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...
Is this what RA is like!?!?!?
Monday & Tuesday were really bad days for my hips and knees. Very painful and I had to use my cane around the house. (27 and I have a CANE?!?!?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!?) :(
Went to bed last night with hip & knee pain.... Woke up this morning with significantly less stiffness than Tuesday morning and almost NO hip pain...
I had some really bad "piercing" (that's the best I know how to describe it) pain in my right knee. I couldn't put ANY weight on it without feeling that "piercing" pain. When I was off of it, it went away.
So, I grabbed my cane and started doing some laps around the small apt. but it still hurt REALLY bad! So, I tried a few low/no impact exercises that focused on the knees, hips, ankles, etc. and getting things flexing. It hurt while I did them, but it also felt good to have some range of motion.
Within an hour, the piercing pain went away completely! I had some achy pain (like always) but the piercing pain was gone!
Then I started noticing my hands... I guess the knee pain was more intense so I didn't pay much attention...
All day today my hands have hurt BAD! They are getting worse. I also have weakness to the point I had to switch off my hands on the steering wheel on the way home because gripping it was very difficult and painful.
So, is this what RA does? Can it be excruciatingly painful one day then bearable the next? Can it hurt really bad in one area, then a different area the next day???
This is ridiculous! I'm really getting frustrated! I can barely type this, but I'm pushing through the pain cuz I need to know if this is normal for RA.
P.S.
I had to do a LOT of hand writing at work today as part of my job. That ALWAYS causes cramping and excruciating pain! :(
Monday & Tuesday were really bad days for my hips and knees. Very painful and I had to use my cane around the house. (27 and I have a CANE?!?!?! ARE YOU KIDDING ME!?!?!?) :(
Went to bed last night with hip & knee pain.... Woke up this morning with significantly less stiffness than Tuesday morning and almost NO hip pain...
I had some really bad "piercing" (that's the best I know how to describe it) pain in my right knee. I couldn't put ANY weight on it without feeling that "piercing" pain. When I was off of it, it went away.
So, I grabbed my cane and started doing some laps around the small apt. but it still hurt REALLY bad! So, I tried a few low/no impact exercises that focused on the knees, hips, ankles, etc. and getting things flexing. It hurt while I did them, but it also felt good to have some range of motion.
Within an hour, the piercing pain went away completely! I had some achy pain (like always) but the piercing pain was gone!
Then I started noticing my hands... I guess the knee pain was more intense so I didn't pay much attention...
All day today my hands have hurt BAD! They are getting worse. I also have weakness to the point I had to switch off my hands on the steering wheel on the way home because gripping it was very difficult and painful.
So, is this what RA does? Can it be excruciatingly painful one day then bearable the next? Can it hurt really bad in one area, then a different area the next day???
This is ridiculous! I'm really getting frustrated! I can barely type this, but I'm pushing through the pain cuz I need to know if this is normal for RA.
P.S.
I had to do a LOT of hand writing at work today as part of my job. That ALWAYS causes cramping and excruciating pain! :(
I have had several days where I use a cane because my hips are so bad. I hate the cane but I find it really helps. I had to write a check at work today. I wrote who it was to, signed it and had to ask a co-worker to write the amount because my hand hurt so bad!
It sucks for all of us. I am hoping that with treatment things will get better. I am not up to full dose on MTX yet and I already know I will need to start a biologic once I am. Hopefully, you will improve with treatment as well. I hope tomorrow is a better day for you. ~ Lori
Thanks for your input. I don't feel quite as crazy now! LOL
I really was thinking, "is this even possible!?" I didn't know that RA could change so rapidly like that. I mean, yesterday I would have told you that tomorrow I would be a in a wheelchair because my knees/hips hurt so bad! Then today... They're fine!
This is going to make things difficult! :( I am on my full dosage of MTX & Plaquenil & Mobic.... I got back to the Rheumy in a month and I am going to inquire about a Biologic and/or Prednisone.
I hope you feel better.
I'm new to this too-Saturday the inflammation in my hands went away then starting yesterday I'm feeling a lot of fatigue and weakness in my legs. Looks like what we need to prepare for.
have beeen trying to work on tax papers but that is enough to make anyone dizzy...lol
I LMM for the Dr. on the nurse line to ask about getting an Rx for Prednisone. I had a short term dose of it in November to take down a flare and it worked within 24 hours.
I LMM after 3pm though, so they won't be calling me back until tomorrow :(
I guess I will just have to deal with it until then and hope we get things sorted out with my meds next month at my appt.
Even though I'm in remission, I still find myself swinging the legs off the bed in the morning and gingerly standing up. I wiggle everything for a moment just sure that something's gonna hurt and/or not move right. It's a hard habit to kick after 12 years of on/off RA.
Just feel blessed when its a good day - and live that day to the fullest!
There are times it's hard to push the gas peddle as my toes ache so bad. Yet not clue til I'm in the middle of driving.
Can be very frustrating.
Best of luck to you.
Sammy