I am recently diagnosed with RA and on plaquenil soon to start MTX since I am still flaring but between flares I have joints that will get very painful for a day or two. But it moves from joint to joint. One day it will be my feet for maybe two or three days, them my left hand, then a wrist or shoulder - is this the norm?
Q: Is it normal with RA to have random joint pain even when you are not in a flare? I have joints that hurt all the time. Just not the same ones.
Answers (3)
3/26/11 8:31am
I have sharp pains shoot through my fingers and toes from time to time. My elbows are both sore at the moment. I just came out of a flare, and am happy to be done with it. I have gotten used to the random pains. If you are having a lot of pain, you probably need to talk to your rheumatologist, and he/she may adjust your meds.
Peace,
V
3/25/11 9:10pm
I always have random joint pain. I am not in a flare right now and yet my right knee and left ankle hurt. My finger joints hurt constantly.
4/ 5/11 11:40am
it is my understanding that what you're experiencing can be quite common, especially in the beginning of the disease. It will likely settle into its selected joints eventually. however, if you do have joint pain, you are likely in a flare. It may not be as severe flare, but if you don't have significant joint damage - and you probably don't, as you are new to having RA - pain is one of the signs of disease activity. The good news is that you will soon start methotrexate and hopefully that will suppress the RA enough to give you better pain control.
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By Leslie— Last Modified: 04/05/11, First Published: 03/25/11
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