Tuesday, March 04, 2008
Hello ... I was wondering if anyone out there who has RA experiences more pain and/or swelling during or before menstral period. Is this just coincidence?
Thanks ... Tamela
HELP - Rheumatoid Arthristis and Menstration
Will never give up
3/ 4/08 10:31pm
You are definitely not alone in this. It seems like I start to flair right before and all the way through my menstruation period. As if the cramps weren't bad enough, I get to endure the swelling and pain. I think it may be a connection with your hormones as I know a lot of women flare right after having a baby (as I did). Coincidence-I think not :) I tried to find some sort of documentation on why this may occur, but was unable. I will let you know if I find anything. Good luck and best wishes!
9/18/08 12:32pm
Yes!! A day or 2 before my period starts my RA goes into overdrive. My shoulders start and then my knees. Sometimes the lower back is next. As the shoulders start to let up the knees get worse. Knees are the last to stop the *extra hurting. Sometimes it lasts till my period stops and sometimes just a day or two into it. My knees get so bad I can barely walk. *I say extra because I haven't had a pain free day since the RA made itself known. I do have less pain days, what I call my "good" days.
It's good to know I'm not the only one.
Bridget
10/29/08 3:39pm
I was beginging to wonder if I was the only one who notced this flare up before periods and during also! The pain is so intense that I cannot do daily activity the same and caring my three year old is VERY hard, Morning stiffness is the worst!!! I am afraid to take medications for RA I take 3 Ibuprifin three times a day , I got some meloxicab from my RA Dr but I am afraid to take it. Does anyone else take this drug?
Thanks
Tracey
4/ 2/09 10:07am
Hi Ladies...I googled this today because my RA is always horrible right before my period starts...usually 3 to 4 days before. My legs ache and throb so bad that I can barely stand it, not just around the joints but the entire leg hurts so bad and they just feel so heavy. My arms and back hurt horribly and I just feel so fatigued that I can barely put one foot in front of the other. I was curious as to whether I was the only one affected in this way. Right now, my arms hurt just from typing this...I don't understand...is there anyone who might know why this happens and if anything can be done about it? My pain medication does not even relieve my suffering the week before I'm about to start. Thanks everyone, Good Luck!
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Drenda ... I know this is going to sound wrong, but I am so glad to hear that someone else experiences this. I asked the nurse in the clinical trial I am in about it and she said that the RA is not causing it, it is just that I already feel miserable and then more not so nice symptoms period related come along. I tried to tell her that I have the same RA symptoms but intensified. Anyways, thank you so much for your response and I wish you the best.
Tamela
I was so amazed to hear that other women - besides myself, suffer with increased RH pain before and during their period. Initially I thought that it was coincidental that these flareups seemed to occur with my cycle. However, I've started keeping records for the last several months, and noticed a definite connection between the two. Maybe it is hormonal or general malaise that can accompany one's period, but it sure might be worth having a specialist take a closer look at it. As well, since more women are diagnosed with RH than men, it would seem that there IS a closer link than one might ever have considered previously!