Diagnosis help needed! | Arthritis Information

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Help!  I am assigned overseas and there are NO rheumatologists or good GPs around to help.  I am perimenopausal, and 3 weeks ago I woke up with aching pain in my wrists, elbows and knees. I went to a lab and my ESR was 75, then sent blood off and got a positive reading on Rheumatoid factor. Ibuprophen does nothing.  (family history of rheumatoid and osteoporosis.) Any suggestions of what I can take to reduce the pain and if this sounds like rheumatoid to you? Is it normal to begin suddenlyly like this?
Cras
Hi Cras, so sorry to hear this, yes it soed sound like typical RA to me, but you need to see a rheumatologist immediately, that sort of pain never left me until I got onto prednisone, a lot of people don't want pred due to side effects but unfortunately I cannot get out of bed without it.  At least go to an emergency dept and tell them what is going on, there has to be someone who can help you, I don't want to scare you but until I saw a DR the pain was getting worse by the day, night-times were unbearable!  Please get some help, thse days if they catch it early, they predict a better prognosis - all the best, Janie.  A couple of tips for you, ask all sorts of questions here, keep a journal and copies of your tests if possible.   Yes, mine was overnight.  Go to your GP if there isn't a rheumatologist.......I'm sure Prednisone will be the first drug.  Good luck.Sorry to hear that Cras. It sounds like RA - it isn't common for it to come on so suddenly but it did for me too. I'll echo Janie on the prednisone. I tried various NSAID's with no relief until I went on the pred. I was able to take a pred burst pack so I was not on it long (3 wks) while the long-term DMARD was taking effect. You'll need to find a way to see a doc who will diagnose you and start you on a DMARD too. Good luck!ColoMo2009-03-16 04:35:52Hey,
So sorry to hear of your situation, Cras!  My onset was more gradual until I could barely walk.  My GP gave me an NSAID until I could see a rheumatologist (RD) -- it helped me.  When I finally got to see the RD he put me on methotrexate (MTX), which took a few months to kick in.  I never did the prednisone -- turns out it was recommended to me, but somehow in the fog of my diagnosis I missed this, but I'm glad (and fortunate) that I could manage without it.  At the very least, see if you can get a GP to get you on an NSAID (like naprosyn, celebrex, etc) until you can get to an RD.
TIP: heat can help alieveate the pain and reduce stiffness -- a parafin wax bath for the feet and hands is great, or, if you don't have access to those and can get to a microwave, then heat up (not too hot!) dry lentils, then dip your hands/feet in.  Keep the lentils for the next time, but don't eat them!
All the best,
- Joy

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