confused
Posted , 7 users are following.
hello about 2 months ago i woke up to pains and stiffness in my fingers was diagnosed as nodules on the tendons of my fingers and given cortisone injection and nust say was impressed woke up the day after and felt no pain at all felt back to normal then 3 weeks ago i woke up to a swollen painful wrist on left hand and swollen painfull knickle on right hand had blood test and was told it could be ra was given naproxen and swelling went away only for it to return days later in right shoulder and left wrist back on naproxen and it cleared up went back to work feeling 100 times better to wake up in the night not being able to move right arm it had seized up and left wrist was swollen and painful im trying to work but as i drive it impossible iv not seen a specialist yet im on the waiting list and i dont know whats next will this clear up or will i be like this untill i get on meds to sort it sorry for going on a bit lol but im at a stage i dont know what to tell my employer and i dont even know if im in a poston to actually work thanks for any advice x
0 likes, 5 replies
barbara58180 catherine48745
Posted
Catherine!
I'm so sorry. It's so awful. It hurts so much. I remember when I was at that stage. Can you call in sick with something? The flu, anything?
Try to hang in until you get to a doctor, and call and call to see if you can get in there sooner.
Rest, and try hot baths!
Be brave, who knows , you might resond really well to treatment.
All the best,
B
Rowbirdie catherine48745
Posted
I struggled into work at same stage of diagnosis as you- so really feel for you. I had to get up an hour earlier just to make it in as it took me so long to get showered and dressed. Everything was painful and took several hours for stiffness to wear off.
It was kind of a relief when I got the RA diagnosis and I talked to my boss then- but I didn't have to wait more than a month for my consultant appt.
So I m wondering when your appt will be? Are you in uk? Your GP has been a bit slow in referring you, preferring to see first if it s just a temporary inflammation. But it clearly isn't. Could you go back to go and ask for urgent referral because of increasing symptoms and effect on ability to work?
I don't want to jump the gun, but i m afraid it sounds a lot like RA so you do need to get an expert s advice ASAP. In the meantime NRAS website have a lot of info including RA and work .
ihavenonickname catherine48745
Posted
Oh Catherine
I am so sorry...I have been right where you are...I have had juvenile rheumatoid arthritis since I was 11.. I am now 54.
You need a rheumatologist...meantime oerhaps your gp will do blood work including ESR and rheumatoid factor.
Perhaos your gp will consider keeping you on the naproxen until the rheumatologist takes over your care. If you need additional pain assistance discuss the safe use of acetaminophen.
Keep your joints warm, protect them from draft and cold and damp. Get plenty of rest, not to be confused with sleep.
Do range of motion exercisrs gently. When you ate flaring, rest that jont.
And ask us questions...together, we have lots of experience.
With today's medication RA can get nipped in the bud.
kind regards
treezsh catherine48745
Posted
Hi Catherine, I am so sorry and my heart goes out to you, as I know first hand it is ver very scarey! I used to call it "the worm" as it moved around and appeared to attack a new joint. You need go push as much as possible to get to see a Rheumatologist and get started on some appropriate drugs, also to have more definitivee blood tests. Cortisone works reslly well, as you have already found, if you receive as an injection (intra muscular) it last longer and has a more global effect it seems. Mine usually lasted 4 to 6 weeks and was heaven after all the pain, its a good stop gap, though not want you want long term. I hope your appointment is soon, but personally I would hound the GP and hospital for an earky appointment!
shirlee86000 catherine48745
Posted
Hi Catherine
Your symptoms sound exactly like mine did in the very beginning earlier this year, I worked in care and although there's a no lifting policy it was still heavy going and my work put me on light duties, I would wake up to swollen fingers and shoulder problems, I was so scared not knowing what was wrong with me. Eventually I got diagnosed in June and put straight on to methotrexate together with some kind of steroid injection in my backside, God what a relief the pain left me the next morning, until I had problems as my body couldn't tolerate the methotrexate and I had to come off it early last month and boy oh boy the pain came back with a vengeance. Cutting a long story short I am now back on it with another injection and again pain relief, so I am waiting to go for a blood test soon to see how I am coping.
Sometimes it takes a while to sort out the right medication for you, they believe in early stages to hit it hard and fast and I am one of those people who doesn't take even paracetamol unless I am in real pain so it's all so hard for me, I guess there's loads of other people who felt the same, not just me.
I truly hope things get sorted for you, it's all so scarey isn't it but I just keep thinking it could be something much worse so tell myself to get on with it, positive thinking is a must, let us all know what happens