reactive arthritis

i am 36 yrs old with 3 children under 5. i was diagnosed last sept (2006) with rea. with in a week i was bed bound usind a commode and in terrible pain. my gp did his best with what he could prescribe lots of painkillers of which i took too many of but the pain was like walking on broken hot glass. the hosp took alot of persuading that i was actually ill but finally i was taken seriously. 1 steroid jab and 5 months on steroids and now on methotrexate i have put on nearly 3 stone which doesnt help, i have it in my left hand and both feet and left ankle.i have also got strange red blotches over my feet and ankles which can be tender at times, the hosp have no clue what started it but i have put it down to tonsilitus which i had both times prior to the flare up of rea. i have started riding a bicycle as this is easier than walking and doesnt take me too long to take kids to school as trying not to rely on car. i am slowly getting better but i have good and bad days. i did have this about 15 yrs ago (undiagnosed) but nowhere near as severe but then again i was younger and fitter then. i hope this will get better but at the moment i feel like an old women trying to look after my young family. i just keep going even if slowly.

Don't worry things will get better!

Like you, I got reactive arthritis from food poisioning when I was only 20 (I am 29 now)

I had many, many joints affected (knees, ankles, wrists, jaw etc) and ended up in hospital for a few weeks. Was treated with painkillers, anti-inflammatories, sulphasalazine, steriod injections.

The worst of the pain went within about 4 months, but I was actually unwell for about a year in total (remaining aches, severe fatigue) and had to have time out of university.

I made a good recovery, although I was left with joint damage/some restricted movement in my right hand. I felt actually quite lucky this was the only damage, as people with a permanent arthritis have to deal with so much more ongoing pain/damage.

I found cod liver oil taken daily to be really helpful, as well as sticking to a very good diet (no processed foods) and lots of sleep.

I have for the most part been well since then, but I have had other (not as severe) flare-ups of reactive arthritis (cause unknown) from time to time. I am currently suffering with some knee, wrist and jaw pain. Although it is uncomfortable, I have not had anything that has restricted my everyday life too much and I do not take permanent medication, just when I need it.

All my research has shown people with reactive arthritis in most cases do get better within a few months from flare-ups, so try to stay patient and keep positive..... x

Meant to say, my message is for Brella....

Hey Brella,

My reactive arthritis came from Clamidya and was mainly in my left knee - took them ages to diagnose, and in the meantime my knee was swollen beyond recognition, however, after a course of antibiotics, to clear up the Clamidya, the swelling and pain decreased and I was active and walking again within 6 weeks. I too am fit and active so understand how awful it is not to be able to go the gym. I have a history of arthritis in my family so know how dehabilitating it can be. Keep positive and good luck x

[quote:5b24e8b0e3=\"tracy\"]i am 36 yrs old with 3 children under 5. i was diagnosed last sept (2006) with rea. with in a week i was bed bound usind a commode and in terrible pain. my gp did his best with what he could prescribe lots of painkillers of which i took too many of but the pain was like walking on broken hot glass. the hosp took alot of persuading that i was actually ill but finally i was taken seriously. 1 steroid jab and 5 months on steroids and now on methotrexate i have put on nearly 3 stone which doesnt help, i have it in my left hand and both feet and left ankle.i have also got strange red blotches over my feet and ankles which can be tender at times, the hosp have no clue what started it but i have put it down to tonsilitus which i had both times prior to the flare up of rea. i have started riding a bicycle as this is easier than walking and doesnt take me too long to take kids to school as trying not to rely on car. i am slowly getting better but i have good and bad days. i did have this about 15 yrs ago (undiagnosed) but nowhere near as severe but then again i was younger and fitter then. i hope this will get better but at the moment i feel like an old women trying to look after my young family. i just keep going even if slowly.[/quote:5b24e8b0e3] :wink: :wink: [b:5b24e8b0e3][/b:5b24e8b0e3]

Ken, we don't pass on postal/e-mail addresses via the open forum. To be able to do this you would need to register with the forum (click Register in the menu list below the green banner above). You and other registered members will then be able to communicate with each other via Private Messaging (PM) or e-mail.

Hi.......I have recently posted my own experience of reactive arthritis under my Patient UK name Melody. If you decided to undertake a similar experiment involving a low-fat diet I would be most interested to hear of the outcome. Best Wishes.

Brella ,

This is Kevin see my posting of the 2nd March .

Have you not tried Prednisolone ( Medrol by Pfyzers ) , you'll see several postings indicating this medication as having given relief . There's also another product that I mention in my posting , that I've not tried but is supposed to replace favourably the above .See what your GP says .

Hope the support you've been getting from the other contributors is helping you along .

All the best

Kevin

Im just on the cusp of being diagnosed with reactive arthritis - I say on the cusp as Im still awaiting the results of tests - but it seems that all I have read so far points to it.

10 days ago I couldnt even walk- nor lift a cuppa - seems like every viable joint blew up in response - I was given codiene and diclofenic and later that week moved onto steriods. The swelling has abated but I still feel as though its lurking about my joints with aches and pains Ive never felt before.

Now I read that this isnt a one off event - that it can continue for a longer period than I care to think about. Im feeling rather despondent as prior to this I had an active life. An energetic 3 year old and mad bouncy dog.

Does anyone out there have any words of advice or something to uplift?

Hi

On 1st Jan this year my left ankle was aching. Hobbled about for a few days then off to A&E unable to walk (bank holidays so doc not open). I was advised torn ligument and sent away with crutches. I complained about ache in other ankle and this was put down to putting extra strain due to left ankle.

The following weekend, both ankles like elephant feet, wrist very painful and swollen finger. Sent back to A&E to be told they think Reactive Arthritis. Given co-codamol and anti anti inflammatory also scans taken of ankles. By this time I have never looked so bad, in agony, took an hour to get off house, crying my eyes out in the hospital (was in pain and they were just looking at me!) hadn't left sofa in a week and had to use a bucket for a pee! Worst experience ever.

After three weeks sent to Rheumatology Dept at hospital. My GP feared it was the start of rheumatoid arthritis. At this stage I am at wits end - before 1st Jan I was at the gym six days out of seven and I'm 31. Went from really fit to criple.

Waited one month on appointment. By this time I am determined that thing was not going to take my youth(ish). I went back to my personal trainer and focussed on low impact exercises.

At hospital had more scans (bones and chest), bloods and urine. Up to high 90!

All results came back clear, the source will always remain a mystery. They reckon I got food poisoing or a virus Nov/Dec (un-noticed by myself). I hadnt been ill since 2003 but weird I had fever the week before the arthritis hit so I am in two minds as to whether it actually does take a couple of months to surface.

So here I am, 87 days later. I am back to Body Attack twice a week, LBT twice a week, cycling 50 miles every week and spin/gym in between. I ache still a little in ankle and wrist. They said 3 months full recovery so I am hopeful this will pass but a little sneeky feeling that it may be with me for good now but not the end of the world.

Yes there is light at the end of the tunnel. As soon as you can get back on your feet try your best to get back to fitness. When I first went back to exercise class I had a corner to myself, I was all over the place - folk couldn't believe their eyes but practice makes perfect.

I am scared this will return - I take vit c every day and try and have a good staple diet - porridge for my breakfast and mum's lentil soup for tea plus lots of fruit.

I hope my post has helped, I read 1000s of these to try and understand what was wrong with me - focus on getting healthy and stay stong x

and yes the tramadol - spent many a daze on these things! I stopped taking the pills as soon as I could cope with the pain

They say 95% of people lose reactive arthritis after six months. Treatment is given to try and minimise joint

Damage. There are three brigs they have to try before going on to more expensive ones - sulphalazine,

Methotrexate and Hydroxichloroquine

I contracted this awful disease four and a half years ago after a virus infection. My ankle became the size of an elephants and was agony. The doctors had no idea what it was, I was sent for an xray and given pain killers. Over the next few weeks the swelling travelled up to both knees which were unrecognisable and then to my hips. I went to the doctors on many occasions but was just given pain killers until at long last six months later I was referred to the Rheumatologist. Two minutes after walking in he told me I had RA and that he

could help. I was given a steroid injection, pain killers and sulphalazine. At this time I was screaming in agony, unable to walk or climb the stairs. The sulphalazine made me feel very I'll so had to stop it and went on to hydroxychloriquine instead. I also suffered the red rash on my feet which is a known symptom. I was on steroids for years eventually weaning myself off them as I was worried about my bones.

Four years later I am not cured but manage it. My knees are ok as is my ankle and the damage is minimal.

Unfortunately the same can't be said of my hips. I am now awaiting total hip replacement of both hips as

they are totally damaged. I have had an injection straight into the worst one to tide me over until the first op which has really helped and I still take numerous pain killers and the rheumatologist wants me to take loads more tablets and use a pain patch. The Orthopaedic surgeon says no to bother as they only thing that will

work is replacement and to do it now when I am young enough to get the full benefit from it.

It is a nasty disease but can be managed but you need to find the right Doctors and Specialists to help.