Inflammation/bruising | Arthritis Information

Hey all,

Hope everyone had a great turkey day! Now on to Christmas...

Question for my wise friends :)

Is it common for inflammation to cause bruising? Obviously with an injury, you have brusing in inflammation, but that isn't the case here. As you know, I am having jaw surgery-yet again-on the 23rd. I have been having an awful time(which you also know, whine) with the RA. I am thinking that I got water instead of Rituxan on Tuesday-kidding. Anyway, the right side of my face is visablly swollen. I had PT on Wed. and she was surprised at the amount of inflammation, but that it also looked bruised as well. Looks like I have been backhanded across the face. She did an ultrasound treatment to it and it improved a bit, but today it looks just as bad, if not worse. Thank goodness I see her again on Monday.

I get the second dose of this Rituxan round next Tuesday and see the RD the next day. I am just not sure where we should go med wise from here. He started me back on a lower dose of MTX and I have a followup CT and lung function test in the spring. I am hoping thing are so bad RA wise due to all the med changes that have been done since this lung junk popped up. OK...I promised this would not become a whine...

So-inflammation and brusing--yes/no???

ok..almost time for the VA Tech/UVA game. Beating UVA never "Grohs" old. All you Tech fans know what I mean :)

Hey Rebecca, Happy Thanksgiving! I will, most likely, be of no help at all, but here goes anyway... You are on drugs that can cause bruising, but my RD (and my surgeon with this last surgery) have said RA can cause bruising. I also found this for you:
http://www.arthritisinsight.com/medical/disease/ra/notjustthejoints.html
Under "The Skin" is this -
"Fragility is another common skin problem in people with RA. The skin becomes "thin" and bruising and tearing occurs. This can be further aggravated by the use of steroids."

I know I bruise easy, on or off meds. I never had issues prior to having RA. Will you go off your meds prior to surgery?

GoooooThanks for the info Waddie. And---whoo hoo Tech won!

I think it may be a combo of things. My physical therapist has become a good friend and will be over tomorrow to help with the Christmas tree. I'll get her opinion and advice. She can email my RD and have him read her treatment notes. The jaw has felt way worse these last few days and my opening has gotten even smaller(hard to believe right?) The PT measured it at 16mm-fun times! Basically the Ra is just kicking my you know what, and the jaw seems to be the joint of choice. RD wanted me to go back down to Duke over break, but I don't see that happening with the surgery. He knows that I trust my surgeon up here, but he would have liked it if it had been done down there so the Duke Rd could have had a look at me again.

Luckily I have longish hair and it hides the bruise/swelling. I just iced the eye on that side cause it was swollen a bit as well. Reminds me of when I played rugby back in college :)

Hiiiii! Hope you had an awesome turkey day as well! :)

You can't catch of break with this jaw of yours, huh? :-\ There has to be something the docs can do to fix this for you. I wish I could fix you myself! As far as inflammation and bruising goes, um... well, I remember about 2 weeks after my wisdom teeth were pulled I ended up go back to the doc because the left side of my face swelled up. (It almost looked like I shoved a baseball in my cheek!) I had some bruising then that showed up with the swelling. As far as RA related inflammation/bruising, I haven't experienced any of that so far.

PS - I love that you've gained a friend through RA whom you might not have met otherwise. Have fun decorating that tree! :)

Man Rocckyd...jaw surgery...yikes. I hope it relieves your problem. As far as inflamationan and bruising I have not had this problem. I have had muscle spasms that left bruises.

Have a good weekend.

Lisa

I don't take the other big guns that you do, but I do take MTX. My skin is very dry and fragile. Talk about bruises.......I've had people ask me if my spouse hits me! I had a doctor ask the same once. [Are you kidding? If that happened he wouldn't live to tell about it!]

For me, it's DEFINITELY the MTX that does this. And skin tears.....good grief......layers just come up where I should have a simple little scrape instead. I probably keep Nexus waterproof bandages in business.

Sam12342009-11-28 17:38:34I guess that is where I am confused. If I had hit the area, even very gently, the bruising would make sense. It almost seems as though the inflammation is the cause. I guess, since inflammation is extra fluid, it could break blood vessels. I just haven't experienced it before. Even though I take meds that cause fragile skin, I don't bruise. I even broke my ankle over the summer-little bruising. But, you guys are right with the med/bruise issue.

As for stopping meds for surgery, it will be only the mtx. One week prior and one week following. I got the Rituxan early so that won't interfere(I get the next dose on the 8th). Actually, RD isn't totally set on the mtx. He doesn't want a flair, lung wise, to occur. I usually stay on the meds when I have surgery. I'll get a definite answer on the 9th.

rocckyd2009-11-28 18:40:13

To clarify - I don't know where my bruises come from. But they are always around my wrists, forearms, and fingers more than any other area. They can be the size of a finger print or as big as a silver dollar.

We are just weird! If only that was the answer-sure would save on copays!

rocckyd,

I think that it may be something that you may want to contact your rheumatologist. I know that flushing and bruising is a side affect but I think that the bruising is something that has an advisement to contact a healthcare provider. Since it is something that happened so close to the infusion, it's important to at least let someone know. If you don't mind, a short story. Between my first and second set of infusions, i had to go in after a week and get a post infusion lab draw and a weigh in at oncology. I mentioned to the oncology nurse that I had gotten a fever a couple of days after my infusion and a pain in my lower abdomen. With-in 5 minutes, a rheumotologist was arm in arm walking me to the urgent care center while I protested the complete walk. They seem to take everything quite serious with our serious drugs. Oh, by the way, my next set of infusions is next week and two weeks later. good luck. Oh, at least call the rituxan nurse and let her know. They are very supportive and helpful.

LEV

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levlarry2009-11-30 17:21:46

Saw the OS today. He was pretty impressed (not in a good way) by the amount of swelling. He offered to move the surgery up a week, but the RD nixed that idea. I get my second dose of Rituxan on the 8th, and he wants surgery a few weeks after. OS prescribed a medrol pack and Soma for the muscle spasams. He offered to write me a sick note for work, especially for that last week before surgery, but I don't have any sick days. As I said earlier, I was docked close to 0 this last paycheck due to days off without pay. I have to get through these last 3 weeks...I think I can, I think I can......

Hey lev...what ended up being the problem? How is the Rituxan for you? I haven't really had the results we were hoping. Eyes have been better but lungs-blech. This is my third round-I'd cross my fingers if I could :)

Becca,

Is this your third set of infusions or your third infusion? I know my first set of infusions was kind of hit and miss and took quite some time to even feel any good but after the second set of infusions, wow. Right now i take only 7 mgs of prednisone and no other drugs, down from 20-25 mgs, 6 months ago along with 25mgs of mtx just prior. Anyway, I hope the third is your charm.

LEV

Third complete set...

I am really hoping. Rd feels that this may just be as good as it gets. Kinda depressing. But, I was diagnosed as a teen and have managed this long pretty well.

Hi Rebecca,

Just wanted to say you're in my prayers. I sure hope you get some answers and relief soon! You sure are going through a lot and are one tough cookie!!

Kelly