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...
Hi I am new here, and do not yet have a diagnosis. I am going to the doctor next week to see if we can figure out what is going on.
I am afraid that I may have RA. I had a baby in September, a month early due to severe pre-eclampsia. To make a long story short, I almost died twice following delivery....I had so much fluid in my system from weeks of swelling and fluids from delivery, that the fluid had no where else to go and went into my lungs (flash pulmonary edema). I went into respiratory failure twice and was intubated and on a ventilator for about three days, in ICU for a week. I came out ok, and my daughter is perfect and healthy, so I know I am very lucky.
Which is why I ignored it when I started getting joint pains a few weeks after deliver. Figured it was hormones rebalancing and ligaments re-tightening. It got worse, so I asked my OB about it and he said it was not normal and to follow up with regular dr. I went back to my chiropractor which has helped some.
But I am still having lots of joint pain, pretty much all my joints. It started with my lower half (hips, knees, feet) which is why I thought the chiro could fix it. But now the carpel tunnel I had during pregnancy is back, and my hands, wrist, and shoulders are killing me, and my neck and back as well. I have had some swelling in my knees, and I think in my knuckles too. I am just miserable and it is getting harder to take care of my growing baby.
I had a medical procedure done two weeks ago, and the Dr had me take max doses of Motrin for a few days. To my surprise, my joint pain dissipated and I felt great. Then I cut back and the pain came back with a vengeance. I have also had some fatigue that comes with the joint pain and intolerance to cold.
I had been tested before for RA and other autoimmune diseases when I had neck issues, but it was herniated discs so all came back negative. That was 5 years ago anyway.
SO, does anyone have RA or something similar that was triggered by pregnancy? If so, what are your symptoms, and what do you do to get relief? Any help would be appreciated. I hope I am wrong, and it is not RA, but I am unfortunately usually right about this kind of thing. Thanks!
I am afraid that I may have RA. I had a baby in September, a month early due to severe pre-eclampsia. To make a long story short, I almost died twice following delivery....I had so much fluid in my system from weeks of swelling and fluids from delivery, that the fluid had no where else to go and went into my lungs (flash pulmonary edema). I went into respiratory failure twice and was intubated and on a ventilator for about three days, in ICU for a week. I came out ok, and my daughter is perfect and healthy, so I know I am very lucky.
Which is why I ignored it when I started getting joint pains a few weeks after deliver. Figured it was hormones rebalancing and ligaments re-tightening. It got worse, so I asked my OB about it and he said it was not normal and to follow up with regular dr. I went back to my chiropractor which has helped some.
But I am still having lots of joint pain, pretty much all my joints. It started with my lower half (hips, knees, feet) which is why I thought the chiro could fix it. But now the carpel tunnel I had during pregnancy is back, and my hands, wrist, and shoulders are killing me, and my neck and back as well. I have had some swelling in my knees, and I think in my knuckles too. I am just miserable and it is getting harder to take care of my growing baby.
I had a medical procedure done two weeks ago, and the Dr had me take max doses of Motrin for a few days. To my surprise, my joint pain dissipated and I felt great. Then I cut back and the pain came back with a vengeance. I have also had some fatigue that comes with the joint pain and intolerance to cold.
I had been tested before for RA and other autoimmune diseases when I had neck issues, but it was herniated discs so all came back negative. That was 5 years ago anyway.
SO, does anyone have RA or something similar that was triggered by pregnancy? If so, what are your symptoms, and what do you do to get relief? Any help would be appreciated. I hope I am wrong, and it is not RA, but I am unfortunately usually right about this kind of thing. Thanks!
Congratulations on your beautiful daughter. I haven't been pregnant, but I do know that lots of people feel their RA was triggered by a traumatic event, medical or otherwise. Many people who have existing RA find they have a dramatic improvement during a pregnancy, then a resurgence of symptoms after the birth. The thinking is that a pregnant body has to suppress it's own immune system in order to not attack the fetus, and that natural immune suppression also helps fight RA. It makes sense that you might be noticing symptoms now that might have come on earlier had you nt been pregnant. That said, unfortunately, you probably won't get a solid answer on what caused your RA, if that is what you have. There's no scientific consensus on what exactly causes RA in general. BTW, there is no one test that can confirm or deny RA. There are blood tests that can help, but up to a third of people have "seronegative" RA, meaning they have clinical signs of the disease (swollen, painful joints and evidence of damage on x-ray), but not the blood markers. Neck issues were the first signs of RA for me. Seronegative RA is treated the same as regular RA, with aggressive drugs. NSAIDS like Motrin will help with pain control, but won't slow the damage. The best first step for anyone is to find a good rheumatologist and go from there. Search this board for newbie advice- there's a ton of it. This is a great place to ask questions and get emotional support. Good luck to you!
At least that is what I feel. Of course I had 2 children, and that never triggered it.
The stress of being a care giver to my dad with altztimers, and a husband with cancer, bad eating habits, weight gain, I think I just overloaded my immune system.
Mine came overnight (I couldn't move at all) with maybe small signs(jaw pain) a week
before. My blood work was a definite RA.
I hope you don't have it, and congrats on your baby!
And if you do, I am so much better now. I found the right medicine and life is good again. You will be ok!