Ok... so I did not bother RD about it yesterday, for fear of cortisone injections and plus I was not in the mood to complain.
So... last night during my Lortab/Robaxin "high" I figured it out. Lortabs make me think too much and that is what leads to the paranoia.
I was looking at my shoes, and I noticed my right shoe is creased where the toes are and my left shoe looks "new" still. So, the theory is I have been babying my left foot and ankle, unconsciously and putting all my body weight and stress on my right knee. My right knee is not in too good of shape, but the pred does help with the pain in my right knee but the pred does much of nothing for my left ankle & foot, probably because of damage & deformity from when I was a kid. So, I "baby" my left side without knowing I do it.
That is my theory and I am sticking to it.
I do not know if orthotics will help me out, because my left foot I walk on it weird because it tends to swell on the bottom where my arch is, so I walk on the outside of it and turn my foot in and walk on the outside and the heal of my foot. And then when my ankle is involved with the pain and swelling I tend to baby it even more.
My right leg is better today, just a twitch here and there, but my knee is not so swelled. I have been off it since yesterday around 4pm, so maybe that is why my right knee is better... from not walking on it. Joonie - I think you are right! I was going to post something like that when you first mentioned it, but on another board, my two cents has been met with 'you don't have RA' a lot lately, so I kept my mouth shut.
Anyway, I can manage most of my back/hip/leg pain if I make sure to do everything 'equally' on both sides. I had PT, and that was his biggest message. Carrying things, sitting, even driving. He made a fake toddler out of a pillowcase and two weighted rubber balls for me to lug around! Stay equal, level, don't do anything lopsided, when you walk, sit, lift, carry.
I know RA pain would make you have to baby things, or use strength differently, but ANYTHING you can do otherwise to stay equal and level, I think will really help!
I'm glad you are feeling a little better today.
thanks suzanne
i do have a limp, trade mark for JRA. that is how they knew something was wrong with me. because i limped when i walked. my left leg is shorter than my right. Didn't you say you have scoliosis, too? I do, and that is what makes me lopsided.
With scoliosis and a shorter leg, you must be doing a lot of compensating! I know that has to add to your pain.
Just do your best to think and do 'equal' when you can. I bet a PT could help, if your insurance will cover it. Mine wasn't strenuous, painful, hard exercises - it was great help with everyday things. He had a vacuum cleaner, different weight boxes and different size shelves for them to go on, a laundry basket. He yelled at me a lot because I did everything wrong LOL, but it made such a difference!!! He even came out to the waiting room to say I was reading a magazine wrong! Well, I was....
yep have that too, I started to mention that in my last post, but I didn't. You would think if you leaned to the right and your left was shorter you would equal out
Yeah that is my next goal at my next appt with my RD in Dec, to see if she will send me to pain & torture.
You and I have similar problems..a lot of joint damage. I have had multiple joint replacements to minimize some of the issues but things like splints and orthotics make a HUGE difference in helping to reduce pain levels and allowing me to use joints more naturally.
I also know that for you money is tight but properly supportive shoes are a neccessity for you not a luxery
I know you hate to take pain meds so that means you have to look at other options to help you
yeah, i went with my mom to her foot dr and she was telling him about my left foot and all. he told me he could help me if i came for a visit. so, when i go back to RD in dec I will ask her if she would refer me to him.You may be onto something Joonie.
I've fought with foot doctors all my life. My knees and hips get 50% of their pain from the weakness of my ankles. It's not so much that my feet are "bad" it's that my ankles are messed up. Now, they don't hurt.....because in order to compensate for what they can't do, I walk DRASTICALLY on the outside of my feet. We're talking new shoes every few months drastic. In turn, this puts major strain on my knees and hips. They tried sooo many inserts for me and they were all painful to my ankles. So basically, I can correct my walk with the inserts, and put strain on my ankles which can't handle it. Or I can NOT wear inserts, and put strain on my knees and hips.My shoes are simular to yours Katie. I have several pairs of expensive high heel boots that I LOVE but they heels wear out on them VERY quickly. I can't wear them more than one season before their ruined.
My house shoes are the same way. It doesn't take long before they are ruined. If you look at them you can see how my weight is distributed to the out side of my foot. It's no wonder my hips/knees & back hurt so bad.
I've found that Crocs with socks work better than houseshoes in the house because they won't loose their shape like houseshoes do. SInce I rarely wear them out of the house the heels don't wear down like my outside shoes do.
It's defiantely a ripple effect. Your feet play a big role in the rest of your lower body.