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...
Yesterday started with minor RA pain. You know when you just have one marble to walk on and just some joint soreness in the hands. The type of morning that usually starts a decent 'touch of aspirin' day.
During 4th period (1:30pm) I'm walking around grading final projects while students are watching a Discovery channel movie. Suddenly my right knee feels hyperflexed and I barely catch myself with a hand on lab counter. I stand still for a moment, shocked that the RA swelling and joint lockage could come on that quickly and IN THE AFTERNOON! Composing myself (so students won't notice) I wander towards my desk - and my 'over-the-counter medicine drawer'. By the time I had made it there, my left ankle/tendons had tightened/locked and my whole left foot flared suddenly. Wow!
Long story short, ended up using electric buggy at grocery store. None of my OTC s touched the pain. Took 1mg prednisone at bedtime (the dose that normally stops my flares or makes them bearable). Woke up at 1am with both knees and both elbows swollen and on fire! Desperate, I took another 2 mg dose. Tossed and turned until 4am. Was a little better, but mobity was difficult. Took another 1 mg. (My max per day is 5mg) It is a final exam day and my exams are laboratory finals. Calling in is NOT an option... so I took a handful of aspirin, tucked a pred in my back pocket and dragged myself to work.
Felt a lot better by 9-11am. Right knee and left foot started going again after lunch. Took my last allowed dose for the day then. Seems to have held off the major stuff so far tonight. Almost afraid of going to bed.... and now I have to wean off the pred by Friday or the hot flashes (side effects) will hit.. grrrrr love it - hate it...
This was some weird hit-and-run flare...
During 4th period (1:30pm) I'm walking around grading final projects while students are watching a Discovery channel movie. Suddenly my right knee feels hyperflexed and I barely catch myself with a hand on lab counter. I stand still for a moment, shocked that the RA swelling and joint lockage could come on that quickly and IN THE AFTERNOON! Composing myself (so students won't notice) I wander towards my desk - and my 'over-the-counter medicine drawer'. By the time I had made it there, my left ankle/tendons had tightened/locked and my whole left foot flared suddenly. Wow!
Long story short, ended up using electric buggy at grocery store. None of my OTC s touched the pain. Took 1mg prednisone at bedtime (the dose that normally stops my flares or makes them bearable). Woke up at 1am with both knees and both elbows swollen and on fire! Desperate, I took another 2 mg dose. Tossed and turned until 4am. Was a little better, but mobity was difficult. Took another 1 mg. (My max per day is 5mg) It is a final exam day and my exams are laboratory finals. Calling in is NOT an option... so I took a handful of aspirin, tucked a pred in my back pocket and dragged myself to work.
Felt a lot better by 9-11am. Right knee and left foot started going again after lunch. Took my last allowed dose for the day then. Seems to have held off the major stuff so far tonight. Almost afraid of going to bed.... and now I have to wean off the pred by Friday or the hot flashes (side effects) will hit.. grrrrr love it - hate it...
This was some weird hit-and-run flare...
I have had episodes like yours but not quite as bad. Just out of the blue something is very painful and won't work. My right shoulder did that a few weeks ago. Pain was nearly unbearable. I cannot take steroids so I had to resort to pain meds and a lidoderm patch.~ Lori
If you teach, I'd imagine vacation is on the horizon. Perfect timing!
is it abating? I hope so
Ros
This is actually my second 'hit and run' flare. Last one I actually watched my right middle finger and wrist swell over a one hour period. Was useless for 36 hours afterwards. That was caused by hubby putting some chedder cheese in some spaghetti that I ate. Chedder started to flare me a month ago.
Trying to pinpoint a possible food link for Monday nights attack. Did eat some chick pea balls for lunch. They are a new addition to diet. Think I'll stick with what I ate yesterday when it began to calm down.
It's amazing how my body reacts to food. Can't wait for the food allergy testing on the 31st. My diet is so restricted right now that I'm dropping weight again. And I really didn't need to after winning last year's biggest loser contest at work...
LOL Or the time both hands and wrists blew up and I couldn't get into my car and I had to have a stranger fish out my cell phone from my back pocket and dial "contact #1" to come pick me up as they held the phone to my ear and picked up my keys from the ground (yes, they blew up from the entrance to my walk to the back 40 where my car was parked). I laugh at my Mickey Mouse hands now but back then - I yi yi.
Say, who/where is doing your allergy testing? Is it blood, patch, or oral? Have thought a many a time of getting tested just haven't researched how to go about it!
Peace
Bluedogs2
Blue dog, sorry you're having one too.
These rapid hit flares are fairly new to me. I'm used to the slow and steady increase flares. But ever since I found major food triggers and quit eating them, the body seems to seek others to react too. And does it in a hurry! Ouchy!
I have had those sudden onsets although not so much now. Amazing how they would go from zero to incapacitation in such a short time. I took pictures of my hand doubling in size in less than an hour one time.