Heavy rain + Rheumatois arthritis= pain + feeling crap

[mumofshortie73]

Does anyone else out there feel like this too ?

I have had RA for 11 years now and you'd think I'd be able to accept that I get stiff and achy joints whenever it rains (which is a lot in the UK )

As well as feeling crap, I get so pissed off when people complain about the wet weather- at least you're not in bloody pain. AAAAARRRRRGGGHHHHHH!!!

Going to the swimming pool later to see if I can loosen up a bit- mentally as well as physically- aqua-aerobics, here I come...

Yip. Its crap.

How do you manage, CURLYMAMMA ?
Do you mind me asking which of your joints are affected ? My knees and ankles are the worst.

I get the same - saunas and lots of them seems to help me

Its rubbish :( I have psoriatic arthritis. Its not necessarily rain that flares it but it always flares up at this time of year, making me feel exhausted and unwell as well as achy. The only thing I can do is to be proactive with anti-inflamms and start taking them before it gets too bad and try to pace myself more. I'm not very good at it, but I have to try and accept that I need to rest more and can't fit everything in like usual. Hard though as I have so much to do at the moment.

Sorry to hear that you are feeling so rough at the moment.

Mmm saunas, that sounds wonderful, ZZMum.

OhYouBadKitten I agree, it is a balancing act between taking your meds and pacing yourself- I am very good at the 'keeping busy' side of things but when it comes to the resting up, it's another matter entirely. How come you are particularly busy just now ? Any chance of delegating ? That is something I struggle with but cannot possibly do everything around the house all the time. I love your name, by the way !

Oops- I missed out one of your bad's

Autumn is worst for me and has got worse this year since the menopause. I'm not on meds (apart from brufen - and something for the stomach!!) but get very stiff and sore at this time of year - I get most pain in my ankles, toes, fingers, shoulders.

It is shite though - I try not to think about what my Gran was like by age 65!

crumbs whats a bad here and there - depends on how things are going mumofshortie

I've got a temporary part time job that I started last week, I'm also chair of a local community organisation and its that time of year when things need to be done and we are going for grants and stuff. There seems to be so much of it.

plus we think we may need to move at some point in the nearish future (dh recently made redundant) so we are starting to prepare the house for sale (been here a long time and the house looks it!. That part will be easier when dh finishes at his job, I should leave that bit all for him but anxiety is driving me on that. didnt have time today though - been non stop :(

hmmm. no wonder I'm not feeling great. need to schedule in down time before I crash.

Just recently started medication which touch wood is starting to work really well. When bad I try saunas and hot showers, diclofenac with a paracetemol if really bad. I have it worst in my knee. Can i ask if you use and got any benefit from NRAS?

weegiemum Autumn sucks big time huh ! Meds have really helped me, I don't want to think about how bad a state I'd be in if I didn't take them. 11 years on, 2 kids later, now using my second type of meds- Methotrexate but was on Sulphasalazine up until a year ago. I realised how good they were working only when I had to come off them to conceive and throughout both pregnancies.

Now all I need to do is top up the Diclofenac with paracetamol for pain relief (oh yes, and remember to protect my stomach with gastro-resistant stuff)

I am trying out some new exercise classes and have even joined the local gym- get the fluid flowing !

OhYouBadBadKitten how busy are you ?! A lot on your plate- I will be checking up on you regularly to see you have been having 'down time'

CURLYMAMMA really glad to hear your medication is working. Woo, we are knee buddies ! Sorry i haven't used NRAS at all but do dip into the forum on Arthritis Care, though I lurk rather than post Not that I want to think of anyone else suffering but is good to hear other people's experiences and feel less alone. Do you know what I mean ?

Important not to forget the omeprazole (if thats what you've been prescribed) Sometimes diclofenac can make me a bit crampy but I find that spasmanol helps with that pretty well, so worth considering if it gives you any lower gi discomfort.

It does really help to have others to chat to about this, not nice to be the moany old friend irl so I don't complain to anyone except poor old dh.

Good luck with the gym - that sounds very energetic!!

Kitten

Omeprazole, full steam ahead.

The gym IS very energetic, that's true, but honestly not full of lycra clad bunnies looking radiant and gorgeous so I feel less of a pillock. The cross-trainer and bike are my new friends, the guy who gave me the induction was very good at taking into consideration my dodgy knees and so I will be getting a programme to follow. Bums, Tums & Thighs this evening, sweaty ? Me ?

You are so right- neither do I like being the moany old friend so my DH gets it ad nauseum too.

Hi - I have read this thread with interest as have been having a few problems recently that may or not be related to Rheumatoid Arthritis. It would be good to have your opinions.

I have been having neck pains and stiffness, with some upper chest pain, for about the last 4 and a half months. About two months ago my left jaw started becoming stiffer and painful - i'd always had a bit of clicking in it, but now is hard to open wide and chew, and is uncomfortable. Then about a two or three weeks ago my knees started becoming affected - first one knee became swollen - not at all red or painful - just full of fluid, and now, in the last week my other knee is doing the same. I can't kneel on them, it's almost as if they would burst if I did.

Things are worse towards late evening, during the night and in the morning. As I use my body more during the day things do seem to loosen up, but then get stiffer with any periods of inactivity.

I feel tired a lot of the time - could lie down and go to sleep a lot in the day, but unfortunately difficult with small children!

I'm hoping it's going to be nothing, one of those things due to early menopause perhaps, or stress or bad diet, not looking after myself etc. but equally want to sort something out if it's there - would be much better than the day to day difficulties I'm having.

I have been referred to a rheumatologist - it's taken a while with lost letters, (annoying!), etc, but hopefully should be seeing someone soon.

Thanks in advance for your opinions.

Kate

Kate, impossible to say really, theres such a wide family of rheumy diseases. Has your gp done any blood tests?

Hi Bad Kitten- my GP did a blood test for lots of things and as far as I remember, thyroid levels only ones in red, rheumatoid factor was weakly positive as was another that i can't remember - ESR? Not sure.

My sister was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis a couple of years ago, which as time went on, has changed to being Lupus. She doesn't talk about it much so hasn't said what she thinks, just to wait until I've seen rhuematologist.

My knees have actually started hurting for the first time today.

After reading your reply I looked for related conditions and you're right - there are lots! I guess it's just waiting now until I see consultant. Did it take a while for them to diagnose you? Thanks. Kate

Kate77, sorry to hear your struggles. No diagnosis to guess but hope it passes or at least you get to the bottom of it quickly. I was diagnosed within about 5 minutes by the consultant after discussing my symptoms of sore wrists and feet.

Mumofshortie77, wow re the gym. I had discounted it but may reconsider if you think certain equipment is kinder on the old knees. I mainly swim but even the breast stroke is now giving my knees jip, so gonna try to teach myself the crawl (fingers crossed). Do you do any weights?

Dead lucky to be able to offload on my long suffering DH because I hide this condition from all but a few really close friends so I really get you all not wanting to be moany around people.

Kate77, I had almost identical symptoms to yours pre diagnosis, including my jaw. I have an RA diagnosis, but my symptoms fit a selection of different traits from RA, psoriatic arthritis and lupus - as all the treatments are pretty much the same my Dr couldn't see an advantage to trying to get the best fit each time something changed slightly and just got on with treating me. I have the RA diagnosis as it is the most easily understood when I have to tell someone else (other doc, work, gym etc). I'm pretty sure as soon as you are Rheumatoid factor positive, even weakly, it doesn't change back and you can be considered to have RA.

The up-side is that with the right treatment my life went right back to normal (if slightly more careful), I have climbed many mountains, done triathalons and even taken up saxophone (fingers) since. Once it is sorted, you will feel so much better, you probably don't even realise how tired you are. I only realised recently, in coming off my drugs to TTC, how much I was taking feeling well for granted.

Lastly, with that kind of fluid in your knees it might be worth a trip to a minor injuries clinic to have them drained and injected (you can say you are currently being investigated for RA), you shouldn't be living with that kind of pain just because someone else lost a letter.

What a lot of people there are with this cursed condition ! Runner- respect to you for all that strenuous activity. i agree with the point you make about getting knees injected and jabbed with steroids, what a massive difference it makes once you've had it done. My experience with TTC and the meds was mixed- incredible how sore you feel off them and yes, how very much you take them for granted- golly, you realise how effective they are once you are off them and in pain. My RA went into remission with my last pregnancy but for two thirds of my first, I was in a pretty bad way. Your fitness levels and positive state of mind will be a huge help to you !

Kate- also sorry to hear you have been in a bad way- the medics will get to the bottom of it so once they do, you can be right on the most effective medication and things will be a lot better and nicer for you. I still suffer from morning stiffness particularly and find long car journeys tricky- at the moment, one hour driving (without a break) is my limit. Think I need a top-up of paracetamol midday as I take the diclofenac with breakfast.

Curly- I love the fact that you are impressed by my going to the gym ! You clearly have not seen me emerging like a wobbly beetroot ! Good look ! We use small hand weights in Bums, Tums & Thighs and there are slightly larger ones for me in the gym, very simple exercises, several repetitions- will let you know ! I guess the approach is 'little and often'and the staff in any gym nowadays are clued-up, they are excellent and keep checking that you are okay to continue and not in pain. Go for it, girl !

Kate - it didnt take long once I went to the gp with my symptoms, I have severe psoriasis (though it is very good at the moment) so the gp and rheumy had strong suspicions and after some blood tests the rheumy said it was PA. Also have an impressive case of raynauds so recentlyish was tested for lupus just in case, and it was ruled out.

Thanks to all for your positive replies about how it will become more manageable as it has for you all. RunnerHasbeen - it's good to hear that things are almost back to normal for you despite your diagnosis. If I am diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, or similar, I will now have a more hopeful outlook!

I'm not a big poster on MN but will keep up with this thread to see how you are all doing. I'll let you know what the consultant says when I go.

Thanks again. Kate

You know, thanks to this thread I am changing my outlook on exercise. I am so impressed with all you doing such physical stuff despite your diagnosis. I get so jealous of all the mums I know with their running and constant gym classes that I think I've ruled myself out when I shouldn't have. Now I am on medication I think I should try more varied exercise to see what does and doesn't cause a flare up. Just nervous as felt so crap before the medication kicked in I am loathe to trigger any problems.

Can I ask does anyone do anything special diet wise, eg no wheat, dairy etc?

Thanks Ladies.

Hello everyone, I have RA which was diagnosed after my first pregnancy. Kate, it took me about four months to have a diagnosis via a rheumatologist - GPs were testing for other possibilities at the same time, but it ended up being RA unfortunately. I found it very unsettling not knowing what was wrong with me, I hope you get a diagnosis asap.

I don't do anything special dietary-wise to control my RA, just take the DMARD which really does the trick. My RA is worst in my hands, legs joints and feet. I really want to get fit now though and lose my baby weight, as I know how important it is to stay as fit and healthy as possible with this ruddy condition.

I've just had my second child - stopped taking sulphasalazine when I wanted to concieve and could feel the joint pain sneaking back just before I fell pregnant. Luckily it went into remission while I was pregnant but I've been warned to expect a flare-up up to three months after the birth. I'm breastfeeding at the moment and want to continue doing so for as long as possible drug-free. Do any of you ladies have any experience of this?

Curly- I am glad you feel a bit different about exercise now, and is always in the back of my mind 'what if I am in real pain after this ?' but I figure it is better to get out there and try rather than sitting on my backside in front of the telly seizing up. If I am really sore the next day, I just try to take it easier and remember that for the next time. I wonder if a chat with a physio at your local hospital may be able to help, your rheumy certainly should refer you. About the diet, to be honest I have done some reading on the subject and conclude that fasting and then reintroducing possible trigger foods is unrealistic, this helps identify food sensitivities. I found 'Eat To Beat Arthritis' by Marguerite Patten interesting. What I find most helpful is awareness of what really makes me feel achy or 'tight' in the joints the following day- all the yummy stuff, typically, like alcohol, fried food, sugar, too much processed stuff...... no idea if wheat or dairy are problematic for me too. I am not about to radically give up everything, food is one of my loves so if I know I'm going to be having a few tipples on a Sat night or have a binge on chocolate I expect to feel a bit shite the next day and accept that.

Cakey- that's great news about your remission during pregnancy ! I had that with my DS (2nd child) too, was a massive relief. I'm afraid my experience of breastfeeding was very shortlived- 3 weeks with my DD and 2 weeks with my DS, a combination of very slow supply, latching probs (i have fairly ample bosoms and have been told sometimes this is unhelpful when bf!!)and the RA returning with a vengeance. General exhaustion too, as is the case with a newborn, but so much worse as an RA sufferer. Hope someone else will be along soon to give you some more helpful and happy stories !

Oh also v exciting- have been invited to join a group at the hospital on fatigue in RA- led by the occupational therapy dept. Think that'll be really helpful as I feel constantly shattered.

Excellent mumofshortie :) hopefully you will get some really useful coping methods. out of it