Is this the place to post a quick note about myself?
I have been recently diagnosed with RA by my GP but am scheduled to see a rheumatologist for further testing next month which is the earliest I can get an appointment.
I have many questions about RA. so have been doing a lot of reading on the illness.
I'm sure every individual has different pains and symptoms but would like to list some of mine and see if I truly have RA. My GP says at this time I am flying under the radar for the RA blood test. I've been seeing him for my condition for several years but I don't think until my last few visits has he really understood my concern about my pain and discomfort.
What ever I have going in with my body it has been going on for several years but just in the past year things have really started to progress.
I am an auto body and painter tech. and demand a lot from my body and try keep healthy and fit. In the past year I have had surgery on my left knee due to pain and after an MRI was told I had grade iv chondromalacia which I was later told that was a big word for arthritis. I am going in this week for the same surgery on my right knee.
My aches and pains include stiffness, pain and swelling in my hands wrists elbows shoulders chest knees and feet.
the pain isn't all of the time during the day but after a long days work I am miserable with pain in all of my joints which ranges from sharp spiking pain to dull aches and stiffness.
The best way to describe it is my bones and joints are a against me and causing me all kinds of discomfort.
Since I am going in for surgery next week the dr took me off my ibuprofen last friday, I though I was going to die due to the pain so I was pescribed Norco which I have been taking 4 times a day to keep the pain under control.
When any of you have jaw pain due to RA what is the feeling you experence?
When this joint or joints flare up with me it is a horrible feeling which makes my face and neck feel tight and ache which is hard to describe and when it is joined with shoulder and sternum pain it makes it difficult to breath.
thanks for any input you may have.
Hi Rodney,
I know this diagnosis is difficult for you; I didn't want to believe that I had RA when I was first diagnosed. I was very active, worked out five six days a week, kickboxed, spinning, hiking, etc. I kept taking Tylenols before and after the workouts and I thought my body was aching because of the workout schedule I maintained. It was not until I woke up one night and could not walk did it occur to me that the doc could be right.
It is all very overwhelming and scary at first. I suggest you wait until you see your Rheumy doc to find out if you truly have RA before you embrace the diagnosis. It takes a while for all the information to settle in. I'm still getting used to it and I've been living with this di-ease for about three years now:) You know your body better than anyone; you know if something is not right. If you find that the bloodwork comes back positive for RA, it still going to take a while before all this makes sense to you.
It is important that you give yourself time to adjust to this new reality; but you also want to begin the medications your doc prescribes. If you truly have RA, the sooner you begin the disease modifying meds the better, because you want to stop the progression of the disease in your joints ASAP.
The support of your family and friends is also critical at this point. They won't necessarily understand how you feel, but they love and care for you and you will need that energy around you now. I've learned over time that I need to stay as positive as I can regarding my life and RA. Trust me, it is not always easy, but keeping positive energy in your life will keep you from despair on the dark, painful days. It also helps me to have someone I can talk to about how RA effects my life and helps me develop coping strategies. For me that is a therapist who I trust. You've got to figure out who that will be for you.
You can always come to this site for support, information, venting, ask questions....whatever you need. There are posts specifically for those just diagnosed with RA. You might want to read thru all of them. I've only discovered this site myself about a week or so ago, and I've been encouraged, laughed, and cried since I've read thru older posts because all the things I have been feeling, all the questions and concerns I've had about life with RA have been posted here. I think you might find comfort here if you seek it. Take good care of yourself Rodney. I'll be looking out for your posts.
Thanks for the reply Rthree,
Yes your right I know that something is going on with my body and like you for several years was writing it off as growing old. That's all just the aches and pains of turning 50, Well I started to question that excuse when I started to pay closer attention to others my age and older still going strong and then I started asking questions, not as much to others but to myself. Then after my knees started to really give me horrible pain and started to feel like rubber at times I knew some thing was up so went to visit my GP.
He's a great guy but like most dr.s they are careful to give pain meds which I desperately need when he saw the MRI results and the surgeons OP report he was much more considerate and started to see I was truly needing some help.
After talking with him more about the possibility I have an autoimmune disease and listening to my family history and my occupation we started down this path.
I am up tonight dealing with pain whch makes it so difficult to sleep. my muscles cramp and my joints are throbbing with pain from sharpe knife or neddle like sensations to dull aches. Not every night is the same but tonight is a bad one when I get shoulder, chest and jaw pain and when I do doze off to sleep I wake in fear that I am not breating and am gasping for breath. This is a very ugly feeling that is difficult to deal with. I don't know if it is because of the position I am laying at that moment or what. I sleep with the head of my bed raised slightly but that doens't seem to help much so I get up and do streches in the kitchen to releive the cramps in my legs and feet and sit in my recliner. Nights like this makes for a really long day at the body shop, not only will I be tired I am extra clumsy and don't think as clearly as I should when doing my work. What really scares me is how much longer I will be able to do my job before it does me more harm. I feel that working around all of the chemicals from the paints for 30+ years has not been good for me and my be a big factor in what is going on with what ever illness I am having.
Thanks again for the reply! I need to start a list to take with me to the specialist, posting is hepling to organize my thoughts.
Hello Rodney,
I am sorry that you had a rough night; I know from first hand experience how bad they suck! It does make it very difficult to function the next day at work. You have to pace yourself. You also need to sit down with your employer and have a conversation with them regarding your medical issues. Hopefully you have developed a relationship with them over time so that they will be understanding and empathetic of your situation.
I remember when I first recieved my diagnosis, I went to my boss and he was very compassionate. I think he even knew when I was in the office sleeping because I could not get thru the day without a nap. (not suggesting you go there:)) It was a very difficult adjustment for me, as I am sure that it is equally difficult for you.
Rest whenever you can, even if you have to take a nap during your lunch hour. (you might want to set an alarm so you won't oversleep) I suggest you keep a log of how you feel and your symptoms so that when you go to the doctor, you'll have a tangible list of issues to discus with them. I find that keeping a log of my RA days helps me to get and keep my thoughts together. It also helps to make your visits more productive because you have a reminder to address the things that are most important to you.
Things will get better. I know that sounds trite, but it will. You've got to hang in there. Once your diagnosis is confirmed, your docs will begin the process of finding a medication cocktail that will work for you. I also find that prayer helps me to make it through. I'll keep you in my prayers.