Hi all,
I am new here (or for that matter anywhere :)) and would be grateful for some advice. My history...
I am an active 24 year old person and love distance running and am pursuing my PhD. I started having pain in the left forefoot about a month back, which progressed to the right one in a week. Since then almost all the joints in my hands, the knees and hips are starting to ache. There is not much visible swelling anyplace. Just slight swelling at a couple of joints, but they are tender and achy. Saw the md last week and was put on Celebrex (200mg) citing possiblity of RA. Have to get a complete lab profile done along with RA test, sedimentation, CRPA and ANA (don't know what CRPA and ANA are as the form is in French :(). Everything is delayed coz of the vacations. Delay is worse me being a student and the md being in the university med center. Gotta go to the lab on 28th.
I have been going stir crazy coz of the inactivity. Thinking of the future, I am planning on getting seriously depressed ;) I have been icing the hand joints as they seem the worse. Tried hot water soak too... which one is usually preferred?
Does RA usually strike this fast and this thoroughly (4 weeks - almost all accountable joints are aching in symmetry)
Any advice on what I can do or cannot do to help my cause while I wait for the lab results which will be in sometime early January?
Thanx
alchemist
Alchemist~first I'd like to welcome you to AI....second I'd like to suggest you DO NOT "Plan on getting seriously depressed" The mind is a very powerful thing....it socks up your suggestions like a sponge.
Whether your symptoms are from RA or another problem your attitude will go a long way toward helping you deal with it. RA is a battle you'll fight for life; start out with a good attitude and that will go a long way toward insuring you manage in a successful manner.
I know the waiting can be hard....but try to hang in there.
Lovie
Alchemist. Definitely, Lovie's advise is right-on. No depression - don't waste the "energy."
Immune mediated arthritis strikes people in different ways, probably because there are so many variables, not to mention so many different kinds of arthritis. While RA seems to be the leader of the group, it may not be the type you have.
Your highest priority right now should be getting a firm diagnosis, which the bloodwork should help establish. If not on the lab order, get an HLA B27 test as well, since this might help to identify any seronegative arthritis. [RA does not carry the HLA B27 antigen. Also, HLA B27 shows up more readily in certain seronegative diseases, but with Psoriatic Arthritis, or "PsA," there's only a 50% chance of it showing up.]
Next priority is to get the appropriate drugs that work for you. If one fails, many more out there. You want to be as aggressive as you can with this disease, since the damage is progressive unless contained. Antiinflammatories, regardles of which type of immune arthritis you have, will be a mainstay. DMARDS or biologics will in all probablity be warranted.
Do the symptoms in so many joints present so quickly? Varies.
One thing that's crucial: You need to get referred to a rheumatologist. This is a highly specialized group of diseases that requires the expertise of a professional whose only work is in that field.
Ironically, I was diagnosed when I was close to finishing my doctorate. Makes you wonder if the stress doesn't exacerbate the latent arthritic condition. I have since found that staph or strep infections are hellatious and trigger a flare-up for me.
Be assured that gene mapping has opened the door to so many new treatment modalities currently in work. I'm inferring from your screen name that your field of study involves chemistry.
In the interim - ice the joints if they're painful, as this sometimes help. And in particular, be careful around sick people with airborne germs. Your body doesn't need another excuse to flare up further.
Feel free to send me a personal message with any questions.
Wishing you luck.
Lee