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...

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Muscles & Bones
/ Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

New, looking for understanding friends.

Bizemom
Bizemom

I've been diagnosed for 8 years, rheumatoid arthritis, things are progressing seemingly out of control LOL.


I'm seeing a new doctor next week due to a relocation and not being thrilled with the Doctor I had found.  Biologics weren't helping my inflammation and I had shingles twice, 9 months apart on two different biologic, when sulfazalazine was causing major headaches he decided I should quit all medication till I saw him next (3 months away). My inflammatory markers were elevated and the vectra kept increasing so I just can't see his reasoning. My PCP is fantastic and helped me with the decision to try a new rheumy.   


Has anyone had the inflammation encompass the tendons near the afflicted joint?  So my shoulder was killing me and rheumy wasn't wanting to address it, give the biologics a chance he'd say.  After a year and a half I sought help from an orthopedic and a visit with an interventional radiologist showed synovitis, thickened pannas, tenosynovitis, and a hyperechoic inflamed tendon sheath. The radiologist was fantastic and he injected that little sheath with some steroids and lidocaine, the best 2 hours till the lidocaine wore off. But the overall injection helped but it's wearing off now

CountryGal22
CountryGal22
Sorry to read all you are going through and hope you get some safe relief soon! My hubby had Shingles before so sorry to read you had that, too, and twice at that :( I have RA and a lot of other health issues so can relate and I am allergic to most meds and the rest of them didn't help so I know how bad it is to have reactions to meds, too! Life sure is a pain (literally) for a lot of people :(
mechellebelle
mechellebelle
From the things I've heard (from a nurse friend with lupus/ra, among others) biologics aren't very good for very long and most ra/lupus sufferers end up going off of them. My very best med combination is 10mg of methotrexate 1/week and 2 plaqueinil (200s) a day. And lifestyle/diet changes work wonders too. When I visit a new doc (say, b/c of a move) that's the first thing I ask "are you OK with considering leaving my current meds OK as they are?" and if they say no, I never go back b/c I've had dozens of bad rheumy experiences. I do hope you can get some relief from a good doc soon! I find that plaqueinil works wonders for my muscles when they get affected. Methotrexate works better for my joint pain. Best wishes to you!
californialynn
californialynn
When MTX wasn't working for me anymore [I had a long run!] and biologics were contraindicated for me, I had lots of Kenalog [long acting intra-joint injections of cortisone]. I also had synovectomies, tenosynovitis, menisectomies, de Quervaine's Release.....all are associated with inflamed tendons and ligaments. The Kenalog and the surgeries brought it under control. Finally, when I was ok'ed to take Humira, the Humira worked so wonderfully that I no longer had any need for cortisone to quell the inflammation in the tendons/ligaments.

Getting a great rheumatologist is EVERYTHING. Sometimes you gotta' kiss a lot of frogs before you find a prince.
WarriorGal
WarriorGal
Sorry you are having a hard time. Hope you are successful in finding a nee rheumy quickly. All the symptoms you described most definitely can be caused by RA. YES....it effects tendons! It can even cause tendon rupture.
WarriorGal
WarriorGal
AND....look for further for understanding friends!
Bizemom
Bizemom
Thanks everyone. I was on Methotrexate for 7 years before I had some lung problems and had to stop. I am hopeful the new rheumy is great. The pre-appointment documentation is pretty thorough so good sign although gathering all my notes, mri's, xrays, pt is a little daunting to see.
MarleneJ
MarleneJ
I never had tendon issues in 17 years. That was before the last year. Now it it a big issue for me. I'm kind of at the end of the line for meds, I have taken them all. I hope you find something that works for you and glad you found us.
happychat
happychat
I had the tendon sheath problem back in February in both of my thumbs. I used splints, motrin, heat, and topicals, thankfully it went away that time by itself but for a good 2 months it was rough. I wasn't diagnosed yet when this happened but I had a feeling what came next and it did. Best of luck with your new doctor. If you have to due injections again ask if you want for bupivicaine, it's longer acting than lidocaine and it worked wonders for my neck.