Hand and wrist scans

Hello. Thanku for your reply. Ive been on steroids since February since I was diagnosed and ive just started methotrexate. I feel like ive been hit with a train and been like it since November when all this started. What im worried about that if I show no inflammation with specialist think im in remission?

Hi Donna;  I can't say if you are in "remission", as your own body will tell you that...if you still have pain, then you are not in remission.  I think what the scan is saying is that, you show signs that you have had a "flare up/affectation in that area", but now with your medications, the inflammtion is healing/thickening, which in some people, who don't receive the adequate/necessary treatment, can then become "calcified"..you have probably seen older people with Knarled/disfigued joints.  The scan actually, to me, sounds positive, in that your treatment is working....hope this has reassured you.    Bron

Thanku for your reply. Im still in pain and have morning stiffness albeit not so bad. It does sound like the steroids are working. Its only my second week of methotrexate so dont know re that yet. Im still so terribly tired. That is worse than the pain. X

Hi Donna, can you tell me why you are still on steroids since february!!!???? You should have only been on them for about 10 days in which to drive out the flair....does your doctor explain his reasoning? Are you currently in a flair? Inflammation is spreas systemically and with my exp the specialist goes by lab results and pain in joints to determine inflammation. I was getting RA pain vinfused with all over muscle, fibromyalga, flu ache type if pain that i have for 4 yrs brought into remission from many changes nutritional and dietary and lifestyle changes ive made .Long term prednisone has so many terrible side effects including effecting your state of mind, a kind of psychological derailment for me, deeply effecting my adrenal glands which is the master gland in our bodies effecting the regulation of so many hormonal functions in our bodies.. Do you have pain in your wrists due to calcification from previous long term inflammation causing carpo tunnel? Is that why this doctor has you on this unsafe and unrecommended long prednisone regime? Im just guessing your adrenal glands must be so exhausted effecting you in physically and mentally??? Methotrexate is okay for some people but for me and many others, it caused so much additional joint pain and was not effective. My research revealed only about 30% responded favorably, even though my doctor was not aware of this. Methotrexate lowers the immune system further along with prednisone triggering dental and other infections that spread systemically contributing to much more RA pain. Your doctor will prescribe folic acid with methotrexate, but even though doctors dont prescribe other dangerously depleted supplements, we must be very proactive to keep from digressing much further. I cant stress enough how imp it is to build up your immune system and to take very much needed supplements of magnesium glycinate with calcium (2:1ratio) and vitamin D.. With a good multi vitamin and fish oil, along with a nutritious eating plan of fresh veg (dark greens included) and fruits (i have 1 fresh green smoothie a day with fruit for sweetness), healthy cooked soups with bone broth, veg broth (veg root is great) and a small amt (2 oz) of a probiotic( kifir milk) .. And limiting gluten, and other inflammation causing things..absolutely no milk products..sub almond milk which had twice the amt of calcium to further assure that proper absorption and assimulation of the many nutrients ourRA bodies are screaming for by us needed RA population..being robbed from us due to not only the disease process itself but from the depleting medications prescribed. When i was first diagnosed, following the prescribed regimes, i was confined to a bed for about 4 months, a wheel chair for another 3, and a cane for about 2 yrs. I do not take methotrexate, biologics, or sulfa drugs as i had adverse reactions to all..causing much more pain and ill health. I have some damage now from poorly managed RA, but medications taken now with the serious changes above are a prescribed anti inflammatory, plaqinil (absolutely no side effects), and tramadol 2x daily, and an extremely low dose if 5 mg prednisone taken every other day to keep everything in check medically.. I watch stress very carefully, and make sure to get 10 to 12 hrs of good nightly sleep which helps manage pain and flairs tremendously. I usually have 1 or less flair yrly that is treated with short term, 5 to 10 day (depending on need) low mg (10mg prednisone) which kicks it out..we must be really proactive but its sooo needed.

Hello

Thanku for your advice.

This all started in November 2014 and knocked me off my feet. Hands swelled, stiffness and numbness. My feet, elbows, knees were all affected. Doc sent me for xrays and put me on anti inflammatories and tramadol. The anti inflam didn't do alot and tramadol was awful. Xrays showed nothing apart from osteoarthritis is all my spine. I

What do you mean about the tramadol being bad?

Grrr my phone is playing up.

I have seen rheumy twice and nurse once. I scored 6.1 on das score even though I am sero negative. Im told im still in a flair which is why im still on 15mg steroids. It isnt helped by my back and neuropothy in my left leg which I take gabapentin for. The pain is not muscular. I can only describe it as a bone breaking. I hav e broken bones before and that seering pain u get when it first happens. Thats what its like in my joints but it moves around my body. I am codiene intolerant so struggling with pain.

Tramadol made me halucinate and kept me awake all night.

When the pain is moving around from place ti place in your body, that is fibromyalga pain. I take magnesium glycinate with calcium (2:1 ratio) with vitamin d and have put the fibro pain in remission for 4+ yrs.

Hi

I thought fibromyalgia was muscular and nerve pain?

Yes fibromyalga is muscle and nerve pain which explains why the pain is in many places and "moves around from place to place".

Sorry it moves from joint to joint im probably not explaining myself properly. Or could that still be fibromyalgia. ? There is so much to learn about all these diseases that all seemed to be linked.

Yes its hard to discern between the RA pain and the fibromyalga pain when we just know we hurt all over. These go hand in hand, but the pain moving all through the body and moving around is the painful fibromyalgia pain that often accompanies RA.

Right im with you. Not sure my rheumy doc believes in fibromyalgia because when I mentioned it he stated it was a label docs put on people when they cant figure out whats wrong with someone so not sure its something he would be willing to treat. Thanks :-)

Wow.. sounds like this doctor needs to be more informed and has not done the research needed. This causes patients care to be not managed to their best.

Hello Cheria, I a new to this site, have a really bad case of RA going on, major struggle for the past 5 yrs, am presently taking Enbrel & Methotrexate. I see you r taking Plaquinil, I believe generic name to be hydroxiquin, not sure on the spelling, Just wondering if your Dr. has advised you to get retina scans every 6 months. I have been following this procedure and just recently was taken off the Plaquinil asap due to retina damage, had some type of retinagram done and just waiting on the results which will take forever,,

 

Hi Nellie

I am taking hydro. Have been taken twice daily for last 8 weeks and only take once daily now. Met with specialist yesterday and he advised me to get my eye checked maybe once a year. Im 28 years old.  He said if i was older in 60's + that he more then likely not prescribe them due to the damage they can do.

Hi Cheria

I too am taking steroids since Feb.  I was told take 7.5mg for weeks and have now lower it to 5mg since last Wednesday.  Four days after i lowered it i started getting few pains back esp in morning but nothing major.  I have to continue for one more week on 5mg then 2 1/2mg for two weeks. Also take Hydro and Methotrexate.  Since i started the medication i have been almost pain free.  Spent 2 months in agony pains everywhere,like Donna felt like i was hit by a truck every day.