Should I be worried | Arthritis Information

 

I'm sorry to bother you...I do not have insurance. I have had neck pain for years and years, and not much problem with other types of joint pain. But, just in the past several days both of my knees, my wrists, my shoulders, my feet have me uncomfortable and not really wanting to get up off the couch...and Aleve is not helping much. I feel like crap...but I don't have any noticeable swelling or anything. So, here I am online trying to be my own doctor...I can't find anything else that fits these symptoms except for RA? Oh, and although one of the knees is pretty continuous..the other joint pain seems to travel around as far as severity goes...they will all be sore...but for a while the toes will be the worst, then one of the wrists...then maybe the hips...does this sound like it?  I don't swell very often and I have RA.  Google Palindromic Rheumatism as well.  That condition tends to have migratory pain.  There are lots of conditions that can cause joint pain. 

Lots of things fit these symtoms. But go to yor doctor get some blood work done. Yes it cost money. It could be RA or even Sjorgrens and maybe something else. They can run some test it is also the fact you feel like crap. Are you tired? Better get to the doctor. Keep a diary of all your pains and ills. If you do get swelling take a picture. And bummer some times people do not test positive for this and it takes a while if that is the case to get a dx if you do not have swelling. AND ALSO YOU ARE NOT BOTHERING US. Glad you posted we are here to talk to you in your times of feelling yucky and sore. Even thyriod problems could make you feel like this. Lots of nasty stuff. Without swelling they may say you have fibro. I would tell tehm you are not feeling up to par and make them run some bloodwork. Let us know if you run into a hard time. We will try to help you threw this. And scince yo are not feeling up to much. Hang around and chat if you feel up to it. It gets lonely feeling yucky and in pain. Good Luck!!Thank you for your support. You guys are nice people. I googled that "Sjorn" thing, and the other...you know, my eyes have been bone dry for quite a while...the guy even commented when I went for my eye exam a year ago...what I did, yesterday, I just paid for my own "arthritis panel" and if it all comes back normal I will just not worry about it right now and keep taking Aleve, and if it is not normal, I will decide what to do next. I pray you all feel well today... Most competent doctors set aside at least some appointments for charity work.

As for treatment - the first-line treatments (plaquenil, methotrexate) are pretty cheap; while many people take prescription NSAIDs, two of the best NSAIDs can be found without a prescription at the local drugstore.  Of course, ibuprofen and naproxen are taken at much higher doses for RA than for the occasional aches and pains described on the OTC label, but you and the doctor can decide if either of them is right for you.

If you need the more expensive biologic drugs, most drug companies have prescription assistance plans in place to help uninsured patients get their needed meds.

Best of luck!
Lynnnriver,

Even if your panels come back normal, I'd still see the Rheumatologist.  You can be what is referred to as Seronegative (normal labs) and still have RA.  Don't play the "wait and see" game.  If you do have RA, it's important to start treatment as soon as possible.  I've read a lot of posts from people who were seronegative, didn't/couldn't get treatment, and ended up disabled by this disease.  Please don't risk it.




thanks...I took Aleve this morning, but joints hurt...and I my legs felt kind of shaky when I stopped to get the mail after dropping my son off...I love to hike..but could not do it right now if I had the opportunity...I sure hope this is all in my head or just stress or something....
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