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newly diagnosed and lots of pain

Posted , 13 users are following.

sammygirl38
sammygirl38

So I waited a month for seeing my family doctor when my pain had started in my hands and knees, and when I finally saw him I had swelling in my hands and knees big time. He took some blood work and said it seems I may have RA and I needed to see a rhuematologist. So I waited for 3 long months and the pain was so severe I was unable to walk so my family doctor put me on a steroid until I got to see the rheumatologist and it helped me for like 3 days. Finally I see the new doctor who walks in and says I have rheumatoid arthritis and after her exam she says it is in all my joints. I had swelling in my knees, ankles, feet, hips, shoulders, wrists and fingers. I was in so much pain. SO she started me on like methotrexate and folic acid and a couple other medicines. I have continued to work my job but have called off a few times cause the pain was so bad in my knees that once again I could not walk. I really do not fully understand this disease and I was put on steroids again but it helped for like a day. The pain is still bad but I manage to work. I just worry like am I ever gonna feel relief?

0 likes, 22 replies

22 Replies

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  • debbie_39876
    debbie_39876 sammygirl38

    Posted

    Hi Sammy

    It's hard, it took me 3 years of arguing with my gp and him giving me every test known to mankind and all because he didn't believe that a 23 yr old could develop arthritis..

    So like you by time I got to rheumatology I was in severe pain all over.... But after having my knee drained, which is like instant relief..... Things started improving.... I would like to say methotrexate was my friend, but my liver will tell u otherwise..... But I've been on some amazing drugs, best one took six months to work nearly, like u I find steroid injection last 3 days at most.... If things don't improve soon ask to be put on different drug... Ive been on biological for 2 years now but it's only used if you don't improve with normal dmards.... Ive heard some hospitals won't even use them because they are so expensive,... it's all so scary I know, and no one seems to explain things to you... But there's some great people on here that will always give you good advise and support

    • lynn15111
      lynn15111 debbie_39876

      Posted

      How rediculous of your doctor, since children get this as young as grade school ages.    Someone on here talked about a steroid shot called depro - something that was time released or at least it lasted three months or so.  Find out about that. 
    • sammygirl38
      sammygirl38 debbie_39876

      Posted

      Thank you I have been trying to really listen to what everyone has to say. It helps hearing other stories and how everyone survives this because for the first few days I pretty much cried and just was feeling like poor me. I knew other people suffered just at the time I found out I felt the impact it was gonna have for me and my kids and it was rough
  • rhonda59086
    rhonda59086 sammygirl38

    Posted

    RA is no joke.....I've had it for 10 years now. If u do not rest when u are flared up u will not get no relief...listen to ur body....ur immune system will be low...stay away from people that is sick with colds and flu.....guarantee u will get sick very easily....

  • rhonda59086
    rhonda59086 sammygirl38

    Posted

    Also Fibromyalgia comes with RA it is also painful...it affects the muscles...I get where no body can even rub their hand on my arms...it just kills to be touched....I am on 3 -15 MG morphine & 6-10/325 percocets a day...and I still have my pain...the weather don't help ur joints either...if it's cold u hurt worse. ...I absolutely hate RA...I use my heating pad faithfully and I also use hemp oil for fibromyalgia......it relieves the pain also...

    • sammygirl38
      sammygirl38 rhonda59086

      Posted

      Well just recently I have noticed that my muscles have really begun to hurt. I have pain in my entire legs now not just my joints and my arms also. It is bad enough I had pain in my joints but now my muscles. I feel just miserable and maybe slightly scared
    • shirlee86000
      shirlee86000 sammygirl38

      Posted

      My heart goes out to you sammygirl, my pain has been bad this week I had a steroid injection yesterday so hopefully will be pain free for the next few months then I think they are going to put me back on to methotrexate again, I have another auto immune condition too that came out of the blue last month on my hands a skin one causing red blobs, could be worse and on my face I guess, hopefully the steroid injection will help with that too. I always kinda underestimated RA before I contracted it, but oh my goodness it's just alwful the pain can be so intense at times and get me down, I kinda forgot how bad it was until they took me off the methotrexate as my enzymes in my liver were up, I was upset and scared of side effects as we all are, but having the pain back has reminded me and I don't think I will moan as much next time

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