My joints seem to keep giving way and it is scaring me. I could be standing or walking and then suddenly my right knee will simply collapse beneath me. I was turning a key in the door and suddenly felt like my wrist was sprained. Today I was serving fish with a fish slice and it felt like something snapped in my forearm. These occurrences are intensely painful for a few seconds and then sore for hour/days afterwards but before they happen I am in relatively little pain in the affected limb. Is this a normal occurrence for RA? Does it signify joint damage or could it just be inflammation? I am still wearing L Plates with this horrible disease and don't know what to expect. I have had a rocky road getting established on dmards and have had virtually no dmards now for 8 weeks. I had a 4 month period without dmards while the consultants were doing tests. I keep reading that most joint damage occurs in the first year and am panicking. I am seeing the consultant on Monday about a new dmard. Please advise me if you can.

Hi Naomi

My joints do that too. I will be walking and then #@*%&!!, my hip or knee or ankle goes and I can't put any weight on it? As if RA isn't meen enough, it also like to play the "Pain Surprise" game!

Big hugs!

Amy
xXx

Me too!!! It b****y doesn't half hurt!! I am lucky in that usually I have a pushchair to lean on, but when I'm out without it, I do worry. I fractured my ankle last year, so now its even more of a concern.

Lets hope someone can tell us what any of this means

and me,hate the game really,don't half get some funny looks though,i have learned to have a silent giggle at myself after it eases,thank god for my walking stick,did grab what i thought was my friends arm once in a shop,it was'nt,it was a man's, i just smiled and moved away whispering sorry, my friend just shook her head at me as per.

Hi Naomi

As Doreen says the most likely cause is muscle wastage and problems with the ligaments. Hence the reason why gentle non-weight bearing exercise (and physio) is so important in RA. Swimming is ideal.

I am surprised that you keep reading about most joint damage occurring in the first year. I would be interested to know where you have read this! Bone/Joint damage, by its very nature, occurs slowly except in extremely aggressive disease. This so rare with patients diagnosed in the last 10 years or so due to early treatment. At the outset, 24 years ago, I was mainly on anti-inflamms, pain relief and steroids, no DMards. Despite being seriously ill for the first two years it was a good 5 years before there was evidence of joint damage.

Hope you have success on your new treatment.

Lyn x

Thanks for the replies everyone. Lyn, reading your post was really reassuring so thank you very much for putting my mind at ease. I can't recall where I have read about the damage occurring primarily in the first year/2 years but I know I have read this numerous times. If I come across it again, I will post a link on here.

I looked at the ankle air brace Jenni and I will keep this in mind for the future, Currently it is my right hip, right knee and both wrists that give way. I find the wrists splints given to me by the OT help. I was advised to use my stick to take the pressure off my knee but this is quite difficult because the stick hurts my wrists and hands and also my boss would not let me work whilst using a stick. I know this from a colleague's previous experience. He was forced to use a wheelchair.

One last thing, I just wanted to thank all the people who have replied to my many posts over the last 6 months since my diagnosis and a special thanks to Jenni for replying so many times when I know how desperately ill you have been and to Lorna for speaking on the phone. This has been one of the most frightening, lonely, painful and distressing periods of my life and it has affected me very badly on an emotional level as well as physical. I am having counselling now to help me come to terms with it all. I honestly don't know what I would have done without you all so a heartfelt thanks for your support, advice and wisdom.

Best wishes from Naomi x

Naomi re the stick
I have Fischer handles on mine bought through switch sticks

I can't hold it though and drop them
So have a Zimmer frame

(I can see you horrified)
I have called my frame Frank

I use him inside

Outdoors well it is the chariot
I have a couple of power chairs
And one push along little one

The first one I bought was a little push along one- no point in self propelling as I couldn't use it
I had it in the boot of the car

About the same time I started the ball rolling for stair lift
My union bought that

Its a huge thing getting your head round stuff and having limited hope, stuff imposed on you etc
Im home in bed so pleased to be able to help someone!

Jenni xx

Naomi, my knee surgeon told me the best way to prevent the knee giving way is to strengthen the quadriceps.
He said an exercise cycle is a good way to do it.


Doreenx x

Thanks Audrey and Dorat. I have been for a physiotherapy assessment and was told that I am too inflamed to do any proper exercise right now except for bending forward and letting my arms swing back and forth, side to side and around (for the shoulders). I am due to go again in 2 weeks and it is hoped that the inflammation will calm down enough for them to give me some more exercises. He is going to look at my Xrays in the meantime. I think I will feel better once I have some exercises to work on as at the moment I feel there's not much I can do and it's frustrating.

Lots of love Naomi...

Sorry I have not been around. But have been thinking about you.

I really hope things start to settle for you soon and the inflammation levels go down.

Totally understand how your feeling right now.

Please take care of you.
Love
Belinda
xxxxxxxxxx