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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/19/2010
Posts: 88
Location: Saddleworth, UK
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I cant tell the difference!!
When I went to the Drs for more drugs on Thursday the Dr said to me "In my opinion its better to have RA cos we can treat that but Fibromyalgia is very hard to treat! Great - from the frying pan into the fire!
I have spend 2 weeks on reduced MTX, 15mg, and my knee and wrist on the right side are so blumming sore that I dont know if its RA or Fibro. I am sooo confused! I keep trying to see if its the joint or muscle/tendon pain but I cant tell. Could it be that its that intense that I cant tell?
I do have a high pain threshold, Paracetamol after Hysterectomy for 3 days then nothing, no pain meds after shoulder op. I believe that the pain I was in was so strong before the op that when it was over it was a relief.
But because you cant see pain its really hard to describe.... I know that you know how I feel (well I hope you do!). My knee feels like it wants to click but when I walk upstairs its as if it wants to collapse. My wrist feels like a red hot poker has been shoved right inside so that I cant lift the kettle, cup, pan etc but can crochet!! Whats that all about? Is it because when you grasp something you use your muscles, but then you use tendons to move the crochet hook? (or vice versa)
Its also very cold outside and very stressed (usual step daughter fuss), will this contribute?
Can anyone shed some light?
Lxxx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 3/8/2010 Posts: 914
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Hi Louise, My mum has Fibromialga she has been told it is nerve pain and very sore and difficult to treat. RA is joint pain and as we all know, you do not realise how this can affect you until you have suffered with it. I was very ill 4 years ago but it is well controlled now. RA is manageable when you are given the right combination of drugs which agree with you. I imagine your hands being ok if they are not affected, mine didn't work at all. I feel the cold does make a difference, I suffer from Asthma and I feel breathless even indoors and extremely tired. My mum tries to space out her tablets and keeps well all things considered. I feel for you pain is no joke. Try to keep as positive as you can , I feel stress makes things so much worse. Thinking about you Lorna xx 
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/3/2009 Posts: 1,110 Location: London
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Hi Louise, I know how you feel!! I have both too, and my consultant insists that my pain is fibro as my ESR and CRP levels are normal. I have absolutely no idea how to tell the difference either, sorry. I just take the painkillers and hope for the best.  BARBARA
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 2,127
Location: Thornton Cleveleys
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Hi Louise Have a look at this link at Arthritis Research UK. Pain from Fibromyalgia is usually muscle pain but it can sometimes affect joints as well. My GP advised that a diagnosis of Fibro alongside RA wouldn't really affect the course of treatment as they are similarly treated in terms of pain medication. At the end of the day it is a case of actively dealing with the pain that comes with both and finding a suitable combination that is right for you. I have to disagree with your GP that it is better to have RA! Fibro is not progressive or degenerative, RA is both those and more! I know which I would rather have if I had the choice! Muscles, tendons and ligaments all work together to mobilise joints so it is very difficult to know where to lay blame for pain. Adequate pain relief, kept topped up, is the answer for most types of pain regardless of cause. The body stores methotrexate for several weeks so it would be unlikely (although not impossible!) that you would notice a difference after reducing for only two weeks. However the wrist and knee do sound like RA problems and are joints commonly affected by RA. I have severe problems with both so know just how it feels! What are your inflammatory markers (ESR/CRP) like? This will to some extent show whether the RA is active. I think perhaps Barbara has hit the nail on the head; keep popping the pain killers  Hope you feel better soon Lyn x
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/19/2010
Posts: 88
Location: Saddleworth, UK
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Thank you so much for reading and replying to my post.
Yesterday I took my second Pregabalin and felt shattered and in pain, I went to bed with 2 co codamol. I texted my daughter and husband to tell them that I was very sore. An hour or so later I got a phone call from my daughter to say they were on their way home and to "pop the kettle on" I told her that I was in bed and she told me to get up as I couldnt eat a sandwich in me as I get crumbs in the bed. Who is the parent! Sometimes I wonder! Any way I got up and made my way down 3 half flights of stairs and by the time I got to the bottom I was in tears. I flicked the kettle on and they appeared. I was slurring my words, couldnt find the right ones either and I felt drunk! They both then realised just how much pain I was in and put me back to bed with a cup of tea. I slept for 3 hours and felt tons better. The moral to this tale is dont take pregabalin with co codamol! It was like I had been drinking all day!! not good!!!
People say its the stress that can make it worse but I have a business that we are trying to sell because of me, a step daughter (15) who has Aspergers, a son (17) who brings his girlfriend home every day and stays every weekend and a daughter (19) who is great. I gave up full time work , I was a PA and HR Manager, in 2010 and with it went my independence and work friends. I applied for ESA and got it in August now I need a medical but what do I tell them!! "They thought I had RA but now are changing their minds and it might be Fibro"
I just want to know what I have then I can deal with it. I am all over the place. All my blood tests have always been normal and I was diagnosed through ultrasound in 2008 as there was evidence of RA in my hands, wrists and feet. I had another ultrasound (privately) in June and no evidence was found. I dont know what to believe. All I know is that I am in pain and have been for 20 years (on and off) but its becoming more painful and more frequent.
Sorry to ramble, I really am, and I know there are loads of sufferers out there that are worse than me and I should be grateful that I am being seen by a consultant and nurses but I just dont want whatever Ive got!! Its so unfair for all of us!
Time to take more drugs!
Lxxx
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/3/2011 Posts: 717 Location: Torbay
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Dear Louise
I am so sorry at everything you are going through. I can't believe that you were told you had RA and then that diagnosis was withdrawn. That would be devastating to me too. People who do not have these problems would not understand that as they would think it would be a good thing to be 'undiagnosed' but when you are in severe pain and you KNOW something is wrong you need to know what it is so that you can try to take action. My diagnosis of RA was clinched with an ultrasound scan too.
I think you need to tackle your issues one at a time as you can't deal with it all at once. If I were you I would ask some serious questions of your treatment team about your diagnosis and subsequent 'undiagnosis'. I for one would be very interested in their response so please let us know how you get on. Meanwhile I feel for you and do understand your pain and frustration. I battled for over 2 years to get a diagnosis and have felt relieved since I got it in August. During April and May I was in so much pain and would wake up absolutely frozen solid hardly daring to move an inch because the pain felt like I was dislodging broken bones. So I can really empathise. Sorry I can't be of significant help here but all I can say is that I am rooting for you and thinking of you and will eagerly await for more posts from you in the hope that these issues get resolved. Sending gentle hugs to you from Naomi.
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Rank: Advanced Member  Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/5/2010 Posts: 185 Location: Lowestoft, Suffolk
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Hi Louise
I have a clear separation of the Fibro pain as it isn't in a joint but in my thigh muscle mainly. Also affecting my shoulders a little and sometimes the other thigh.
The best I can explain is that it is a different type of burning pain for me, also fizzing. The pain increases if I move the wrong way. I have numb skin but very sensitive and sore to the touch underneath. I could happily scream if somebody poked my leg for example.
It has definitely been worse recently as a result of stress. Job is unstable and I have just bought a house. Done a bit too much physically.
Unfortunately pain killers don't seem to help the Fibro but do help the RA - maybe I need something stronger than I have.
Not sure if the pain description will help but thought I'd put it down for you.
Interestingly I came on here to post a similar question so the replies to yours have really helped me too!
Cheers Louise, hope things calm down for you.
Angie xxBe yourself - everyone else is taken. XX
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 10/19/2010
Posts: 88
Location: Saddleworth, UK
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Thanks again!
I can emphasise with you Naomi and Angie - the pain is awful. Last night I found some pain relief and I though I'd share it with you.
My son has a bad knee and I found a cooling bandage from the Boots website - physicool. Its an actual cloth bandage but it has a cooling liquid that you apply to the bandage then wrap it around your joint/muscle etc. I tried it last night and my knee felt strange but no pain. I kept it on for 2 hours (max time) took it off and went to bed and fell asleep!!! No pain until I woke up! Certainly worked for me.
Hope you get the chance to try it but read all instructions first because it states that you cant wrap the bandage over more than three times so smaller joints may be a problem. It also has a velcro fastening, no fiddly pins or those clasps that grab your skin!
Very impressed
Lxxx
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Rank: Advanced Member Groups: Registered
Joined: 9/3/2011 Posts: 717 Location: Torbay
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Thanks for that tip Louise. I also find that cooling therapy helps with the pain. Others seem to prefer warmth but everyone is different. When my shoulders are really bad then a bag of frozen peas draped over really helps.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Groups: Registered
Joined: 12/4/2009
Posts: 2,127
Location: Thornton Cleveleys
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Hi The general physio advice for hot/cold treatments is COLD for INFLAMED PAINFUL JOINTS and HOT for PAINFUL (none swollen) JOINTS . Using heat on inflamed joints may exacerbate the joint swelling and cause further aggravation. That said we are all different in our responses and disease patterns and this may not work for everyone! Lyn x
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