Baffled in the US

Hello tammy. You are more than welcome to this forum and you're right everyone is very supportive. I have only recently been diagnosed with RA and i have my first appointment with a rheumatologist next month. I can however relate to what you are experiencing. I too have these odd aches and pains some very painful. I've always considered them to be part and parcel of my RA. Reading what your doctor has said I could be wrong. I suffer pain mainly in my shoulder which does become swollen, my knees and my feet. The odd aches and pains are in my wrists and elbows. I now wonder if this is referred pain? I currently take codeine and Nefopam for the pain. I'm also prescribed Naproxen but despite taking Omeprazole as well it still gives me abdominal cramps that I could well do without. I now intend to speak to the Rheumatologist about these odd aches and pains and ask his/her advice next month. Take care

Hi Tammy.  I too was diagnosed 3 years ago. This sounds normal RA to me.  I have all of these aches and pains, In my shoulder last week and in my chest for the last two weeks.  I had a session of acupucture in my shoulder and that helped me but I really think its just part and parcel.  I used to always be in the gym and can't do as much at all now, so I really sympathise with you as you have to use your shoulders for pottery.  I think we just have to take it easy and continue with things but at a much slower pace.  Anna

Hi,

I was diagnosed with RA last year and am still getting used to medication. I'm currently takign Methotrexate and Hyrdoxchlorquine.

I too have random days where my shoulder will hurt and I struggle to lift my arm up past a certain angle, that'll last a day or two and then randomly another day it could be my other shoulder. Last week I had some pain in my elbow which was one area I hadn't had issues with!

I had assumed this was part and parcel of RA, so everyday I wake up not knowing what to expect, whether it will be a good or bad day. The cold weather deifintely has had an impact.

I hope you find the firums useful, I know I have since being diagnosed, its nice to hear other people's expereinces and speak to people who actaully understand what you are experiencing.

Hope you have more good days than bad!

Thanks so much, Anna, Matron and Nabs! I'm looking forward to being a part of this forum and I hope to be a support to others, as well. It just feels better to share this stuff and hear - "oh that's just normal RA". I need to keep moving if I can, but sometimes, I feel like my body is telling me to stop, rest and take it easy and I need to listen. It can be hard to have a healthy balance between knowing when to rest and when to push yourself!

Hello tammy,

If your doctor had not said differently then I would have thought that your joint pains could be pottery related. If you are repetitively using the same joints in your work then I would think problems are bound to arise if you have RA.

Can only speak from my own experience here..I've had RA for 11 years, and am currently on enbrel and methotrexate which are working great for me. Even so, it doesn't take much for certain joints to play up if I overdo things, or need to do certain manual tasks like say repetitive lifting or assembling some flatpack furniture with a screw driver. Going up and down a step ladder too many times for my own good can cause pain and swelling in my knees and feet.

Good luck

 

Hi Tammy, If you follow this link you will find information on the Arthritis Research UK website on Palindromic Arthritis which might be what you are experiencing.  http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/system/search-results.aspx?keywords=palindromic

I have this form of arthritis and I am on the exact same medication as you.  I found that my symptoms greatly improved which I increased the Plaquinil.  Not sure that the methotrexate helps that much.  Im currently experiencing a period of flares moving around my body along with fatique.  Awful!

Hope this helps,

Hi Tammy, I just replied to your post, however as I had included a link, it was referred to the moderator.  I didn't realise you couldn't include links.  Woops!   I think you might have Palindromic Rheumatoid Arthritis.  You can get information on this condition on the Arthritis Research UK website.  I have this condition.  I'm on the same medication as you and my condition greatly improved when my Plaquenil was increased.  I still get periods of flares but not as painful as I had in the early days.  Fatique is a particular problem.  It might not be this, but its worth having a look.