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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 64 Location: Sussex
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Hi all,
Many appologies Ive not been on for some time I hope your all not doing too bad. Well I have had a good few months with the ra and lupus, been in pain but it was livable. Over the last few weeks Ive been getting steadily worse...with morning stiffness at a high and all joints flaring.....went to see rhumey who has raised my steroids that Id got down to 5mg back up to 15mg for two weeks....am about to go to 10mg for two weeks then 7.5 for two weeks then see him again.....if no improvement he will consider changing my 17.5mg of mtx to Imuran. Also on sulpha etc.
Well tonight big shock, massive pain in both my knees....and within an hour Im in total agony, both knees now swollen and red and angry and Im having trouble walking...have had large dose of 200mg tramadol which is saving my sanity with the pain.......and had to use hubby and walking stick to get to bed......what a shocker.....Ive had bad knees before but not where Im thinking dear god how am I gonna get up the stairs.....thumbs also look deformed!
Well my question is....is this a normal flare? perhaps the flares Ive been getting havnt been so bad after all!!! desparate to know if anyone else has this??? any advise welcome...
Love to you all Ellie x (sorry for long post)
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 2,127
Location: Thornton Cleveleys
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Hi Ellie Sorry to hear of your problems. I would say definitely a severe RA flare (possibly caused by an underlying virus, infection? Not always obvious.) that requires immediate attention before it gets hold. These types of acute flares are fairly normal but do need a fast response to bring under control. As soon as you are able I would contact either your GP or rheumatology department for advice and treatment. Do let us know how you go on. Good luck, Lyn x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 3,006 Location: Timperley
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Just want to echo what Lyn has said - especially about getting advice straight away.
Take care
Love Jeanxxxx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 2/18/2010 Posts: 1,098 Location: farningham kent
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Hi Ellie
Just hope you can get hold of GP/Consultant urgently to get things under control, sorry to hear you ve been so poorly.
Julia x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/8/2010 Posts: 914
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Hi Ellie
Sorry to hear you have been so poorly, hope you get given something to make you more comfortable. Try ice packs to alleviate the pain, definitely see your rhummy again soon. Thinking about you Lorna x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 2,237 Location: nr Southampton
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hi
sounds like a nasty flare to me too- you need some blood tests but sometimes a stab of depomedrome in your behind or a local steroid jab in the joint itself (knee ones very effective IMO) can give some relief.
If you can manage a bath have one- if not, go for a hot shower (as hot as you can manage) and get someone to wrap you in warmed towels.
If your knees are hot- sometimes cooling treatments can help, i think there are cooling gels- but good old bag of frozen peas can help.
As for hands, put some lentils in an old ice cream tub at the back of the fridge. My hands and feet get so hot it is heaven!
Much love, it will pass.
Jenni xhow to be a velvet bulldoser
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 4/20/2010 Posts: 1,749 Location: Somerset
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Hello,
Sorry to hear how poorly you are at the moment.
I echo Lynn, get advice asap, and let us know how you gert on
Rose
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,740
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 Hello Ellie Lovely to see you online hugs to you does sound like flare,hope youve manged get hold care team for instant help. i use ice packs in pillowcase for knees mine constantly hot,also a pillow between them at night. same for my hands.. thinking of u lv melly cuddly cats make my world seem so much more fun
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009 Posts: 64 Location: Sussex
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thankyou all so much,
am seeing gp this week for bloods, have rhumey appointment in a few weeks....had hot shower couldnt do bath and have ice on the knees, which are feeling much better..what great advise and thankyou all so much.....
it just good to know these things are normal (well for flares anyway)
lovely to hear from you all again...am catching up on posts...Jenni cant beleive what youve been through, it does give hope though to see you picking up...
fionna....what a shame they messed with your meds..so sorry, lets hope they can get things back under control quickly.
Luvs to all Ellie x
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,582 Location: Oxfordshire
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Oh poor you! Yes it sounds like a horrid flare to me. RA can suddenly behave like so- you probably need a large stab of depo in your behind.
Hope you begin to feel much better but don't leave it like this, do ask your dr for help.
Love,
Amanda
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 1/7/2010 Posts: 441 Location: Bristol
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Hi Ellie,
I'm sorry you are suffering so.
I have found that my flare-ups seem to be worse each time than the last. For me, this has been part of the long process of trying to keep the disease under control with the whole arsenal of drugs.
Please get in touch with your rheummy team if the increased steroids don't do the job.
x x
Joanna
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