Painful joints

Maybe the pains are because of a bad sleeping?? Sometimes not only the position when we are sleeping is important but also if mentally we dream about something good and relaxing. Night mares can be terrible and the most important is to don't forget about their interpretation. I found a great on-line dream book www.moj-sen.info where are almost all the meanings of dreams.

An update 're appointment. As I hadn't heard anything from the hospital since my telephone 'assessment' on the 19th April I rang them this morning, I have an appointment to see a Rheumatologist for the 4th of July !!!! This is meant to be an urgent referral.
I haven't felt too bad the last couple of weeks but yesterday and today my joints are aching a fair bit and my hands are 'fizzing'. I'm not sleeping too well either.
I'm seriously thinking about paying for a private appointment but couldn't afford lots of tests.
Sorry to be moaning but I really thought I would be seen a lot sooner than July.

An instant response to steroids is often indicative of Polymyalgia Rheumatica. In fact, some doctors use it as a diagnostic tool even if blood results seem normal.I remember the relief after my first dose of prednisolone, and, after almost six years, am looking forward to taking my last dose! PMR affects large muscle groups such as shoulders and hips but sufferers often report more wide-ranging effects.

So sorry to hear that Sar53. As you say, what a waste of everyone's time! Try and stay positive, be kind to yourself and try and keep your joints moving. (I know it's hard). Have a look on line at the beneficial effects of Turmeric on inflammation - it might help. Would it be possible for you to have an initial private consultation just to speed things along? Best wishes to you.

Five or six weeks was the timescale for my urgent referral over twenty years ago. inflammatory arthritis causes fatigue beyond non sufferers can comprehend. Feeling low I mood is common, depression can start because of feeling so ill over a long period of time.
I'm sorry you're feeling ill and low, it's tough. At the risk of being political, our NHS is under real pressure. Rheumatology is a brilliant resource, a comprehensive assessment by a consultant and any further investigations like bloods, X-rays, podiatry, eye assessments to name a few are time consuming and expensive. I've had some rough patches and sympathise. Hope you are resting as much as you can, plus fresh air and a walk if you can. Best wishes

If this clinic is anything like the one I attend, it will be extremely busy. I attend every six months and I am quite unwell. Some patients get a yearly appointment. Quite often my July appointment is cancelled due to staff holidays and the next available appointment is six months later. I have to phone and try and get an earlier appointment. Yesterday I had a three month appointment, but that was with the rheumatology specialist nurse, as there were just no doctor led appointments available.
Also, your first appointment is usually a lengthy one with a consultant, so they are like gold dust.
I am sorry that your are so unwell and RA can also leave you with a very low mood. You can pm me if you need some one to talk to. I found that talking to other sufferers was a great support. Take care.

I am feeling very disappointed. I rang the hospital this afternoon for what I was led to believe was a telephone assessment. I spoke to a receptionist who checked my details and told me I would receive an appointment through the post to see a Rheumatologist. I asked how long I would have to wait and she said probably the end of May !!! What a waste of everyone' s time. The hospital already had my details from the letter sent by the surgery so why did I have to ring.
I feel unwell most of the time at the moment and the thought of waiting another 5/6 weeks is quite hard. If this is an urgent referral I dread to think what an non-urgent one is like.
Up until I finished work 18 months ago I had private health care. Wish I had it now.

your GP sounds good Sar53. At my initial assessment the consultant rheumatologist took my full medical history, he went on to ask about my parents and grandparents. He put the information together and explained in an easily understandable way the hows and why's of my diagnosis. Best of luck with yours.

I am glad your GP is taking you seriously. Remember to try and remember all your symptoms, no matter how trivial, as it helps to build the most accurate picture of your condition. I only found out recently that the brain fog I have been experiencing, was in fact all part of my RA.
Good luck with your assessment.

Thank you Marydoll and Megram for your kind comments. I saw my GP this morning and he has referred me for an urgent assessment by a RheumatologIst. I am to have a telephone assessment next Wednesday and then given an appointment at the hospital. Apparently this is how it is done in this area, a Triage Service. He has stopped the steroids and prescribed Amytriptiline for the pain. I can only see how I feel after a few days. At least he seemed to be taking seriously what I was saying to him.

I started with swollen, painful joints about eight years ago and feared the worst as my mother had RA. However, blood tests came back normal. Despite this, a very flippant doctor prescribed methotrexate and steroids which I wasn't prepared to take. To cut a very long story short, I found a sympathetic and clued up Doctor who advised me on nutrition (avoiding certain foods such as gluten, citrus and dairy) and I embarked upon a course of acupuncture. Eight years on, I am fine, bar the occasional flare up (daft as it sounds, often due to weather conditions!) and I continue with six weekly acupuncture treatment. I also firmly believe that keeping mobile is so important, and I do Pilates and Yoga. Everyone is different, and this may not be the course of action best for you, but it's just another viewpoint. I do hope that you feel better soon.

Sar53, am I correct in thinking this is the day of your doctor's appointment. Good luck. Please don't be disappointed if you do not get an instant diagnosis. These things can take time.

A diary is a good idea, hope you get a specialist referral.

My blood tests came back as negative for RA. I have been on steroids since last Friday and I am back to see Doctor next Wednesday. I feel generally unwell, my eyes are dry and the lids swollen, last Sunday my face swelled up and was very red and sore. It's the rash on my face that makes me think it may be Lupus.
I felt better this morning, even after a bad night, so decided to go into town shopping, after an hour my legs were shaky and I just wanted to get home.
I am keeping a diary of how I feel each day so I can remember when I see the doc next week.

Exactly Sue, stress can cause a flare but so can life! We just have to make the best of the care we get, stay as positive as we can, as active as we can and in my case, get plenty of sleep.

*Sar53 *has your doctor done an a.n.a blood test..that will show immune system problem...do hope you havent got SLE..I have and its a 'damn' thing to live with..got a flare up at present and feel dreadful!!.....stress aggravates it..doing too much does also...but thhen sometimes it just flares without cause ?

I am also very thankful for my rheumatology consultant and nurses,so committed and helpful and always available for a chat if I have any concerns,thank you our wonderful NHS.

. Thank goodness for our rheumatologists. I could never have worked for the last twenty odd years, without their support. Be thankful for the good days and be sensible on the not so good days.

fibro is another fairly horrible disease isn't it mcim. the depression, brain fog, pain and other nasties go hand in hand with it. Ah well we must count our blessings, look on the bright side and live as well as we possibly can. I repeat how thankful I am to live now, with such good biologic treatments that gave me my life back . I also have a brilliant rheumatologist and specialist nurse - thanks to the NHS every day.

For years my DD was told she had RA but it has now neen reassessed as fibromyalgia with all the depression, pain, brain fog, digestive and urinary problems that can go with fibro.

It's not the end of your life when you have RA. You just make the best of things. I can't have Methotrexate, because of my lung problems. I asked for it when I was so Ill, that I had to retire last year. Doc's reply, " You will be dead within three months", so I passed on that on that one!
At the moment I am sitting in a hotel in Leeds writing this. I was at the clinic on Friday and medics wanted me to come into the day ward on tomorrow, as my pain levels were so high. I said that I wasn't giving up my once in a lifetime trip on the Flying Scotsman. I will go into ward when I return. I am a stubborn old bird.
Sar53 Steroids can make your face very flushed and and puffy. It's the price you have to pay for pain relief. I also get very hungry and then put on weight. I sound a bit flippant, but it's my way of coping. You would never know I had RA, as I always look so well. It's amazing what a bit of face paint can do. ( That's if I manage to grip the lipstick and not poke my eye with mascara wand.) It can be hidden disease. Not having a definite diagnosis doesn't help either. Dr Google is not a good idea. Your imagination will be running riot. Hope the steroids kick in soon.

My DH has RA, he hardly ever has markers when he has a blood test, not unheard of apparently, he has an annual infusion of rituximab, weekly methotrexate tablets and iron. It is probably the steroids that are affecting your face, when DH has infusion they give him a dose of paracetamol, antihistamine and steroid prior, he has a red face for at least a week after, he is the same if he has steroid tablets.

You are all so kind and supportive. I have woken up today with a swollen and sore face and very red cheeks. I feel generally unwell. I have noticed this week that I am a lot more tired than usual, even falling asleep in the afternoons, this is unheard of for me.
If I don't have RA do you think it could be Lupus ? I know one shouldn't read Mr Google but I fear I have the symptoms.
I have an appointment to see my doctor on the 12th but I think I may need to see him tomorrow if my face is still this swollen and sore.

I also have RA and the fatigue is terrible feeling so washed out even after a nights sleep,flare ups can be so bad it floors you completely.However,I have moved through the various stages of meds and now self inject 2 different meds weekly and although I haven't been doing it very long I am cautiously optimistic that I see signs of improvement,although I am still not completely comfortable with the actual injecting,practice makes perfect as they say ?

Marydoll, same here, I worked 20 years after diagnosis. The fatigue is beyond description. In flare up, I could sleep 10 hours and wake exhausted. I'd sit on the sofa at 1.30 and wake up at 4, fuzzy headed. Constant pain and fatigue is something others can't see and unless they're knowledgeable about the other issues that accompany inflammatory arthritis many say "oh yes, I have arthritis in my knee so I know how you feel". Well meaning but far from the point.
On a more cheerful note I feel fortunate to live with it now, when disease modifiers are so effective. Yes they carry risks but so does life and the quality of my life is so much better now I'm prescribed effective medication.