

both knees, or both wrists, or both feet...at the same time. This has not

happened to me and I am wondering if RA is indeed involved in my situation. I

had one Dr test me for Gout but the uric acid levels were not elevated.

Right now, I am just totally confused.

Abundant Blessings,

[Guest guest]

, I have had RA for 20 years and never had symmetrical pains,

although some were there but much less noticeable. It first presented with

equal pain in all joints of my body but no swelling, and aspirin would mask

it for a few hours at a time. It does affect each of us in different ways,

so one experience won't be the same as another, and it may not 'mirror' as

it's said to do. RA could certainly be your problem but work with your

doctor and you should be able to find out. Good luck with it,

Dennis in eastexas

On Sat, Jul 10, 2010 at 7:39 AM, <cynsayre@...> wrote:

>

>

> Stan wrote: Then you may experience that " first " flare when your immune

> system actually attacks one of your joints, the pain is beyond belief and I

> found that there were no over-the-counter pain relief to be had.

>

> Stan,

> I am new to the group and do not yet have a diagnoses of RA but what you

> describe is what happened to me. I went to bed, was in great spirits, woke

> up could not put my foot on the ground it hurt so terribly. It was swollen,

> red and pain beyond belief. This continued for several days and then seemed

> to subside, until a week or so later, my knees were attacked. Again, I was

> unable to walk without assistance. Since then the pain has attacked my wrist

> and shoulder.

>

> Many articles I have read suggests that the attacks will be mirror

> images... ie: both knees, or both wrists, or both feet...at the same time.

> This has not happened to me and I am wondering if RA is indeed involved in

> my situation. I had one Dr test me for Gout but the uric acid levels were

> not elevated.

>

> Right now, I am just totally confused.

>

> Abundant Blessings,

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dennis wrote: . It does affect each of us in different ways,

so one experience won't be the same as another, and it may not 'mirror' as

it's said to do.

Dennis, thank you for your reply and information. I had an appointment

yesterday to go over my most recent labs but due to severe pain I could not

drive the two hours to see her. Hopefully, Wednesday will be different and

I will be able to find more answers to this " living hell " I have been

experiencing.

Abundant Blessings,

[Guest guest]

The fact that it seems to affecting random joints is not a good sign. I've long

been under the impression that Gout tends to affect the lower body, knees,

ankles, feet but I am not sure and I am by no means a doctor. However, any GP

can give a blood test to screen for RA, I was also screened for Lupus as the

early symptoms are very similar . In any case I would see a doctor as soon as

possible because the very best thing you can do is get an early diagnosis and

treatment. The pain associated with RA does not go away and there is very little

you can do to prevent it from happening. I know, none of this is good news. The

mirror theory doesn't at all fit in my experience with RA but perhaps it may

indicate something else. Hope this helps.

Stan,

Seattle, Sun!

[ ] Another RA Question

Stan wrote: Then you may experience that " first " flare when your immune system

actually attacks one of your joints, the pain is beyond belief and I found that

there were no over-the-counter pain relief to be had.

Stan,

I am new to the group and do not yet have a diagnoses of RA but what you

describe is what happened to me. I went to bed, was in great spirits, woke up

could not put my foot on the ground it hurt so terribly. It was swollen, red and

pain beyond belief.  This continued for several days and then seemed to

subside, until a week or so later, my knees were attacked. Again, I was unable

to walk without assistance.  Since then the pain has attacked my wrist and

shoulder.

Many articles I have read suggests that the attacks will be mirror images... ie

: both knees, or both wrists, or both feet...at the same time.  This has not

happened to me and I am wondering if RA is indeed involved in my situation. I

had one Dr test me for Gout but the uric acid levels were not elevated.

Right now, I am just totally confused.

Abundant Blessings,

[Guest guest]

,

When my RA first started, it was not bilateral, either. It jumped

about from joint to joint like yours is doing, too. Later on it became

bilateral.

Sue

On Jul 10, 2010, at 8:39 AM, wrote:

>

> Many articles I have read suggests that the attacks will be mirror

> images... ie: both knees, or both wrists, or both feet...at the same

> time. This has not happened to me and I am wondering if RA is

> indeed involved in my situation. I had one Dr test me for Gout but

> the uric acid levels were not elevated.

[Guest guest]

Thank Stan!

My blood test showed my ESR and CRP was very high, but my Rheumatoid Factor was

normal. My Rheumatologist ran a CCP blood test he said was more accurated and

it show I have was with a weak negative. Oh boy do I have sore muscles and I

can get some sore joints for no reason. My ankle starting hurting really bad

the other day. When my husband ask what I did I told him I stepped on a piece

of grass wrong. I look at the symptoms and the don't some. I'm just a

little confussed and overwhelmed right now I guess.

Michele Littleton CO

[Guest guest]

I'm still a lot more affected on my right side. Just about every joint on that

side is giving me a hard time while some of the same joints on the left side

have never given me problems!

Candace

[Guest guest]

I have been suffering for more years than I can remember but always making

excuses that I must have aggravated a muscle, joint or tendon. It wasn't until

I was 38 years old that I finally went to see a hand doctor due to alot of pain

in my ulnar side of wrist, in both, but more on the left side. He did the

standard xrays and nothing was broken, when I agreed to cortisone shots which

lasted me almost a year but alas the pain came back. I agreed to exploratory

operation where he found prolific synovitis and there and then asked me if I may

have lyme disease or RA. We tested negative for lyme. The operation was pretty

successful but then I got pain in my fingers, another operation, he said I had

synovitis and nodules called tenosynovitis (or trigger finger without actually

triggering). From there is was down hill. I have for years had neck pain and

sometimes wake up with awful headaches strechting from the back of my head, down

my neck and into my shoulders. Hand pain keeps me up first started in left hand

on middle and ring finger. A year later mirror image on right hand. Celebrex

helps but kills stomach. Now trying Plaquenil. Been on it over a month,

nothing so far helping. I have tested neg. on all RA testing and autoimmune.

Can scream some times and so sick of the exhaustion and pain. Achy all the time

and feel useless. I too wonder what the heck I have. What the rest of my life

is going to be like if I feel this lousy at 41. There is so much I want to do

but just don't have the strength or energy. Don't sleep well. I also have had

nodules on my parathyroid (negative thyroid tests), swollen glands and slightly

enlarged thyroid.

Just adding my 3 cents and read everyones responses and comments. Thanks for

listening.

[Guest guest]

, I have had ra for 10 years now and tested neg from the

beginning, many of us do. This is a prime example of why early

testing and diagnosis from a rheumy and dmard medication are so

important. Good luck with your new meds.

in pa

Sent from my iPod

On Jul 11, 2010, at 10:20 AM, " " <anelica1016@...> wrote:

> I have been suffering for more years than I can remember but always

> making excuses that I must have aggravated a muscle, joint or

> tendon. It wasn't until I was 38 years old that I finally went to

> see a hand doctor due to alot of pain in my ulnar side of wrist, in

> both, but more on the left side. He did the standard xrays and

> nothing was broken, when I agreed to cortisone shots which lasted me

> almost a year but alas the pain came back. I agreed to exploratory

> operation where he found prolific synovitis and there and then asked

> me if I may have lyme disease or RA. We tested negative for lyme.

> The operation was pretty successful but then I got pain in my

> fingers, another operation, he said I had synovitis and nodules

> called tenosynovitis (or trigger finger without actually

> triggering). From there is was down hill. I have for years had neck

> pain and sometimes wake up with awful headaches strechting from the

> back of my head, down my neck and into my shoulders. Hand pain keeps

> me up first started in left hand on middle and ring finger. A year

> later mirror image on right hand. Celebrex helps but kills stomach.

> Now trying Plaquenil. Been on it over a month, nothing so far

> helping. I have tested neg. on all RA testing and autoimmune.

>

> Can scream some times and so sick of the exhaustion and pain. Achy

> all the time and feel useless. I too wonder what the heck I have.

> What the rest of my life is going to be like if I feel this lousy at

> 41. There is so much I want to do but just don't have the strength

> or energy. Don't sleep well. I also have had nodules on my

> parathyroid (negative thyroid tests), swollen glands and slightly

> enlarged thyroid.

>

> Just adding my 3 cents and read everyones responses and comments.

> Thanks for listening.

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

,

I feel for you. I know what you mean when you say your only 41 and feel this

lousy all the time what the rest of your life will be like.  I'm almost 49 and

just recently diagnosed in 2009 and I can tell you my life has been a living

hell.  I had a great career and was very active.  I am now unemployed (because

I

can no longer work 40 hrs a wk) and activity involves standing for no more than

2 hrs a day.  I'm going to try another clinical trial and pray this is the drug

for me.  What meds do you take?  , hang in there!!

Heidi in Denver

________________________________

From: <anelica1016@...>

Sent: Sun, July 11, 2010 8:20:43 AM

Subject: [ ] Re: Another RA Question

 

I have been suffering for more years than I can remember but always making

excuses that I must have aggravated a muscle, joint or tendon. It wasn't until I

was 38 years old that I finally went to see a hand doctor due to alot of pain in

my ulnar side of wrist, in both, but more on the left side. He did the standard

xrays and nothing was broken, when I agreed to cortisone shots which lasted me

almost a year but alas the pain came back. I agreed to exploratory operation

where he found prolific synovitis and there and then asked me if I may have lyme

disease or RA. We tested negative for lyme. The operation was pretty successful

but then I got pain in my fingers, another operation, he said I had synovitis

and nodules called tenosynovitis (or trigger finger without actually

triggering). From there is was down hill. I have for years had neck pain and

sometimes wake up with awful headaches strechting from the back of my head, down

my neck and into my shoulders. Hand pain keeps me up first started in left hand

on middle and ring finger. A year later mirror image on right hand. Celebrex

helps but kills stomach. Now trying Plaquenil. Been on it over a month, nothing

so far helping. I have tested neg. on all RA testing and autoimmune.

Can scream some times and so sick of the exhaustion and pain. Achy all the time

and feel useless. I too wonder what the heck I have. What the rest of my life is

going to be like if I feel this lousy at 41. There is so much I want to do but

just don't have the strength or energy. Don't sleep well. I also have had

nodules on my parathyroid (negative thyroid tests), swollen glands and slightly

enlarged thyroid.

Just adding my 3 cents and read everyones responses and comments. Thanks for

listening.

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

Your story is very disconcerting and I feel for you. I have not had it as bad as

you, but have suspected Lyme (negative), as well as having had RA confirmed in

the positive. My Rhumatologist says I am atypical though with fairly low

inflamation markers. The more I read and hear folks stories, the more vague and

seemingly connected all auto immune disorders are.

My throid is now getting involved (no drug therapy yet) and I tested gluten

alergic recently. I was told to up my Vitamin D levels a year ago since I have

softening of the bones, and this year (after taking 1000 mg. for a year ) my

Vitamin D deficiency has increased even more! What's going on? You mention

swollen glands and slightly enlarged thyroid....Has anyone had any experience

with Iodine therapy?

I certainly hope you will find the keys to your issues and get on a smooth road

to health. I am feeling for you!

in Grass Valley, California

Re: Another RA Question

Posted by: " " anelica1016@... anelica1016

Sun Jul 11, 2010 10:14 am (PDT)

I have been suffering for more years than I can remember but always making

excuses that I must have aggravated a muscle, joint or tendon. It wasn't until I

was 38 years old that I finally went to see a hand doctor due to alot of pain in

my ulnar side of wrist, in both, but more on the left side. He did the standard

xrays and nothing was broken, when I agreed to cortisone shots which lasted me

almost a year but alas the pain came back. I agreed to exploratory operation

where he found prolific synovitis and there and then asked me if I may have lyme

disease or RA. We tested negative for lyme. The operation was pretty successful

but then I got pain in my fingers, another operation, he said I had synovitis

and nodules called tenosynovitis (or trigger finger without actually

triggering). From there is was down hill. I have for years had neck pain and

sometimes wake up with awful headaches strechting from the back of my head, down

my neck and into my shoulders. Hand pain keeps me up first started in left hand

on middle and ring finger. A year later mirror image on right hand. Celebrex

helps but kills stomach. Now trying Plaquenil. Been on it over a month, nothing

so far helping. I have tested neg. on all RA testing and autoimmune.

Can scream some times and so sick of the exhaustion and pain. Achy all the time

and feel useless. I too wonder what the heck I have. What the rest of my life is

going to be like if I feel this lousy at 41. There is so much I want to do but

just don't have the strength or energy. Don't sleep well. I also have had

nodules on my parathyroid (negative thyroid tests), swollen glands and slightly

enlarged thyroid.

Just adding my 3 cents and read everyones responses and comments. Thanks for

listening.