Rheumatoid arthritis - heel pain

Oh goodness Iam, it didn't sound like that at all!
I was just feeling sorry for myself and in the middle of a flare up when I posted.
I too didn't recognise the woman , both my RA and occupational health consultants, had written about.
It was a bit of a shock. to read the report. I thought I was indestructible and would work forever.
Onward and upward! Wishing you all the best.

Marydoll, apologies from me if I sounded unsympathetic to your circumstances. I had to retire from work I loved because of a flare up that stopped me in my tracks for almost a year. The ASOS doctor who compiled a report at my employers request wrote about the 'fatigue beyond belief' in his lengthy response. I almost wept because I couldn't believe the poor woman he was writing about was me.
Like Grannybags says, I could sometimes scream when people tell me "oh I've got a really stiff knee/neck/elbow (name the individual joint) so I know just how you feel". Nope, you have absolutely no idea how I feel.
I did well for a year on one of the new treatments, then had an awful reaction to it. 18 months later, I was well enough to try an alternative but those 18 months were grim. I'm now a few years on with the new treatment and doing well, thanks marydoll.
it's hard not to feel a bit sorry for ourselves and to feel irritated when people make comparisons between their arthritic knee joint and the poly arthritis we live with, along with the potential or real significant impact on all major organs. Sorry for sounding off

All of you living with RA have my sympathy and your posts will make me less irritated by Bil's bloody mindedness!

His attitude has had a massive impact on his wife who bears the brunt of his frustrations while he is determined not to ask for help. She is not very assertive and has become quite withdrawn and I worry about her as much as him!

Hi Iam, I'm sorry if I sounded angry, it wasn't meant to be.
It was more of feeling pretty low and frustrated after my holiday this week. I was hit by a realisation that my health has suddenly deteriorated and I have absolutely no control over it. A few incidents happened, which left me feeling vulnerable. No-one wants to feel like an old woman and I am not old!
I do not want to be dependent on anyone, but unfortunately there are no effective treatments for me. Stupidly, I rarely ask for help. Its a pride thing.
As you say until you have experienced the symptoms of the condition, you cannot imagine what it is like.
When I was forced to retire on ill health from a very responsible job, I asked to try the new treatments, I was bluntly told that I would be dead within a few months. It wasn't quite what I expected to hear.
I hope at the moment you are keeping reasonably well.

I have great sympathy for anyone with RA. My sister was diagnosed in her 30s. She also has the "bloody mindedness" syndrome!

She suffers all the things you describe Marydoll and copes with it as you do, covering up so that we don't worry about her so much (although we still do!)

I get very annoyed when people say things like "I get a bit of RA occasionally" when they really mean they ache a bit sometimes.

Good luck to your BiL kittylester

Marydoll, I understand your angry response to my comments about the new treatments. I know about the chronic bone weary fatigue, the joint, skin, eye, mouth and other health problems that go with inflammatory arthritis because I've first hand experience of them over 45 years now. I have RA and a number of other auto immune conditions that all too often go along with inflammatory arthritis. I was finally diagnosed in my mid 40's by which time it took me over an hour to get out of bed in the morning. I could only walk down stairs very slowly, one step at a time. I started "aggressive" treatments reluctantly but within 6 weeks my mobility was significantly improved. I've had many flare ups along the way and finally started a biological treatment several years ago. Without the treatments I'd be in a real pickle. I feel fortunate to have been born in the 1940's not the 1920's
Many people have no idea that inflammatory arthritis is life threatening and causes exhaustion and low mood.

I know in my own case , the " bloody-mindedness" is a reaction to being angry at losing my independence, refusing to " give in " and having to ask for help. Being " boody-minded- stops us feeling sorry for ourselves and losing dignity.
RA is not just about joint pain, (as some people think), it's the chronic, bone weary fatigue, the problems with eyes, mouth, skin etc, etc.
I was usually the strong one, supporting others and I hate asking for help. I pretend I'm feeling better than I actually am, as I don't want to worry my family. I think
Understand why your BIL is the way he is.
Like any illness, RA also affects you emotionally and you feel vulnerable, knowing it is progressive, but you try to cover up.
Your BIL is blessed in having you as a caring SIL, Kitty. I do hope he finds some respite.

Thank you all for your thoughts. He has recently been seen by his consultant and has various treatments on an ongoing basis. The foot pain is 'just' general degeneration and old injuries. He is barely able to walk now but his ' bloody mindedness is not helping hm at this stage. His son is much better at suggesting things to him and getting a good result.

Unfortunately some RA patients, myself included, cannot have the option of the new treatments. For someone with lung disease and other conditions they can be lethal, so we have to live with very high levels of pain.
Due to the state of the NHS and staff shortages , my own six monthly appointment has been cancelled three times since Christmas. My own rheumatology nurse took days to get back to me, as she was swamped by requests for help.
I would be surprised if Kitty's BIL given the severity of his condition, isn't already having regular appointments and has already sought advice on his heel pain.

My first question is is the RA being effectively treated? The new biological treatments do carry risks but they give RA sufferers a much better quality of life.
If he’s had a diagnosis for thirty years, does he have a named rheumatology consultant. Most RA patients are reviewed minimum six monthly. In between appointments, the advice is to phone your specialist nurse or rheumatologist if any flare ups occur. I’d suggest he starts with that call. Hands and feet are good indicators of disease activity. It may not be a flare up in which case physiotherapy podiatry and bio mechanics may help. It’s tough isn’t it.

The poor man - we have a friend with RA, but it's his wrists that are swollen.
Would icepacks help? They do in other conditions involving swelling.

Led on by marydoll's suggestion of a TENS machine, I found these shoes with built in electrodes. They ship from the USA unfortunately. They are demonstrated on Youtube.
www.amazon.co.uk/Healthmateforever-Electrotherapy-Arthritis-Conductive-Massaging/dp/B00SJFE4JQ?th=1&tag=gransnetforum-21

Kitty, is the pain definitely caused by the RA? I had been suffering excruciating pain in my foot and assumed it was a symptom of my RA, but an MRI ordered by my rheumatoid consultant showed I had Freiberg's disease.
Good luck with your quest.

I have been searching on line for something to help you. There are heated foot wraps for sitting or shuffling around the house, but there seems to be nothing in the UK recommended for walking. Maybe it is difficult to come up with something which is not likely to cause a fall. I Hope somebody comes up with an idea for him. If my father had been alive he would have invented something - we used to call him Heath Robinson!

I too have RA and sometimes use a TENS machine. Never used it on my feet, but just about everywhere else!
Would this be a possibility, Kitty?
I also bought a heated shoulder blanket, recommended by a fellow Gransnet and the heat definitely helps.
I hope your BIL gets some relief, Kitty. It is a terrible condition to live with.
I too am bloody minded, it must be a symptom of the condition?

Thank you shysal. I'm sorry you are afflicted too. Be bloody minded as long as you can.

He has to have specially made shoes now as his feet are so swollen. His various consultants can't help the pain so I am trying to find some, possibly Heath Robinson type, solution to his problem. I'm not being very successful.

I was diagnosed with RA only last week and plan to be bloody-minded too! I have pain in the ball of my foot at the moment and am so relieved that I was already a fan of Skechers memory foam shoes, having had plantar fasciitis a couple of years ago. I wear no other brand now. They are not cheap but the most reasonable are available at Sports Direct, either on line or in shop. Ebay is also a good place once you have tried on and know the correct size. Sinking my feet into the Skechers is bliss compared to other shoes.
I hope this will be a temporary flare up for your BIL. I gather they can be short or long-lived.
www.sportsdirect.com/skechers/mens/all-mens-skechers

Oh yes a podiatrist assessment defintely. I think cortisone injections are often used for this.

It is RA.

I wouldn’t jump to the assumption that it is RA, he should go and get it checked out.

He needs to see the Podiatrist to rule out heel spurs , they can be excruciating