excruiciating pain in arms

[MakinIT]

Hey

many of you may remember a week or so ago I wrote about a swelling in my arm, pain, spider bite...etc...well they were wrong. The pain has worsened into all joints in my upper body (arms, wrist, neck ect...) and it has inflammed the bladder oh goody goody. The pain is like fire. I am in tears as I cannot even a pill bottle. My doctor told me today all tests are pointing to Rheumotoid Arthritis. Im seeing a specialist next week. WHY!!!!!! I am so angry and so mad I could spit.....(replace one letter) AUTOIMMUNE, AUTOIMMUNE!!!! I have been crying in pain and frustration for 3 days, and haven't slept for 5....Bladder has been such a mess I'm cathing. SOOO...I'm not positive but all is there. I'm just sounding off here. I don't have my comp. now. I am borrowing my husbands for a minute but I don't know when I'll get back on. Please respond if you can with any advice but it may be a couple days before I see the answer.

Thanks Ihave to lay down

Tracey

[ICNDonna]

Hang in there --- at least until testing is completed. It could be something else that's wrong.

Warm hugs,
Donna

[Moonheart]

Oh Tracey! I'm so sorry! I've been worrying that this is what is happening to me as well. I have all the swelling and pain in my joints, hard to function most of the time and my grandmother developed it in her late 30's also.

I'm so sorry you are going through this. PM me and I'll give you my number if you want to call me k?

HUGS,
Moonheart

[tigger_gal]

oh no I am so sorry that you are in so much pain.. sending you big soft hugs.
I hope that you feel better soon.

[Kara29]

Tracey,

That burning pain is so terrible to have, especially considering how much you use your arms and hands. I hope they run the appropriate tests and get down to the bottom of what is happening to you. I wish I had some advise to help ease the pain. Please let us know how things go.

Thinking of You and Wishing you better days ahead.

Kara

[MakinIT]

Well...they found it...I have Rhuematoid Arthritis...I only spent half my day bawling (as opposed to my full day bawling when I found out I had IC) This RA is nasty.

I'm in a "pity party" mood right now...want to get over it and move on... but the pain is not relieved by any opiates, it is screaming pain.

[ihurttoo]

I am so sorry to hear how badly you have been suffering. I know it was devastating to hear that you have RA. However, the good news is that now that they know what you have, they can begin treating it. When I got the Lupus d/x, I was devasated too, but I just had to remind myself that even though it looked like I was sicker after the d/x than I was before, in reality, I was actually healthier after the new d/x. Yes, that's right, healthier! And you are too, since you have had this for a while and had no treatment at all for it. Now, you will be getting meds and other things that can help it and I am willing to bet you will end up feeling better than you have in years!

I dont know if they started you on Prednisone yet, or any of the meds like it, but it usually takes a few days to get the dose just right. But, when it is right, you will know it. No doubt about it, b/c you will feel dramatically better. Every time I go on it, I feel so good! It gives me so much energy, I can leap tall buildings in a single bound! And best of all, my IC, fibro, and all my other conditions seem to take a break the whole time I am on it. I hope and pray that this happens with you too.

I know it is tough to hear the news of a new diagnosis. I really do. So, take some time to absorb it and it is okay to cry too. Sometimes it is quite cleansing. But, I promise you, that once they get you on the right dose of the right med, you are going to feel better. I just know it! And also, at least you dont have to listen to any more idiot Drs. who think nothing is wrong! From now on, they are going to be taking you seriously. So that is great news, especially since you have been suffering with this for a long time and being treated like dirt and been on no meds to help with this.

Please pm me if you need to talk to someone. Though I am not a Dr. and cant cure you, I can do something most of them cant...listen to you. You dont have to go thru this by yourself. We will all be here for you every step of the way.

Sending hugs your way,
Amy

[Bianchi]

I know exactly what you're talking about with RA and IC. I also have Rheumatoid Arthritis. Yes the pain can be excruciating, but there are meds available to at least make you more comfortable. There really is no cure. But between prednisone (too bad it has all these side effects, because it works), methotrexate, and now also Remicade or Humira, there is something that should help you. It sometimes takes awhile to find the right combination. I think your Rheumatologist will be able to that for you.
It's weird, it seems like there are quite a few people with IC, that also have RA. I guess it isnt known yet, if there is any connection.
Take care,
Bianchi

[Moonheart]

I'm pretty sure I have it also, and my grandma was diagnosed with it in her 30's. I'm sure my dad has an autoimmune disease. There are so many links between the diseases.

[MakinIT]

yeah...funny how I've been noticing the commercials for RA meds...seems like the side effects really suck but my body hurts so bad right now I'd take a steam roller running me over, over RA!!! I dunno about prednisone. I absolutely go bonkers on prednisone. My GP tried to give me some out of his "candy shelf" (that's what I call his sample cabinenent) yesterday and I refused because it makes me crazy. Plus, I have diabetes. at one time, this little 5'3 body had 225 very strong pounds on it. I could stairstep and run with skinniest and most tone chicks in pond at the YMCA, but I couldn't lose any wieght. I got diabetes and found a very strict diet and lost 75 pounds.My diabetes is well in control with wieght down, no worries but if I gain, it's uh oh..one more thing to stress on. (got IC and regained 25 though because the allowable foods don't overlap) BUT...since RA, in the last 3 weeks I've shed 15 pounds. I can't eat. Is there anything you guys find that helps?

[Moonheart]

Hi Tracey,

Gosh we have so much in common! I have the same exact thing going on as you do. I have been suspecting diabetes and just dropped about two pants sizes. I'm 5'3" as well and have been 200 pounds for most of a year. I don't know what I weigh now that I've dropped some sizes, but as long as the swelling is going down.

Without my MS Contin I literally cannot move. I'm stiff as a board and can't get out of bed, walk, nothing. Over the course of the day as I warm up I can do a little more, but not much.

I don't have any great ideas because I'm just figuring out what is wrong with me. I wish I knew more.

Hugs,
Moonheart

[MakinIT]

Moonheart:
AM is very hard for me but pain remains all day...I definately take 5 minutes and slowly stretch, even in the night when I have to pee, before I get up. I worry I will trip and hurt myself more. Egads, I'm only 41. I'm wondering if the community center built by my house has special arthrits classes in their pool? I'm taking my daughter over there after school to sign us up, I'll have to find out.

Tracey

[Moonheart]

Yep, I fell a couple months ago going down my stairs off my deck. Very high. My whole left leg went numb. I have severe weakness down my left side all the time, but that was just unreal. It was like my leg all of a sudden wasn't there.
It's strange because usually the more affected area will have the greatest swelling, and I'm swollen more on the right side of my body than the left. *shrug* Who knows.

Swimming sounds good. A hot tub sounds even better. Soothing. Good luck with that.

Take care and talk to you later,
Moonheart

[KathrynPInk]

Dear Tracey,
Is it possible it is fibromyalgia...or are the signs definitely pointing to RA? Yep, RA is in my family as well, and crohn's disease and then IC. (my brothers) I am so, so sorry you are in that much pain. I bet it is very difficult to get in a comfortable position. You have my hopes and prayers that it can be relieved and soon~~
Katheryn

[MakinIT]

Yeah..I'm sure the specialist will check for for fibromyalgia. I was actually hoping that was what it was. But the blood test came back high for the R.A. Factor. That alone can be a false positive but I have every other single symptom. It doesn't look good. I went to PT today and did the arm exercise thingy...where you "pedal" with your arms...I could only go about 60 secs forward, 40 back. A month ago, nothing was a problem. My hand strength has decreased by about 25% in the past 3weeks. And just tonight, my elbows were both so inflammed, you could feel the heat of the joints through my sweatshirt. I can't sleep at all. Even with Oxycotin and my morphine ER. I'm running a fever now...Grr. Anyway..I see the specialist next week...meanwhile...I'll live...My hands are getting clumsier but no distortion thank goodness.

Thanks....