Hello everyone. I see an RA specialist very soon but I believe I have PR.

uh...what is PR?

Treatment may include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for acute attacks.sometimes injections help.  Antimalarials, such as hydroxychloroquine, have been helpful in reducing the frequency and duration of attacks and may reduce the likelihood that palindromic rheumatism will progress to rheumatoid arthritis.

I hope you can get meds to slow down ths progression of this disease. My aunt suffered from this many years. There are many new treatments available.

Read  up on PR do your homework know what is available so you can be open for treatment. Be your own advocate and have lots of questions on the programs to manage this disease.

 

Today's availability of meducation is unprecedented...I expect you will return to full work.

But the difficult task is finding which medication is best for you. This might take a bit of time.

In any case for the time being...

use an electric heating pad to watm the joints before doing slow range of motion exercises before beginning work.

Remember that arthritis hates to be cold and hates damp even more so than cold.

Keep sensitive joints well protected and do not push these joints when they are cold.

Consider taking acetaminophen 500 mg dosed no closer than every six hours to protect your liverfrom damage.

Rest, not to be confused with sleep. Rest is the key to doing more.

Slerp, sound sleep allows our bodies to recharge.

I too have PR and your story sounds so much like mine did, mine started with my shoulders and I have. Ever felt pain like it, I thought I pulled it at first as I work with people with dementia and sometimes strength was required in that role, so I rested it and it went away then a few weeks later I had the same sort of thing with my other shoulder, that's when I started to get suspicious thinking 'what the heck was wrong with me.

Then my hands started and pins and needles at night with the inflammation pressing on nerves, my fingers looking as fat as sausages and lasting a couple of days before moving over to the other hand, RA didn't cross my mind but I went to my doctors eventually after explaining everything he sent me to a rheumatologist and I got diagnosed. Straight away I had an injection and then put straight onto methotrexate which I wasn't too happy about but had to at least try as I felt I couldn't cope with what was happening to me, the intense pain, the sleepless nights it kind of changes your personality, I got very withdrawn and couldn't be bothered with anyone, partly because I was scared, convinced myself that it was the beginning of the end and all that lol.

Methotrexate didn't agree with me so I came off it and the pain came back really worse than ever, I had to have time off work and even think about changing my workplace as it wasn't fair on my colleagues keep going onto light duties. So a month later I went back to my rheumatologist and after another injection I am now back on methotrexate and so far so good, but still early days, it is a fantastic drug if it works for you.

I do hope you get sorted out, you will don't worry, it can take a while to sort what's right for you as I am still on that journey too, and I am very optimistic about the future, positive thinking is a must have, so good luck to you, have a great Christmas and keep us up to date with your progress there's some fantastic people on here who really know there stuff, it's very reassuring at times