Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
Hello all. I'll get right to it: I am a 38 year old female, I am quite fit, and normally very active. I started a job where I am on my feet a whole lot back in Jan. I have done this job years ago with no problems. However, this time within a week of starting I developed pain in both feet. I thought maybe it was due to my increase in activity, and changed shoes many times including adding supports. The pain only increased. It seemed like plantar fasciitis, and my PCP agreed. Steroids provided some short term relief.
The pain in my feet has spread to my most of my MTP joints (top and bottom), the center of my heels, both sides of my heel (in and out), my ankles, both hips and knees. I have puffiness to my feet where it hurts, but no huge swelling. I again tried a higher dose of steroid in June, and it was miraculous... for 3 short days until the dosage dropped. My hands are not involved.
Also in June I had some blood work done (RF, uric acid, ANA, and sed rate). Only the ANA came back high at 1.3.
I've been to one rheumy in mid July, who was rude and seemed insulted I was there at all. ALL of my blood work was negative. He only mentioned (did not offer) antidepressants or Neurontin before the bloodwork even came back. He didn't listen to me, said I didn't have a systemic problem and said "RA usually starts in the MTP joints." When I said my MTP joints hurt a lot, he ignored me. I have not gone back.
I have also developed Raynaud's in the last 3 years.
I have been in constant pain since Feb. Currently I am maxed out on diclofenac and ultram. The pain wakes me up, too. It feels like a cramp/ache/slow tear in my feet and hips.
While I do not necessarily want this to be RA, I want to get some input from you guys before I move on to the other expensive specialists like podiatry and orthopedic.
Does this progression sound familiar to anyone? Should I find another rheumy?
The pain in my feet has spread to my most of my MTP joints (top and bottom), the center of my heels, both sides of my heel (in and out), my ankles, both hips and knees. I have puffiness to my feet where it hurts, but no huge swelling. I again tried a higher dose of steroid in June, and it was miraculous... for 3 short days until the dosage dropped. My hands are not involved.
Also in June I had some blood work done (RF, uric acid, ANA, and sed rate). Only the ANA came back high at 1.3.
I've been to one rheumy in mid July, who was rude and seemed insulted I was there at all. ALL of my blood work was negative. He only mentioned (did not offer) antidepressants or Neurontin before the bloodwork even came back. He didn't listen to me, said I didn't have a systemic problem and said "RA usually starts in the MTP joints." When I said my MTP joints hurt a lot, he ignored me. I have not gone back.
I have also developed Raynaud's in the last 3 years.
I have been in constant pain since Feb. Currently I am maxed out on diclofenac and ultram. The pain wakes me up, too. It feels like a cramp/ache/slow tear in my feet and hips.
While I do not necessarily want this to be RA, I want to get some input from you guys before I move on to the other expensive specialists like podiatry and orthopedic.
Does this progression sound familiar to anyone? Should I find another rheumy?
My own denial and refusal to give in to pain has already put me a few months into this current predicament where I finally gave in and called before someone else did. Had I called when this started, it would have been some time the end of last year. That's when my hands started hurting and I started having to pop ibuprofin and naproxen daily. I was insistent that I was not going to be the whiner my husband was with every ache and pain he brought on himself. (oh was I stubborn and prideful!)
My experience with orthopedists, including two hand specialists, is that they are not good at spotting inflammatory arthritis, at least no until it has destroyed bone. Several people on this forum have had good experiences with podiatrists. A podiatrist may know who the better rheumys are in your are.
I especially appreciate the advice about the orthopedic/podiatrist because my PCP wants me to go to one soon, although soon means two weeks!
Another symptom has reared its ugly head: stabbing pain to my knees.
I went to my PCP and he says this is either lupus or RA. He further said it is common, as we know, for levels to not be + at this point in the disease. He is wonderful, and I am lucky to have him. But... he wasn't comfortable starting me on serious drugs. But at least I am armed for the next rheumy.
God bless 'im!