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...
well the latest appointment I went to the doc switched me around a bit. He upped my mtx to 6tablets once a week and then put me on some monthly booster pack of prednisone. Also gave me diazapam to help keep me on a even level as far as stressing out. The thing is its not helpin my pain. My hands get so bad I wanna cry and my fatigue is just doing me in. My hips start sometimes and now my dang shoulders have started in on it. Sooooooooooooo ya think I need to go back in?
Plus my mom has RA and was jjust told that with Ra fibromyalgia starts in also. That could explain my dang muscles killin me. And now I am getting head aches all the time in the bacl where my neck meets my head.............ughhhhhhhhhh
please help with ideas
frustrated and tired
Plus my mom has RA and was jjust told that with Ra fibromyalgia starts in also. That could explain my dang muscles killin me. And now I am getting head aches all the time in the bacl where my neck meets my head.............ughhhhhhhhhh
please help with ideas
frustrated and tired
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theatre and I are there already. I'm having a very berry tea with crackers, cheese and cherry tomatoes and she's having a joint with some beer and we're both on really comfy recliners on thick pile carpet. we need some help with the decor if anyone is around??
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I'm trying to exercise daily. I was doing fairly well until I sprained my ankle 2 weeks ago but now I'm getting back on the horse. Today I walked over a mile with my arm weights that are about 22lbs total. I was out of shape and it was hard on my arms. I also did my 30 situps. I'm also going to drink a lot of water and try to eat healthy. I do tend to have a sweet tooth but I'm cutting...
Go see the doc and keep her informed of how you're feeling, that way she'll know where you're at and what you need.
As far as fibromyalgia, it's not a given that you'll get it. But it is true that if your system is stressed with chronic pain or not sleeping properly that over time you can be worn down and be more susceptible to it.
Fibromyalgia is affected by the levels of Serotonin in your brain system. It is a neurotransmittor in your brain. Serotonin is involved in the feelings of well being, feeling or threshhold of pain, depression versus happiness, your ability to sleep well at night and is affected by chronic pain, and how much sleep you get at night.
If something goes wrong with any one of those functions, it affects the other functions.
For example, you have trouble sleeping at night. Your always tired. The next thing you know you are feeling depressed. Then you find yourself aching and everything hurts. If you start sleeping better then you don't feel so depressed and then you don't hurt so much. Basically if you fix one area, the other areas get back in line. One area covered by Serotonin goes out of whack and the others follow. That's why Serotonin reuptake inhibitors (which are a type of antidepressants) are prescribed for fibromyalgia. They help you sleep better, which in turn helps you handle higher levels of pain, increases your feelings of well-being and allows you to handle stress in a more normal fashion.
I hope this helps, it may be confusing - but ask your doc or rheumatologist to explain it to you.
Finally, as far as the headaches, they sound like tension headaches (base of the skull at the neck) you could be so stressed worrying about your condition that your tensing up. Tell your doc about that too. He or she is your best resource for information and help. Of course we are always here to help. So good luck, I hope this helps...hugs...jilly