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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peripheral neuropathy anyone?

nomorera
nomorera
I have progressively worsening peripheral neuropathy in my lower extremities. When I walk or try to do any exercise the bottoms of my feet go numb then burn and ache. I have begun to have shooting pains down my legs and behind/around my knees. I had a nice phone consultation with my Rheumy today and she has put me on an anti-seizure medication to numb down the nerve endings. I am hoping for relief soon. I have tried Prednisone, Cortisone shot, anti-inflammatories, and I am currently on MTX for the RA but no relief for this bugger.
It hurts. All the sudden I will get shooting pains in my butt, down my legs or on the outer part of my knee (IT Band). I get relief if I rub and press on the nerve (which also initially causes excrutiating pain) but then the pain subsides.
Again, I have hope the new medication will give me some relief. I am so grateful my Rheumy calls me back promptly and doesn't make me wait til my next appointment to talk to her.

Does anyone else deal with this and if so what are you taking?
ILoveHuskies
ILoveHuskies
I get pain down my leg when I have inflammation in my hip. It goes in my backside and butt. Maybe your hip is causing your pain down your leg. I also have fluid under one of my feet. It feels like a pouch of fluid under my foot. It aches more in the morning when I start walking on it then calms down after a hot shower. It will start getting a burning feeling if I go for too long of a walk. Usually when I get achy behind my knee it means that the inflammation is building up it the knee. I get cramping in back of the knee. I usually get a like baker cyst.
nomorera
nomorera
no mine is different than that. The sharp pain that sends me through the roof if I press on the area, then releases totally for awhile when I stop. It is nerve pain for sure. Two days on the medication. I hope to see improvement soon. I want to get back to the gym. I think the MTX is helping with the RA symptoms, now to get the PN under control so I can at least walk. That would be awesome.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I've had PN in my feet now for the last few years in addition to the rhuematoid. I take neurotin to help keep in under control, but it took awhile to get the dosage and when to take it fiqured out because the stuff makes me so sleepy. Right now I take 600 mg at night and then during the day I take tramadol and duexsis (anti inflammatory) as needed for pain relief. Good luck, that burning sensation of nerve pain is miserable!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Nomorera, you have just explained perfectly what happens to me...I tried to tell the Ra doc that it felt like nerve pain.. he just looked at me...Vascular surgeon pressed on my ankle and left black and blue marks.. I had that pain before and after a few days I was able to put a boot on to keep it stable but still had some pain.. I get it so bad that I can barely stand, I tried to walk it out and that does not help, tried rubbing it and it made it worse... It gets so bad I am ready to call the ambulance and suddenly it stops... I can just be sitting or in bed or walking and it hits me...I am on flexeril 2 x a day and at night a meloxicam..I wore that boot for 8 weeks and when i took it off one night I heard this loud pop and the pain was gone..I just started on the 2 flexeril a day and so far it seems to be helping...That pain is like a hot wire running up or down the leg..
daizy8
daizy8
Hugs to you nomorera! I have the perpheral neuropathy. I was sent to see the neurologist and his study and recommendation blew me away! He says that the MTX is what caused the neuropathy!!! So I am off the MTX forever. And it did help with the RA.

I was first given Neurontin, it seemed to work at first, but then I had a horrid personality change. Turned into a raving crazy lady. I have tried several others, currently using amitriptyline at night and Savella 2 times a day. Most of the meds they have tried me on had the "zombie" affect on me.

I will be soon seeing a new rheumatologist as we have moved. Hope she has some good ideas. The old RA doc seemed to think the Humira is failing. He recommended a prednisone "burst". 10 mg four days a week... however that is a emotional roller coaster that I don't want to ride. I am on a lot of meds and am very sensitive to most.

Good luck with your quest. Have you seen a neurologist?
-daizy8