I have a somewhat nieve question. I am pretty new to the ra stuff, I have various aches and pains. The past few days my legs have been killing me but not my knees like normal. It is sore mucles in the backs of my thighs. Could it be some kind of radiant pain from my ra? My husband (god love him) says it is sore because I don't get up and move, I just sit on my butt all day. He really tries to understand but cain't. I am embarrased to really say anything to my RD because I kinda believe it might be from sitting. But today my knees are hurting again alond with the muscle pain. Any ideas, does anyone else have radiant type pain? Like I said kinda new to this ra thing and it can be very overwelmingWhat meds has your RD put you on so far? Are you on any anti-inflammatories yet? Now w/ the pain on your legs, is it weakness as well? Do you have that pain anywhere else? Have you been checked for fibro as well?no I haven't been checked for fibro. The muscle pain is very new just the past few days. Although I did have back pain last week but chalked that up to sleeping on a bad bed at mom-n-laws house. I am on Sulfasalazine, naproxen and darvocet for the RA. I am also on synthroid my graves disease as well. My pain has been getting worse for a couple of months now. I tend to rebel and throw the occasional temper tantrum and not take meds 2xday like I am suppose to and I have promised the RD that for the next 3 months I will religiously take them so we can see if I need stronger meds or not. I have kept my word so far it has been a month. I've never heard of being sore in your muscles from sitting, but it is
important for you to move as much as you can. It will make you
feel better, I promise :) You should get checked for fibro if
your pain continues, RA and fibro go together sometimes. How long
since you were diagnosed? I used to have those tantrums when I
was first dxed, but since then I've learned my lesson! :)
[QUOTE=nvrules]... I am embarrased to really say anything to my RD because I kinda believe it might be from sitting. [/QUOTE]Remember that your physician works for you (not the other way around!) and that NO sign or symptom should be, or needs to be, an embarrassment! Tell you doctor, tell him/her time and again until s/he listens and offers either a solution, a suggestion, or a referral. If not, find another doctor.
It is important, vitally so, that each of us becomes a patient advocate, and that patient is us. Just do it!I agree, I don't think your pain is from sitting either. And Happ is right. You
pay your doctor and he would not think that was not a good question. Keep
us posted.
Hiya, NV! I'm sorry that your legs are bothering you. I think everyone's advice is great. Definitely try to get moving (I know it's very uncomfortable, but it's worth it) and definitely talk to your RD about what's going on. You have no need to be embarrassed! The doc is there to help you and find something that works so you can be comfortable and live a "normal" life.
As for the leg pain - I've experienced some myself from time to time. It seems to hit me when I haven't done a lot of walking and we make a trip to the grocery store. By the end of the trip, my legs feel almost like they do after running. (And I can't run!! Hahaha!) It's pretty damn uncomfortable and especially worse when my hips, knees and/or ankles are giving me grief. I usually take a hot bath and pop some muscle relaxers for relief. It seems to help quite a bit. Hope you get to feeling better soon. Have a superfantastic day!
Be honest w/ your dr. Thats the only way that he will be able to treat you correctly. If he doesnt know that something is hurting or bothering you hes not going to be able to try and make it stop hurting. Try and do some stretches for your legs. Nothing fancy just sit on the floor and do various stretches for your leg muscles. It does make a difference.
Thanks, don't get me wrong I am married to a wonderful man for 18 years now. The problem with that is he knows in his heart I am a whimp and somewhat of a drama queen. So after a few days of pain he starts to wonder too if it is in my head or I am really in pain. He on the other hand is never sick and if he is he just keeps on going. So he tries but just doesn't get pain or sick. When it is really bad though he tries to help out and do as much as he can. But he has a very stressful job and works long hours so when he gets home to a wrecked house and me hobbeling around. It just get a little old, So on good days I do as much as I can and that ends with me overdoing it and the whole thing starts over. Someone tell me there is a light at the end of this tunnel.Well, the light at the end of the tunnel so to speak is you figuring
out how much you can handle and not overdoing it. Sometimes it
takes awhile to find medicines that really work for you also, but
eventually if all goes well you'll find a kind of equilibrium.
I'm not going to tell you that one day you'll wake up and be completely
pain free and never have trouble with RA again, but at least for me, RA
and I have come to a sort of truce. I just have to realize my
limitations and learn to say "no I can't do everything I used to, and
that's ok" and then try to be thankful for the things that I can still
do. I hope that makes sense.
We're glad you came back too. believe it or not it did make sense. I would welcome a truce right about now. After my intial melt down when I was dx'd I came to the conclusion I could live with the RA and that it wasn't so bad. Then a couple of months ago I must of made it mad. Because the bottom fell out of my not so bad world. And the pain has become constant and not so pretty. My RD wants to move me to stronger meds (insert temper tantrum here) But of course I am resisting. However, I am starting to think maybe her degree may actually acount for something and that she could be right. So I am strongly considering the upgrade. Try taking calcium magnesium supplements for about a week and see if
that doesn't help with the muscle pain. If they're not contradicted by
your other meds, you can just buy a roll of tums w/ calcium and
magnesium and eat 2 a day. If the pain goes away buy some supplements
and take them daily.
[QUOTE=nvrules]... Someone tell me there is a light at the end of this tunnel.[/QUOTE]
I cannot speak to the end of the tunnel, but I can tell you that there can be light all along the way. Unfortunately it is not a steadily burning light, nor one kept alight without a great deal of personal effort.
Kindling the light is often the result of simply accepting that THIS is our new reality. Keeping the light flickering is, as Amber said, a matter of determining what is possible right now and doing it without guilt over what is not done. The flame burns brighter with a bit of exercise and then a bit more: a stroll around the block after lunch, or a brisk walk to the corner and back in the morning. Education is the base of the light and the more you know about your chronic illness and how to best care for yourself the greater will be the brightness.
AI are diseases of compromise and negotiation: those with the diseases make all the compromises and instigate all the negotiations.
YOU are the light in your tunnel. The end is to far away to see, enjoy the moment for what it is rather than agonizing over what it is not.
<stepping down from soapbox and returning to my corner>
I guess accepting that this is not going away should be my first step. However I am a bit of a control freak, and admitting I am not in control has never really been an option for me. (just ask my children [QUOTE=nvrules] However I am a bit of a control freak, and admitting I am not in control has never really been an option for me. [/QUOTE]
Gain control by educating yourself about your disease, the processes of the disease, the variables of the disease, treatments for the disease--both mainstream and alternative--, and what is on the horizon with regards to treatment and palliative care.
Control comes in many version, however one common factor in contol is the power to direct or determine: education provides both direction and determination.
Take back control!
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