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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WarriorGal 09/10/2021

HELP!! Spinal Stenosis is ruining my life!!

I have lived wirh Rheumatoid Arthiris for 40+ years. Had some good years and some bad. Had a dozen surgeries and my hands are permanently deformed. But I always got by. Now I have Spinal Stenosis and I am in almost constant pain anytime I move at all. Cannot walk more than 10 minutes. My legs feel like LEAD. Cannot do the simplest housework.

One or two articles say it can be from RA but RA meds do NOTHING, and the College of Rheumatoigy says it's OA not RA which is what doctors have also told me. It's supposed to progress slowly but this has all happened since December and seems to get worse and worse.

Naproxen helps but it also raises blood pressure and I don't want to live on it. Am I being foolish in that regard?

In five days I am having a diagnostic shot to prepare me for an epidural. Anyone have one?

smith101 09/10/2021

I haven't but I have a friend who have had several epidurals that helped her to avoid surgery for 3 three years. I tend to ask my doctors with any new ailments if the treatment would differ based on the cause. For the majority of things I've encountered it doesn't. I most often run into this with dental and heart things. They always tell me if I took better care of my diabetes this or that wouldn't be happening. Oddly enough the major issues I've had were always in conjunction with a major RA flare which oddly enough I tend to keep tighter control on my sugar levels when that's happening. It always gets my grannies in a knot they blame my diabetes control vs. my RA, but in the end it I guess it doesn't matter as the treatment ends up the same. But still it annoys me. Keep on, keeping on my friend!

WarriorGal 09/10/2021

Thanks, "guys."

I just needed to vent and have a pity party and Smith you put it in perspetcive.

It's funny, I feel like everything gets blamed on RA....except this..

jolinejoline 09/12/2021

Not sure what your adiagnostic shot is, but I've had 2 lumbar epidurals, and they've given me a year of improved funcion and pain management. My legs tire easily when I walk, too, to the point where after walking up a flight of stairs they feel very fatigued, and then hurt. My doctor says that he thinks it's related to my spine, and that ultimately I'll need surgery. Ra meds and andi-inflammatories aren't goint to help with spinal stenosis.

MarleneJ 09/13/2021

I have not had one, but some days I probably should. I have DDD & facet disease. Weights help, because they strengthen the muscles around my spine. I have an awesome chiropractor who doesn't crack joints. Keeping my spine straight always helps.

Sorry you are suffering ladies. I let myself have a small pity party yesterday, but I could not hold onto it! Probably just as well!

WarriorGal 09/13/2021

Thanks Joline,

I think the intial shot is a steroid just to see if they have the right spot.

buddhacat 10/08/2021

I commented on another post you wrote (Vent/rant) about injections. I'm not sure what the diagnostic injections were all about, except possibly facet joint injections. Those didn't work well for me, but were diagnostic by indicating something more was needed. My 4 epidurals (2 cervical, 2 lumbar) have been good.

WarriorGal 10/08/2021

Thanks, BC.. I was told they were to comnfirm they had the right spot.

My pain moved from back to right pelvic area to L hip

Djoisan 10/12/2021

I recommend epidural

WarriorGal 10/12/2021

Thanks! i hope it helps the heavy legs.

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