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Relapse in RA

Posted , 6 users are following.

john96177
john96177

Iv had RA for 16 years it has always been well controlled with medication until recently. In March i started to have multiple acute flare up's. My G

P and consultant gave me steriod tablets, steroid injections and painkillers, since then although not acute I am having painful flare up's every day in different joints and now in tendons ligaments and muscle with all the ususal swelling etc. The middle finger of my left hand has started to go towards my palm. I am worried that my GP or consulatant are not going to be able to control this development  with medicationas it is now happening every day and having a negative impact on my llife, can I ask my GP to refer me to another consultant? The rhumotology nurse has not answered my phone call so I feel a bit let down and fed up at the moment. I currently take the maximum dose of Salfalazine

1 like, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • cindy52759
    cindy52759 john96177

    Posted

    John, I live in Florida and was diagnosed about a year ago with RA.  It started with my middle finger going towards my palm, they call that trigger finger and the rest of my fingers curled in a ball.  I was in horrible pain and over the last year, have done combinations of medications.  Salfalzsin, methotrexate and hydroxychloroquine are what I take and although I still have pain in certain joints, I can still get out of bed in the morning at least.  My reumatologist I believe is going to start me on a biologic which he tells me should make me pain free.  All meds are different in each individual but I would highly recommend you seeing a reumatologist.
    • linda1947
      linda1947 cindy52759

      Posted

      Cindy, I take methotrexate by injection, maximum dose and although it worked to a certain extent I still was not pain free so my consultant recommended that I had one of the new biologic drugs.  I had Retuximab by infusion (drip) which took six hours at the hospital, this was repeated two weeks later.  I have now been pain free for two years. I still have to have the methotrexate and I still have joint stiffness but life is so much better. Hope it works for you too.
  • poemsgalore55
    poemsgalore55 john96177

    Posted

    John, I'm no expert, but it sounds to me as though the Sulfa isn't controlling your disease any more. You can ask your GP to refer you to a different consultant, but could you get a new appointment with your existing one? It sounds to me as though you need either a second DMARD in addition to Sulfa, or have a biologic treatment added in. It might be worth your while contacting the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society. The link to their website is www.nras.org.uk. They have a free helpline number  08002987650. 
  • CA-Lynn
    CA-Lynn john96177

    Posted

    I understand in the UK it may be more difficult to see a board certified rheumatologist, but this is what you really need to do[. Steroid tablets and steroid injections are not the answer. You need a DMARD[such as Methotrexate]  and possibly a biologic [such as Enbrel or Humira]. These drugs halt the destruction/inflammatory process.  [I live in the US.]
  • CA-Lynn
    CA-Lynn john96177

    Posted

    Forgive me, but I'm from the US, and here we do aggressive treatment. That would mean a rheumatologist and DMARDS and possibly a biologic. Steroid injections might be fine for quick knock-down of inflammation, but you have to be on DMARDS and/or biologics to keep the disease from progressing. Sulfasalazine is used for mild RA, and perhaps that's all yours was for 16 years. But it is apparent that the medications need to be changed now. Probably Methotrexate is the next step up.
  • Light
    Light john96177

    Posted

    Gosh, that's a shocker for you!

    I would definitely make an apppintment with a rheumy consultant asap and this time ask about biologics. The time may have come for you to try out that different drug group  – Humira, Rituxumab, Actemra, and so on...

    Also, you don't mention methotrexate - a strong and commonly used DMARD which usually goes hand in hand with the prednisone and salfalazine. Be sure to take some folic acid with it, if he gives it to you!

    All the best!

  • Chenye
    Chenye john96177

    Posted

    Hello John,

    three month ago i visited my relatives in austria. There my cousin who also has RA told me that he tried a new therapy called "regenerative stem cell therapy" to alleviate his pain . He noticed this kind of therapy on a website of a well known specialist, from vienna, called DDr. Heinrich.

    I don't know very much about this therapy, but what he told me sounds very comprehensible..

    You get stem cells from your own body fat injected into the affected area and these stem cells find their way on their own to the building sites in the body where their regenerative and healing effect is needed

    Maybe I could help!

    Regards

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