Rieters Reactive arthritis, causing me soooo much pain !

Hi

Im new to this site.

Im 37, female with four children. In july of 2008 I started to get stiff swollen fingers in the mornings, then it progressed into my knees wrists, ankles, hips, neck and clavicle area. I also had conjunctivitis, mouth ulcers and Keratoderma blennorrhagica. I am in terrible pain most days, i was house bound for three months. I was then admitted into hospital, they aspirated my knees and injected steroids into them, also i was on an iv with steroids also. I am taking diahydracodiene, paracetamol and tramadol for pain relief, although these dont seem to affect the pain too much, just makes me feel sick. I am also taking Lansoprazole, Celexocib, methotrexate, folic acid and last week i started taking Salazopryin. I had to go back into hospital last week as all swelling and pain became significantly worse, my rheumy aspirated my knees and put me on an IV again, said i need to go back for an MRI of my knees, because most of the swelling isnt synovial fluid but because of damage to ligaments and tendons, then a camera inserted into my knee and possible further surgery. I am already having to have surgery on my hands as this disease has left them badly deformed. I was initally told that it usually lasts for 3-6 months, or in worse cases upto a year. This has been going on for 10months now and doesn't seem to be getting any better, despite all the medications. Is there no end to it all. My life has changed so much over the last 10 months, there is so much i cant do anymore. My Rheumy says that test were rheumatoid negative, but because its so severe he is treating it as RA. Is the any light at the end of the tunnel. Any words of advice or comfort would be much appreciated. Thankyou.

1 like, 4 replies