Rheumatoid arthritis

[AnyaMarx]

Anyone any words of wisdom .

I'm 51 . Always been fit , active and healthy .

For a year I've been debilitated by flare ups of swollen joints and excruciating pain, started with one knee , now it's one knee and both ankles .

It
Literally feels like someone has taken a hammer to
Both ankles and I'm now presently unable to get
Up or
Down stairs, driving is problematic, and rest does help but then the minute I try and become active again , I'm talking a dog walk - I'm crippled
Again.

Has anyone any advice please? I've gained weight . I'm fed up . I'm currently off sick from work again because the latest flair up has affected both ankles plus my knee .

I'm so fed
Up . I'm waiting for
An MRI on my knee and X-rays to
Come back on ankles as the ankles only started 2 weeks ago but I can't get up or downstairs without being on my backside .

Dunno but if you've got symptoms n hands 🙌 d go back to gp . What's stopping you ?

Nothing stopping me just happened to look at the blood results & wondered why doc never mentioned it.

I'd go back - from my experience the doctors aren't that bothered if you don't chase it .

It even if you do chase it . 🤷🏻‍♀️

Can anyone in the know answer my query about steroids ? Would a short course of oral steroids make a difference if it is RA ?

@AnyaMarx yes, the steroids will be helping. I'm frequently prescribed a course of oral prednisolone when my RA flares up

Sorry if I've missed it, but have you asked the GP admins for a copy of all your recent blood tests? Or even better sign up to the NHS app and then you can see what has been tested and the results there.

Also, have you emailed the practice manager? They can sometimes be very helpful.

You have been treated appallingly.

Wow. That's significant then .

But apparently I haven't got it because it's not in my hands 🤷🏻‍♀️

Within 2 days I can move
My feet from side to
Side - I couldn't do that 2 days ago .

How the hell do I get heard ?

Yep the steroids will help the inflammation. Doesn't necessarily mean it's RA but probably indicates that it is systemic rather than an injury (although I think from symptoms that's pretty obvious but so should a medical professional and therefore want to do something about it) tell them the steroids have helped a bit but not a long term treatment plan, it may flare when you reduce the steroids again.
Have you asked specifically about ESR/CRP inflammatory markers? Steroids would reduce these but would expect them to be raised to some extent from the pre-steroids bloods.
Pleased you are at least coping a bit better with the steroids though!

If you are referring to the rheumatoid factor then normal is 0-15. Mine WAS 28 (elevated) but now >200 so indicative of a rheumatoid disease although my friend has high RF but she has fibromyalgia & Crohn's, no CTD disease . @Teal123 Yours does sound high, maybe get a telephone consult and ask the GP for a referral. I was reading today that immune disorder rates are rising rapidly-better diagnostics? I'm not so sure, more pollutants in foods and environment probably.

I used to have RA in 2015 so bad, I was on crutches. I managed to put it into complete remission by cutting out nightshade vegetables (they are terribly inflammatory for RA), gluten, grains and dairy. My rheumatologist was amazed I did this without any medication. I was walking without crutches within 48 hours of cutting out all the inflammatory foods out my diet,

That is really impressive 👏 I went on the Paddison Progam for a bit, years ago, which is a sort of elimination diet. I was much better on the basic diet, but struggled to identify inflammatory foods when I reintroduced them. Fortunately I haven't had much in the way of symptoms in the past few years so I am eating fairly normally again. I think diet can be a key factor but not enough is really known about it sadly (I mean in terms of scientific evidence) as it is such a complex area

Diet is 100% effective. Scientific evidence is emerging every day. The forefront are people like Dr Shawn Baker, Chris Kresser, Dr Anthony Chaffee. Also, people like Makhalia Peterson (Jordan Peterson's daughter) has managed to put her RA into full remission by cutting out all veg. She had it soo bad that she had 2 operations on her joints in her teenage years. https://www.tiktok.com/@mikhailapeterson/video/7101127790950501638?lang=en

I've got an appt with rheumatologist in 3 weeks but really interested in the diet thing - I think I'm intolerant to gluten but what are night shade vegetables?

Tomatoes, aubergines, peppers, chilli peppers? & white potatoes. You can ask your GP to test you for coeliac with gluten antibodies test. Good luck with the rheumatologist, write all your symptoms down beforehand. 🤞

I have psoriatic & rheumatoid arthritis as well
as Antiphospholipid & sjogrens.

I started complaining when I was about 15 & was told I was unfit. Finally diagnosed at 35 following miscarriages. I cried with relief that I was finally being heard. My RF was over 200. I feel your pain literally.

I hope the rheumatologist helps you - is that privately?

I’ve had methotrexate but it didn’t help. If doesn’t work don’t be afraid to say so. Now on leflunomide & hydroxychloroquine for the Arthritis & aspirin & clopidogrel for APS. Also steroids & injections at times for bad flares.

Good luck 💐💐

Forgot to add I don’t eat gluten as it affects me but wait for your blood tests first. No surprise as coeliac & RA are both autoimmune disorders. I fast regularly which helps. Dairy makes no difference to me.

I’m surprised by the “only meat” diet during that girls RA, especially red and processed meat cause inflammation. I’ve heard a lot of cases for improval of RA with a whole foods plant based diet, fish is okay if you don’t want to cut out animal products altogether.

I don’t have RA but my grandma was in a wheelchair from 50 with it and I’ve started noticing pains in my knees already in my 30s.

Steroids help with all sorts of arthritis, not just RA, inflammatory and others as well.

I've put 2 stone on and I'd rather avoid steroids if possible as I'd like to get this weight off rather than put more on but I have got to the point I lit can't do anything- I'm turning down invites for walks , (because I can't !) not going to hobbies and can't walk my dog .

I'm virtually bed bound now and I've had to get a cleaner to help with housework.

@AnyaMarx

I have RA. Diagnosed at 35.
Started off with pain in my little toes then spread to my hands and fingers. Then excruciating aching pain throughout whole body.
Got put on steroids which helped massively. Then bloods which showed super high anti ccp levels. Methotrexate was the next treatment and it's been pretty good for me. I get tired easily and do get some more painful days but overall am doing a lot better.
Good luck OP

@MovieQueen12, May I ask what level your anti ccp was at please?

Have you managed to get an appointment yet? If the DRs refuse to refer you, you can refer yourself to a physiotherapist and they can part diagnose / refer you on. If the DRs won't listen to you, they might listen to the physio.

Yes my
Go
Referred me urgently and I have an appt for 3rd July

I went it with some horror photos of my joints when I get a flare up