Reactive arthritis

[HalfasleepChrisintheMorning]

Anyone had this?
I had a gastro bug last week and now all my joints are killing me. Saw GP yesterday and I have a reactive arthritis. He’s given me diclofenac.
How long did it last?

I got it in 2000, after getting gastric flu at Easter and it lasted most of that year.

TBH I would get off the diclofenac asap and use the gels as soon as you can, diclofenac kills the stomach

DH is being investigated for arthritis atm and is having to manage with OTC pain relief

Gels?

I had it in my early twenties after salmonella. Up there with one of the worst pains I've had; hips, knees, elbows, fingers. I couldn't move in the mornings. Can't remember what drug I was prescribed but it helped greatly and I'd probably recovered within 3 months. That said, my knees haven't been the same since and I am still prone to stiffness/soreness in my knees more than a decade on

Make sure you're taking omeprazole if you're taking diclofenac. I got an ulcer with that as I wasn't taking anything to protect my stomach. I thought diclofenac wasn't prescribed now?

I had a virus, the GP assumed that it was one of the parvovirus family as there was an outbreak in our village, my bloods were lost in the post so it was never proved.

I was under the rheumatologist for two years and on various medications, but my diagnosis of reactive arthritis was after a prolonged period of ill health including a serious chest infection and shingles so it wasn’t treated promptly, I also had surgery on my knee due to the swelling. The swelling was so severe that they suspected rheumatoid arthritis initially.

In hindsight I think all the problems may have helped lead to fibromyalgia which I was diagnosed with many years later.

Please don’t be frightened by my experience, I have only recounted it to emphasise to you that you really MUST rest, I was told to but battled on regardless as I had a DH who worked away and three little children, the youngest was only a year old. Call on whatever help you can.

It is unusual to be as ill as I was, most people recover within weeks.

You can use diclofenic gel, brand name Volterol but generic is cheaper. It's pretty effective and doesn't affect the stomach.
I've never heard of reactive arthritis but I have osteoarthritis and Rheumatoid. Any virus sets off a flare.
Earlier this year after a virus I had the worst joint pain ever, it seemed different to my usual. I wonder if that's what it was? TBH no painkiller touched it. The GP gave me codeine because I can't take NSAIDs.