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...
My ankle that was broken in Janaury and had surgery now causes EXCRUTIATING pain whenever I go outside and the weather is 40 or below.
Yes, one screw had to be removed and another screw has come loose but that's not what's hurting. When the screw was protrudin it hurt to touch even lightly and I couldn't roll over on that side at night. But it didn't hurt when I walked. This makes walking almost impossible.
Nothing else hurts. I am otherwise still in remission on Orencia. This very sharp pain feels deep in the bone.
This is not just achy or stiffness. It is SHARP jabbing, stabbing pain that brings tears to my eyes. And, since it's just in that one ankle, it is either related to the break or the appliances, or both.
I was prepared to have this ankle never heal right cause it was screwed up with severe RA prior to the fracture. I had been told I needed an ankle fusion. I avoided that by wearing and AFO leg brace every day for TEN YEARS and it fused on its own. So I was ready to have a permanent limp and need a cane, but I was not ready for this PAIN!!
Again, this is NOT stiffness, aching or swelling. Nothing like any RA pain. STABBING, SHARP, tear-inducing pain. NERVE PAIN! Will ask surgeon if he can remove it ALL. If not, my options are pain meds - which I hate and will not take - or moving to a warmer climate.
Getting ALL remaining hardware OUT of my ankle on Jan 24th!!
Hopefully the surgery will reduce your pain. It has been very cold here of late and I am definitely feeling it.
I had a titanium screw in my bunion resection. I had unbearable nerve pain for 7 years. The original surgeon said it could not come out. I saw a different surgeon at 5 years, and he said it would be fine taking it out. Then I had a bad fall off my bike and broke my wrist just before the procedure. Two years later, I finally got the screw removed. I could feel the nerve pain getting less as we drive home from the hospital. Within a couple of months, the pain was gone.
I hope you get the same result as me. I've never had any problems either!!
I was told it depends on where the hardware is. If it's deep in or in bone - no nerves = no pain. But some are near soft tissue and nerves.
Happy New Year!
Just wanted to put that out there for anyone else in CA