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 after being on remission (supposeldy) since 12/2015 I've experienced what I thought were flare's & could may have well been. But recently I've noticed more joints having slight pain, mostly fingers very slight & very slight stiffness.
I can still function at 100%, I have no swelling or fatigue but & this is where RA kind of drives me nuts, I don't want to wait & see because what if damage is occuring & I could prevent it?
But I don't want to start medications if this is truly just a long flare up? My wedding band still slips on & off as if it's one size too big, which is my biggest gauge, at least for my fingers to see if I'm "swelling" or not. I know it's not the most scientific method but it works for me.
I think it's a bit of "freaking out" as well. I woke up this morning & "called in" to work, luckily I can work remote. I was thinking the stiffness was going to last longer but within 20 minutes it was all gone including my jaw.
UUUHHHGGGG! All I know is I need to make an appointment at least to get my Rheumy to examine me but I'm hoping he gives me something else to go on instead of, "You're not that bad you're fine". I WANT TO BE, I don't wan to be labeled a hypocondriac. Oh well maybe I'm just overblowing it?
I guess?? That's the part I'm not sure about. I hear that flare ups can last days, weeks or even sometimes months at a time. I started this one right around mid October. Of course I still really don't know what a true flare up is as well. Judging by my own symptoms they're extremely mild & what I compare it to is when I was on MTX 2.5mg & I didn't have have any symptoms?
So once again if we go back to my other post of "what is remission" it seems to be ALL over the place. But I have an appointment for the 16th so I'm going to grill my Rheumy about all my questions once & for all.
Sometimes I think part of it is psychosomatic.
It's a hard pill to swallow but at least I had a decent run at remission, at least I know it's possible to get there & remission without meds. So yeah i agree I need to at least get a visit in which I have one scheduled for the 16th.
I'll repost once I get some straight answers back from my Rheumy!
Thanks all!
After a relatively mild summer I am also having more joint pain and stiffness and swelling of my fingers. They even are feeling a little warm sometimes, but these symptoms seem to come and go through the day, but every day in the last several weeks. I have been using my hands more for various things so maybe that is partly to blame. Do other people have worse symptoms when using their affected joints more?
My rheum told me if I really have RA (he doubts it I think - I also have the feeling he thinks I am a hypochondriac!) -- then symptoms will worsen, and "it won't take long" after stopping meds. Is 5 months a short or long period of time??
I have an appointment in early Dec - I am reluctantly going back as I really feel like he doesn't believe my pain since my hands don't seem to look or feel like they are inflamed when I see him. But I have had dry eye issues, and I want to see if this will warrant more testing for Sjogrens and if this will convince him I actually have RA. I am able to function, work, and do the things I enjoy (mostly), so is this pain worth restarting meds (if I can even convince him to prescribe them again). ?
Why?
I asked my Rheumy his advise about stopping. I was already on 2.5mg of MTX & no other drugs & had no symptoms. He said I was on the lowest dosage of MTX for a year with no symptoms & it may be a good time to stop & see how it goes. I mean why be on the medication if it wasn't needed? Let's face it, it's toxic to the liver & if there's a possibility of cutting out the toxicity why not try?
Yes I think that's the most frustrating part of the disease. It's true I feel a lot like you. I have posted several posts but I often feel guilty because I know my symptoms aren't even moderate to be honest. They're very mild but I'm also not one to procrastinate or rest on my laurels either. If I feel a difference that wasn't there before then I'm going to inquire about it, examine it & try to either fix it or at very least ease my mind about it.
The last several doc visits I know were more "mental tune ups" than anything else. Although I had concerns about my pain & my flare ups after about 3 weeks they were gone & REALLY subside the few days right before seeing my doctor. So maybe that's a little hint that some of my symptoms could be a little psychosomatic. But I know it's not 100% psychosomatic!
And my Rheumy also echoed what your doc stated, "If it were full blown RA like it was when you first visited me, then the half life of the medication within your body would have been gone well before 10-11 months & you'd be feeling much, much worse".
But I guess we'll see.
I've been symptom free for 6 years....thanks to MTX and Humira. No way would I take the gamble and get off the drugs.
Well I'm definitely considering going back on even with the mild symptoms I have. I agree I'd rather be back on it & get back to NO SYMPTOMS than be off it & have even these mild symptoms because in the end even if I can "live with" the slight stiffness & pain it's the constant worrying & mental anguish it causes because I'm constantly thinking about it.
I'm a little confused by the "pay attention to paranoia & hesitation"? Do you mean literally or figuratively? If so are you saying it messes with your brain as well? I know that there are some who experience some depression but the causes typically come from the experience of RA not the disease causing the mental stresses. So I'm a little confused on the last part of your response?
My symptoms (pain and intermittent swelling of multiple PIP and MCP joints) were mild and often my rheum could not even feel swelling on exam. My stiffness and some pain (with movement) often lasts most of the day or comes back later in the day. I am seronegative, with a supposedly completely normal MRI of my dominant hand (I say supposedly because sometimes subtle things can be missed). Since my symptoms were not typical, my exam and radiographic findings were normal, I suggested trying to stop my meds to see what happens. My rheum agreed only because I am seronegative and a trial off would not be as risky as if I were positive. Off meds, essentially very little change until recent weeks, with a little more pain. I have had Sjogrens symptoms that have started up since stopping MTX and Humira.