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Possible RA - back pain help! Please :-)

Posted , 3 users are following.

rach79
rach79

Oh my! I started having pain 6 weeks ago which was severe in my knees ankles and arms and hands, they at the hospital think it's RA but are not sure. I had a bit of a sore throat so they think it's from that.

I've been feeling loads better - the knee pain arm and hands has gone - I had a steroid jag 6 weeks ago. I was just thinking I could get back to work as I'm desperate - as some of you will know, when you are at home your mind works over time, I'm at times feeling quite low and have gained 11lbs which in turn doesn't help. Anyway I walked a mile or so with my dog and did some gardening - nothing too major and now my back is in agony, I've got an ache down my arms - pain in my hips and my back too - is this to do with RA? The ache in my arms and hands is like one where you want to stretch to ease it away. I'm taking nurofen/paracetomol alternatively - I did have codeine but took a reaction to it.

Any help, thoughts, experiences would be greatly appreciated :-)

I'm a 36 year old female - not sure if any other info is needed!

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Anon
    Anon rach79

    Posted

    Its does sound Like reactive arthritis. Did they find bacteria or HLA-b27 gene? Go to rheumatologist for diagnosis. Hopefully it will go away as only been 6 weeks and from what I have read most get better in a few months to a year to just disappear. It can be a very worrying time and don’t quite understand what is happening. Try not to take too many paracetamol it won’t be good for you over long period. You may need anti-inflammatory for pain. Anti-biotic if you have bacteria. Chlamydia or food poisoning bacteria like salmonella can cause it. You need to quickly treat underlying factors. In most cases of reactive arthritis. we seem to have a trigger which can trigger an auto immune response. They don’t actually know how to cure or why it happens for certain but most get better with time and treatment. Some people respond better too different treatments. Going for walks is good but just build up overtime. Do about half the walk and see how you go. Try to keep as active as possible without overdoing it or straining muscles. Easy to say but alot of the time the pain just happens sometimes or just goes away sometimes. It is better to keep active with reactive arthritis. I have felt like I have turned too stone sometimes. Everything is so tight., Try to do light stretching or yoga. Dont overdo it. Good luck and hopefully you can get better very soon.  
    • rach79
      rach79 Anon

      Posted

      Hi Jay,

      Thanks for your comment. I'm still having the back pain but have an app with rheumatology next Tuesday to see what they say.

      I'm thinking about trying a walk again but like you said just doing less. I'm feeling quite down and negative and really trying to stay happy - it's hard though. It could be worse and I'm lucky to not have constant pain. I'm really keen to return to work so hopefully that will happen soon, just trying to take each day.

      Thanks again for your response :-)

    • Anon
      Anon rach79

      Posted

      I am very sorry to here you cant work. I couldnt work for the first year or so when it came bad. I tried to do what I could but it was like I was in hell. I was crippled completley and couldnt move much. I was so stiff and had all sorts of symptoms. 100s of symptoms. I was so worried. I guess there is only so much we can do to make ourselves better. SO hang in there because time will get you better. I have had it for 10 years and it is much better now. I can lead a normal life working. Flare ups can come and go. If it was anything like the first few years I would be more upset I recon. Even though I have pain everyday it is manageable now. Not sure if it is just way less severe or I adapt to the pain as well. I roll around alot at night. I dont notice much pain during the day. just at night I get sick all the time. I am so use to pain I guess you start to not focus on it anymore. The pain will also lessen overtime or just dissapear.
  • sonya78375
    sonya78375 rach79

    Posted

    Hi there!  I am 39 and have been dealing with this very similarly for 4 months now.  Still one week til the specialist appt (I'm in NZ and there is a major shortage of them) but doctors think RA for me also.  I am on steroids, ibuprofen and panadol and can work again.  But I, like you, think I am better then get a shock when mild exercise (I was a keen runner and surfer until 4 months ago) sets me back.  But I think the back is one thing that is less likely to be RA?  I could be wrong, but if you can see someone about it I would.  Ankylosing Spondalitis has a back thing involved?  and is otherwise similar?  I don't really know though.  I have had knees, ankles, toes, wrists, shoulders, neck, jaw, elbows, hips, fingers, and can no longer wear shoes due to bursitis in my sides of my feet. It's winter now and I am wearing sandals at work, oh dear.  All the stories I hear lately are about recovery years later but I just keep trying to find the stories of shorter episodes...  But, I still hope it is RA because that is temporary and lots of people have worse things.  Good luck to you, it's very hard work isn't it. 
    • rach79
      rach79 sonya78375

      Posted

      Hi sonya,

      Thanks for your reply, sorry to hear you're in pain and in sandals in winter! It is hard defo but I take comfort in the fact you're back at work now, I'm hoping I will be real soon. It's a shame you've to wait so long for your specialist appointment.

      I'm in Scotland and did see rheumatology straight away and then follow up now 6 weeks later.

      I think also feeling quite down isn't helping me, some times I'm not trying to help myself because I'm scared it'll get sore again and also because I'm feeling negative about it all. I had lost 3 stone and have put 1 back on - all my own doing, I'm a real emotional eater and being stuck at home hasn't done me favours. I keep having bursts of "right lets sort this out" and then I'm sore and feel sorry for myself again!!!!

      I will let you know what they say at the hospital next week. Do you have some days you feel loads better then and it just comes back?? Is your job a strenuous one? My job can be physical at times - carrying stuff about and up and down on the floor with babies and driving from place to place. Some aspects I feel I can manage some days while others I'm thinking no way could I manage that!

    • sonya78375
      sonya78375 rach79

      Posted

      Oh gosh yes, you know I wasn't fair saying I'm back at work now because thankfully I only work three days a week (am a mum to big kids also) and I know for sure I couldn't do any more.  I teach five year olds so it's reasonably physical, and tiring.  Of course you are feeling down, it's difficult not knowing exactly how long it will go on etc.  I am definitely putting on weight too but you can't be mean to yourself about it, really can't be helped right now.  It will go when you are better.  One awesome thing I have discovered is swimming, it works absolutely amazingly for exercise, and I can walk better down the stairs after than before for instance.  For a while there when I was too sore I could only aqua jog with the oldies, but even that is excellent.  It doesn't seem to set me back like even a long walk does.  I highly reccommend trying it.  I am so grateful to go to work and be distracted and love my job now more than I ever have!  So if you can get meds to go I do think it could help you feel better.  And maybe you can just call in sick on the days you can't manage?  Because I definitely think there are good and bad days and rest inbetween required.  My experience too.  Ok well all the best for you.  Keep us posted. :-)
    • sonya78375
      sonya78375

      Posted

      Hi, how are you going?  I think I was wrong about back pain not being for Reactive after reading a new thing somewhere.  Was your appointment helpful?  I have a new diagnosis of Rheumatoid Arthritis :-( which is unfortunately forever, unlike Reactive.  So all the best for you and I hope you have a fast recovery from all that suffering.  I am ok now on heaps of drugs, steroids NSAIDs and now DMARDs so starting a different journey. 
    • rach79
      rach79 sonya78375

      Posted

      Hi sonya,

      Sorry for the delay in replying. I'm sorry to hear it's a forever diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis - how are you feeling about it? From your messages you seem to be managing your pain quite well and continuing with your daily life, do you think you're quite a positive person with a 'get on with it' approach? (as much as you can) I'm definitely a positive person but I know illness can really make you feel low.

      I thank you so much for replying to me and the message about swimming - I'm all set to try swimming this week. Lucky for me my doctor said all results have been fine and it's been reactive and it's just a case of slow and steady to get back into normality - I'm still in pain, nowhere near what I had but I'm achey and just so so tired. I'm a bit forgetful too, still losing some hair. It's all linked to having an infection and being poorly according to my doctor. I'm keen to return to work but also realistic in not going back too soon and making sure I'm ready as its a full time full on kind of job for me both physically and mentally.

      I honestly can't thank you enough for your reply and tips - I'd like to hear more from your and wondered if you'd like to continue keeping in touch? Rachael

    • rach79
      rach79

      Posted

      Sonya, what are dmards? are the meds helping you?
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