I'm a 38 year-old female, diagnosed with RA in April 2008. Just added biweekly Humira injections to my regimen of methotrexate (15mg injection once a week), folic acid.
I've looked over alot of RA boards, and you guys seem like my kind of peeps, so here I am!
Here's my question (the first of many, I'm sure! I feel really silly asking this, but I can't seem to find the answer anywhere else):
When a part of my body with bone close to the skin surface (like the knee, wrist, fingers, elbow...) bumps into a hard object, the pain I experience is totally out of proportion to the "bump" that took place. This wasn't always the case....this has cropped up within the past six months.
A "bump" that would have merited an "ouch!" now feels like I've broken a bone ...a kind of stop-you-in-your-tracks, bring-tears-to-your-eyes, drop-to-your-knees kind of pain.
No bones actually broken, but the pain is just soooo intense.
Does this sound like typical RA stuff to anyone else?
Thank you in advance!!
Anyone? Please?I haven't experienced that kind of pain from a bump, but have, on occasion, twisted my wrist to open a door and suddenly felt a shooting pain up my arm...throbs a while then goes away...just another one of the joys of RA. Welcome and good luck with the Humira. I've been taking it for 2 and a half years now and it is working pretty well for me.
Alan
i've only been recently diagnosed to so i'm afraid I have not got much advice. I have not experienced anything like this, but as you have just added a new med could it be a side effect?
Probably worth phoning RA doc or nurse for advice as its so painful.
Hi and welcome I don't know if it feels like I have broken a bone, but it does seem to hurt alot more than it use to!! I guess it feels worse because of inflamation? good luck to ya. JanThank you guys so much; I will ask my doc about it. The pain is equivalent to whamming my funny bone REALLY hard (hope this makes more sense.)...bumping the kneecap, wrist, or pinky fingers is where the "broken bone" feeling comes in.
I feel so stupid because I really don't know what to expect on a day-to-day basis from RA, even though I've done tons of research. I am astounded and horrified by how quickly RA came on and how awful it can make me feel.
I work full time as a welfare case manager, but I'm having difficulty keeping up with my job duties; I'm a "fixer", and I can't fix this...I am terrified.
Hi ezzi and welcome to the group! I know it can be very scary, especially when you haven't been diagnosed for very long. Definitely ask all the questions you want (and no question is silly), just remember that it takes time for everyone to get on and answer....we're in different time zones and some of us don't get on every day even.
I'm not sure I get exactly the feeling you're describing, but it does sound like something that could be RA-related especially because the areas you mention all have joints. I would say I often get pain that seems out of proportion to what happened. Last night I had dinner with my parents and my father just patted me on the shoulder (I have fibro too) and I made an ouchie face...after all this time he still doesn't get that even a tap can really hurt (although he does try to understand).
Anyway, I would mention it to your doctor because it's a good idea for them to know about whatever symptoms you have and also to understand what your pain level is like (and those scale of 1 to 10 numbers don't mean much).
Yes I can surely relate to this. bump..bruise..pain. So sorry you have to go through this too.
Don't feel stupid we are her to help each other. Please don't be scared, we will help when we can. And welcome to the board.
Cinda..much hugs to you
Keep asking questions - that's how we all learn.
Okay, ya'll have made me cry with relief at having found others who can relate to what I'm going thru; thank you all so much! I will be patient when asking questions in the future, I promise!
I'm reluctant to ask my doc many questions because I worry that I'll take up too much of her time (she's one of only 3 rheumatologists in my part of south Louisiana) and that I'll sound like a hypochondriac.
I really am trying to stay positive about all of this...I have a wonderful life: a caring & compassionate husband & siblings & huge extended family, 12 good-for-nothing cats (I'm kidding...they are like children to us), and really good health insurance, so I am well aware of how fortunate I am in those regards.
Hi Ezzi
never ever ever be relunctant to ask your doctor questions especially right now with all of this new to you. I have had RA for 23 years and STILL keep a list of questions to ask my dr at each appt. Questions are one way to make the appt productive
You are still trying to figure out what is "normal" for you so ask. I always recommend calling the doctor whenever something new or different pops up.
As for the bump = big pain..you are hitting an inflammed joint so yeah its gonna hurt more than the bumps pre RA did
Thank you for the info, Buckeye. It makes sense that if the joint is inflamed, it'll hurt like the dickens if bumped...don't know why I couldn't figure that out on my own.
I think that even though I have read so much about RA that my eyes have almost fallen out, I still am not totally able to grasp how serious/devastating it can be...and that I am sort of in denial about the "serious" stuff applying to me.
Thanks to all of you guys; you can bet that I will be here almost every day. Good night; talk to ya'll tomorrow!
Hugs (gentle ones!!!) to all...
I agree....you must ask as many questions as you can think of! I am off to see my Rheumy again next week and the poor man is gonna be bombarded. lolol.
I have only recently been d'xed too and its all still a very steep learning curve for me. I can also relate to how you feel about maybe sounding like a hypochondriac but if 'sounding' like one gets you the answers you need, dont you dare worry about it Ezzi.
I am scared too and still hope Im gonna wake up one morning to find this has just been a bad dream. Wont be holding my breath tho', so getting educated about RA is so very important
Best of luck and please keep in touch, I have found everyone here to be so very kind, helpful and very informative.
Lyn
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