More pain

[PrayingWife]

I called my doc. and he had given me Percocet I think its called for the pain and I went to bed after takeing it in hope that I would get a good nights sleep...and to my surprise I woke up at 4am with more pain then I was in when I went to bed AND it went into ANOTHER knuckle on another finger on my hand that wasnt swelled before I went to bed. so now my right hand is almost un-use able, I cant bend my pointer finger at all and now my middle finger is swelled. And my mucsles and tendons in my thighs hurt soooo bad getting up from sitting down is a VERY big chore. My APT for my doc is not tell thurs. and I cant wait...but what ever he does then I know its not a quick fix sooo Im looking at being like this for a couple of weeks. How do you all do it and work to? As I have said before Im 28 with 3 children and I would like at some point to enter back into the work force....does haveing this disease mean I cant go back to work...cuz feeling like this I would be calling in ALOT. Or once he gets me on some good meds...does the flares come less often and when you have flares do they change your meds everytime? Sorry for going on but no body I know has this sooo its very hard to know what to expect.

~Mandy

[jdgarwood]

I don't think we've met, so allow me to introduce myself. I've had P for over 20 years and PA for about 3 years. I own my own business, so not working has really never been an option for me. I do have two partners, so while I was trying to get control of my PA, I was lucky enough to have them take up the slack that my illness created. After spending 2 1/2 years trying everything from OTC medications to MTX and prednisone, my rheumy decided to start me on Enbrel. That was in early September. Before I started the injections, I was sure that I'd never be able to work full time and hold up my end of the business. I was in constant pain...lower back, hips, knees, ankles and feet. It took a while (about 3 1/2 months), but the Enbrel began to help my PA and now I'm pretty much back to being able to do anything I want at work. It's also allowed me to return to the gym and start weight training and doing light cardio. I was sure that I'd never be back to normal, but I finally feel like I'm headed in that direction. As for the flares, so far I've had a couple of very minor ones, but Enbrel has turned out to be my "magic bullet". Hang in there and you'll find something that gives you relief. Good luck.

Joel

[PrayingWife]

Thanks sooo much I guess right now stories of hope and advice is what I need. I cant say it too much this forum & people have been my source of hope. Thank you for your post. I was only diagnosed in Sep. it seems this sickness moves VERY fast. It Started with My big toes in June and now its all over the place.

~Mandy

[jdgarwood]

I cant say it too much this forum & people have been my source of hope.
~Mandy

I agree....this board has been so helpful to me in the past 6 months. I can't believe that I ever got along without it!

Joel

[kaynorth]

Hi Mandy

When I was diagnosed in Jan 2004 I couldn't even hold a cup of tea or get my bra on!! I didn't drive for 3 months and really thought my life was over.

I am 38 with two boys aged 5 and 10 and was really worried that all the things that I had planned to do with them would be impossible. Within 6 months ( and quite a lot of medication ) I was almost back to normal. I have slowly reduced my meds and only take 7.5mg of methotrexate a week and a painkiller if I need to.

Things will get better and I like you hope to go back to work at some point.

I know its hard with kids but try and give yourself rest in between doing things. It does help. Try and get some decent meds and if you feel they are not working - ask for them to be changed. It took a while to get mine right.

Good luck - it will get better!

Love Kay

[tmartha]

Are you getting any relief yet, Mandy? I hope you are doing what Kay suggests and resting often in between activities - and stop doing any activity whenever you need to to rest - it helps so much. And then, when you do need to stop doing something to rest - don't be tense and stressed about not getting something done! You're dealing with big-time pain and life changes, be nice to yourself!

Do you have help with your children? How old are they, can the older ones help the younger ones?

I don't know what to expect for me or you, but it is good to know, as with Kay, that you (me too) will likely find the right combination of things to give relief at some point. You're not alone!

Best wishes -
Tani

p.s. Kay - are you across the pond? Well, I'm in Minnesota, and there are a lot of ponds and swamps around here, but I mean across the ocean. We are having a very mild winter, how about you?

[kaynorth]

Hi Tani

The UK is its usual miserable grey drizzly self at the moment. It has been very cold with snow flurrys last week. We should be coming into spring in March. It has been a very dry winter and they are already saying we will be on drought alert in the summer. I do enjoy the seasons and I am not mad on the heat but the winter does seem to go on forever sometimes.

I was on the phone to my friend in Australia yesterday and it had been 35 degrees. I couldn't cope with that.

Haven't seen many swamps around though!!!!!!!!!

Lots of love

Kay

[PrayingWife]

I have children a boy 4 and 2 girls 6 and 9 and I do day care for 2 -5 yr olds and a 7 year old.

Im not feeling better yet...They put me on methotrexate shot once a week and I gave myself my first shot today. Hopefully it kicks in SOON.
Last night my daughted got sent home sick and then tripped over something and fell onto our hot fireplace. AND my hubby works grave yeard soo hes out of the list of helpers for the next couple of days. BUT Im in hopes Ill feel well soon. Thanks for your stories of hope and encouragment.

Ill keep you updated in how the shots work


PS a question I have is I am on the shots...those of you that are doing the shots...do you get the upset tummy and my doctor didnt perscibe me folic acid or what ever it is that they prescibe with this med is that normal also is there any side effects to taking the shot VS the pill???


~Mandy

[ouchyk]

Mandy,

Good luck on the MTX shots, it might take a few weeks before you see relief but have faith that it will work. Lot's of people take mtx without side effects and with good results.

I hope you feel better soon.

Hang in there,
Karen

[tmartha]

Mandy - Wow - that's a busy life. I hope your daughter is ok? Good luck with the Mtx - it's been 3 weeks for me and in the last 24 hours I've noticed RELIEF! Definitely improving things! So help may be on the way for you -
I take Mtx pills (12.5 mg a week) and folic acid every day - I thought that was always given with Mtx -??? - maybe it'd be different with the injection but I don't know why it would - doc told me the folic acid helps reduce side effects esp. mouth sores. That's all I know on that. Maybe you should double-check with your doc? I don't know.

Kay - grey and drizzly - it's gray and snowy here. We've been averaging 35 degrees farenheit, just above freezing - I wouldn't like 35 C either. This is very very warm weather for us - usually Jan. in northern MN avgs about 5 degrees F with a couple of 3-4 day spells (at least) of 20-30 below 0 F.

And usually I like winter, but now with pa I'm dreaming of moving south for the wintertime as soon as the kids are out of school....

Best wishes for a good day, Kay and Mandy -
Tani

[Saxmom]

Is your doctor willing to do steriod shots for your fingers? Some docs do and some don't. If he does, I would definitely ask him for them. When I need a joint injected I usually begin getting relief for the swelling and such within a day or two.

Good Luck.
Paige