Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Hi everyone. Dropped out for a bit to get back on track after a case of H1N1.

I think I have RA...I also think I have Lyme...lousy combo to possibly have and I know one can mimic the other but over the past five days I've had sub q nodules appear on the middle finger of my left hand.

My finger joints on that hand are enlarged and my hands in general are stiff and painful. I'm tired most of the time and feel generally crappy.

I'm currently on Doxy for the Lyme which the doctor also hopes will settle down the joint pain.

It hasn't, and I've been resisting his suggestions to start plaquinel due to some of the nasty side effects it can have.

I want to feel better. I want my joints to stop hurting. I feel like somebody has beat my bones with a stick.

My husband, a medical professional, looks at my hands and asks me if I think it's time I retire.

I know if I do that, I'm finished. My job includes a lot of computer work, typing, etc, fine motor dexterity which is coming hard at the moment, but doable.

If I stop 'exercising' my joints, the worst will happen.

I'm taking lots of Aspirin at the moment and using Ultram for pain. The Aspirin helps as does the Ultram, but I guess, I'm just frustrated at the moment and need to vent.

By nature I'm a very active person and I feel that I am being robbed at gunpoint by the way I feel and my joint pain.

Are the transient nodules a common thing in RA? What helps besides warm soaks and analgesic/anti-inflammatory drugs.

My doctor gave me a shot of kenolog when I had H1N1 due to asthmatic bronchitis that developed and I have to admit that I felt GREAT as far as my joint pain was concerned as long as the drug was in my system, but as steroids are contraindicated as far as Lyme is concerned, I'm between a rock and a hard place.

Thanks for letting me vent.

Dingosmom.

Hi Dingosmom. I do not have RA, but I have OA, among other problems. So I don't know what to suggest. You are right about holding on to work as long as you can. My employer "retired" me, if you know what I mean. And I worked for physicians. Nice huh?! But I do know that since I am home, things have gotten worse. Physically, emotionally-its really terrible. At first it was nice. To "rest" when you can. Not push to hard. But the social isolation has been very difficult. I am not very active now too, so everything hurts worse. Hold on as long as you can. I hope you feel better soon. I have read about the plaquinel and think you are correct to be skeptical. The side effects of many of these drugs are enough to make you scared and willing to put up with the pain as long as possible. Be good to yourself.

Hi Dingosmom,

I take plaquenil for RA with secondary Sjogrens. I didn't want to but i decided it was better to take the meds than to just allow the disease to progress. As i understand it, plaquenil has fewer side affects than maybe any other drug that will slow down the disease.

When i started, my prescription was for two 200 mg pills per day. I found that i could not take that dosage. They tried me on 1 per day and that seems to work for me. (okay, i decided to just take one a day but i don't recommend that w/o your rheumy's blessing) I can handle that AND it makes a difference. If you eat a balanced diet of healthy food, get rest when you can, exercise daily (or at least stretch), and do everything you can to fight this, you might be able to avoid some meds but for most of us, taking them is better than not taking them. You'll need to work with your rheumy to decide what is best for you.

We're all different and the disease seems to affect us in different ways but please do make sure you don't just treat the symptoms cuz its important to stop the disease (or at least slow it down) as it destroys your joints.

Please keep us posted about how you're doing.

Hi dear

Good to see you back. Also glad to see you well from H1.

You know, if you see a rheumy, and he puts you on meds, and they work you may be able to work for as long as you want.

In fact, the pain you are experiecing now could greatly reduce.

It is always a good idea to treat RA as soon as possible so as to slow down progression.

I went from being terrified to try any RA med, to begging for them, to praying I will soon be on them again.

I do understand your hesitation about using them.

Just think about it and maybe you could give RA meds a try. You can always stop if you chose to.

Bless your heart to have Lyme's Disease on top of this. I know the choices must be frustrating.

Hugs

Dingosmom,

Have you been tested for RA? Have you seen a dr / rheumy?

~~~ Sandy

I don't have much to add to what the other's have already told you. I just wanted to pop in, say hi and let you know that you will be in my prayers. Please keep us posted.

Thanks for all the good wishes everyone.

Yes, I have been titered twice with negative results both times. My doc isn't convinced that they are not false negatives, however. My symptoms are pointing to RA and in his opinion if it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's a duck.

I can't help but agree with him, although on top of everything else I was left with a pretty good case of Rheumatic Arthralgia after a case of RF when I was 23. Everything is catching up with me in middle age.

I see my PC on Monday and suspect that the nodules will still be there. This frigid midwest weather is playing merry hades with my joints today.

Pain medicine good....pain BAD!!!

RA or Lyme RA I don't care which one it is at this point, I just want it to GO AWAY!!!

Wish me luck and please keep me in your good thoughts.

Wishing you luck, good thoughts, and always in my prayers

Hugs

Best of luck with it. Get meds, advocate! I know how much I'm missing my meds right now when I'm not allowed to have them. Wish my liver would settle down. Treat early, treat often - kind of like voting, hmm?

Hugs and prayers,

Jen in VA

Jen, I like that.. "Treat early, Treat often"!! lol

All joking aside though, Dingo I too can't add much because IMHO you should begin some type of treatment. Just because you're negative on your tests, it doesn't mean you don't have it. False negatives are very common. I had them for five years, and then BAM! I was hit with a flare like I never experienced before. Even the sheets on the bed hurt to touch me. Then lo and behold I was coming back a high positive...

Let us know what you decide to do, but like Jen said, "treat early, treat often".. thats the best way to get it under control.