Have a
I don't know about the chest pain, that seems like something worth calling a doc about. Even if it's not YOUR doc, maybe a nurse could at least chat with you about it? It could be a reaction to the meds, you never know. Better safe than sorry!
Good luck!
Katie
EDIT: Hahahaha I'm the moron that posted the "really good link" Man my memory SUCKS! Anyway, here it is : http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/fact/thr_report.cfm?Thread_ID=143& amp;topcategory=Ar Hope that sounds like what's going on, cause at least its not something unusual or really really bad. I think that site even gives tips for wrapping your elbows at night to help prevent the nerve from being pinched. :)
Is your chest pain worse when you move your shoulders, or twist to the side? It might be costochondritis (cost-o-kon-dry-tis), it's an inflammation in the junction between the rib and sternum. I have it, the first time I felt the pain I thought I was having a heart attack.
Hey! That was a good really good ulnar nerve page. Now if I could just remember who posted that, hmm. . .
The only 1 true thing that any doc has told me about auto-immune diseases is this: "You can get all kinds of weird feelings and pains with auto-immune diseases"
I would think your pain could be caused by a joint, a tendon or a nerve....I think a doc should look at it...maybe you can get a cortizone injection or PT to help you out (I am only referring to the wrist pain here).
Take care, Trixie
Chest pain can be very serious. You need to have it checked even if you feel foolish for doing so. Chest pain can vary from an infection masked my your meds, the Costochronditis (which can hurt as bad as a heart attack), to actual heart problems.
And we all know women (even those without RA) should have their hearts checked if they have any symptoms. Heart attacks are the leading cause of death for us.
Go to the doctor and get it checked out. If the pain is bad, head to Urgent Care of the ER. If this pain is in your left wrist, then taken this doubly serious.
Wrist pain could be from damage to the bones like any other joint in your body. Again, it needs to be checked.
Hope you feel better and don't take chances. You deserve to know what is happening in your body and unfortunately only a doctor can really answer that question.
I just posted about the wrist pain. The outside of my right wrist HURTS and my pinkie and half my ring finer are numb. I think its a pinched ulna nerve. I see the rheumy tomorrow so will let you know for sure. I keep it wrapped at all times to help take some of the pressure off.
I always use my left hand for my mouse now. Its just the same regular right hand mouse, I've just learned to use my left hand to operate it. I also have a miniature key pad so my fingers don't have to move so much when tying!
Chest pain can be very scary and needs to be checked out. I've been to the er a couple of times for it and it always been ra related. Mostly just costo but now the area around my sternum, is actually swollen as well, very painful. Haven't worn a bra in almost a year because of it!
I think the arava is making everything worse. I have it so bad now in both wrist and muscle pain something terribe. I have been up sense 1:00am and I just feel tebbile. This is the first time that I let it get to me. I am a very strong person and can take alot of pain but today is the limit. I did cry for the first time and I don't cry easy. And for my doctors I can't get ahold of any one either there not in or i have to wait for days to get in. I have appt. Next tuesday with my own doctor and Nov 7 with rhemy. He did warn me that If this arava did not work there was nothing they could do for me because I have many many allgerey's to meds.Are you allergic to pain meds as well as the ones to treat RA? I know you've said before. But it's hard to remember.
The best thing you can do for yourself, right now, is rest. Go to sleep. Watch a movie. Even if you could take any med you wanted to, I would still suggest this. This will help head off a flare and that kind of sounds like what you are hitting. It might not be a problem with the Arava at all. I regularly have the truck hit me, the immense pain, can't sleep.
Try some of the natural anti-inflammatories: cherry juice, flax seed oil, primrose oil if you are not allergic to any of these. I still think you need to see a good allergist.
And, it is not whining or weak to cry over this stuff. It hurts.
Thank you Deanna for the reply. I is always good to get a reply back from caring people. I had another bad night last night I could not barely get up out of bed this morning both my hands and wrist and legs hurted so bad. I said dear god please help me to be strong and don't let this RA get to me and weaken me. I took all my pills and pain pill which is hydrocod/apap 2.5. It is a small amount because of my allgery's. I got dressed for work and on the way I went. I wanted to stop to hostipal ER and say please help me with this pain. But I didn't I kept going. I know they can not do anything for me. But next week tuesday I will ask my family doctor if he will check out my wrist and maybe if he gave me a cordisone shot in both wrist it might help for awhile. During the night I had alot of muscle pain which I could just scream. I am losing strengh in both my hands I think from the pain I have. They can't figure out what is going wrong with my feet. They said I have mild neopathy but that should not cause serve pain like i have. Sometimes I think I am at a dead endI am often in lots of pain and it is hard to manage. But most of my pain comes from joint problems now and not just the RA and FM. When you feel like you are getting to the end of your possible solutions that is when you need to get a view from another doctor. They get stumped just like we do and discouraged that they can't seem to help you.
Have they sent you to a neurologist? Have they tried both Mobic and Celebrex or are you allergic to both of those? Can you take the Extra Strength Tylenol for Arthritis? Remarkably this does help me and the pain pill you are using does have tyelnol in it.
They should have you in some kind of physical therapy if you are starting to lose strength in your hands. I know my doctor can't understand why I am in so much pain, but he just isn't adding it all up.
Sometimes, you really have to spell it out for them. If the pain gets unmanageable, can you take demerol shots. Sometimes, they will give those at the ER or Urgent Care. But then, you must have someone to drive you home.
I think you should see if you can get in for a cortisone shot sooner. The amount of pain you are in requires some action. When they say that they can't account for the amount of pain you are in, say that you cannot account for either but that it is there and they need to deal with it. Don't back down on that. You certainly are no whimp. Don't let anyone make you feel that way.
Really hoping you get some relief soon.