Losing mobility | Arthritis Information

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This week I realized about half the day I cannot stand or walk for more than a minute at a time.  That was pretty alarming actually- I was only diagnosed less than two years ago.  I'm already on a good deal of pain meds and I really dislike them of course.  It's looking like we will need to increase them again. 

I emailed my regular Dr, he said to get ahold of Rheumatology.  Called RA and one thing they suggested is calling my GP and getting pain meds changed.  Really all I wanted was support of some kind.  I want someone to listen to me tell them I can't walk and hear another human say something about it.  This disease supports isolationism too much.  If there's more that can be done then let's do it but I'm still kind of in shock and I need someone to tell me that this is what is supposed to happen or this is happening because I'm not doing something right or something. 

RA also said I might need more of what I already have and already do.  They suggested Pain Management classes and Behavioral Medicine as well. IDK.
I hear ya Sparky, Me too.  Funny thing I saw this post, sitting at my PC, I was about to start a new topic "I can't walk".  My feet hurt all over, toes, ankles, all the little bones inside.  A trip to Costco, or just washing up the kitchen after dinner and I gotta get off my feet.  And during those efforts I have to pause sometimes, because there is some odd shooting pain.  It has really got me down, is that the end, no more walks, no more hiking?  Yeah, I am being overly dramatic, hopefully the pending medicine will help if they ever get around to it.

Roland

I feel the same Roland.  I also feel like I am being dramatic but this is our mobility we are talking about you know?  When is it appropriate to be dramatic if not now?  Really adding a little more in the way of pain medication gets me back to where I was but every little adjustment in pain meds is difficult on me psychologically. I'm not a kid anymore and I am grateful for the time I have had walking in my life, but I still want more.  Sparky...find a new rheumatologist.  Your enemy is not the pain...its the ongoing disease process that is causing the pain. If you are in so much pain that you cannot stand then your disease is not under control and your rheumatologist should be addressing that ASAPI can understand the fear of losing mobility.  I feel that it is slowly happening to me as well.

I used to walk 6 miles with no problem.  The last long walk I had was 1 mile and I paid with pain and fatigue the next day.  Now I don't even tackle a long walk because I know how bad I will feel later.  Short walks immediately cause hip pain. 
 
I remember my mother who could walk anywhere and drive at the beginning of her RA , then she could walk the mall up one side and down the other, then she would walk to one end of the mall and I would get the car and meet her, then she could no longer drive, then she couldn't walk the mall at all and she rode in a wheelchair.  She got RA at age 36, one year after I was born.  She suffered with RA for 36 years - and always had a smile on her face when I know she was often screaming with pain on the inside.  I hate this disease.  
Agrere with buckeye - ok, they can't perform miracles, but  what ar u being given apart from  pain meds?  Anything like MTX/Arava/Enbrel etc. - or a short course of prednizone? 
 
and yes, I know what it is like to feel alone and dnot given much info.  Once sites like these stated up they were a godsend.  The orig. Arth Insight had lots more on it, but basically like now we can share info, give some hints about coping, and we realise we are not alone.  I learnt that I had to be assertive to get more info and where to access ococupat. therapists and others who could help with coping.  Any local branch of the Arthritis Foundation near you?
  Keep us posted - hope you get some better medic. soon.
 
Lorraine
[QUOTE=buckeye]Sparky...find a new rheumatologist.  Your enemy is not the pain...its the ongoing disease process that is causing the pain. If you are in so much pain that you cannot stand then your disease is not under control and your rheumatologist should be addressing that ASAP[/QUOTE]

I'm on Methotrexate and have been back on Humira for about 3 weeks after being taken off of it for possible side effects.  I was cleared of the possible problems and started a new course of it about 3 weeks ago.  They got me starting a Prednisone taper but that drug makes me very sick to the stomach, and I already have tummy issues.  Gonna be fun. =/

[QUOTE=Flamingo]I can understand the fear of losing mobility.  I feel that it is slowly happening to me as well. I used to walk 6 miles with no problem.  The last long walk I had was 1 mile and I paid with pain and fatigue the next day.  Now I don't even tackle a long walk because I know how bad I will feel later.  Short walks immediately cause hip pain.  I remember my mother who could walk anywhere and drive at the beginning of her RA , then she could walk the mall up one side and down the other, then she would walk to one end of the mall and I would get the car and meet her, then she could no longer drive, then she couldn't walk the mall at all and she rode in a wheelchair.  She got RA at age 36, one year after I was born.  She suffered with RA for 36 years - and always had a smile on her face when I know she was often screaming with pain on the inside.  I hate this disease.   [QUOTE=lorrie]Agrere with buckeye - ok, they can't perform miracles, but  what ar u being given apart from  pain meds?  Anything like MTX/Arava/Enbrel etc. - or a short course of prednizone? 
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