Re: Am I alone on this?

January 7, 2006

Hi Nash

I feel like that all the time. It's like having the flu but you never

actually get the flu. I'm tired all the time have pain all over so I know

exactly

what you are going through. Wish I could offer you a solution but the only thing

that seems to help is taking your meds, rest, and heat.

Take Care

Babs

January 7, 2006

Hi Nash,

I don't have RA, but do have fibro and Dercum's Disease. DD causes

hundreds of lipomas that press on nerves, and it has inflammatory

qualities that make me feel just as you describe. I take diclofenac

(Voltaren) and if I don't take it or miss a dose (like last night when

we didn't get home until after 8 PM and I usually take it with supper)

then I REALLY feel the achiness.

Have you ever used a hot rice pack on your hands? I made myself one

with an inexpensive oven mitt that I lined and filled with rice, then I

microwave it for a minute and put it on, and my hands feel better for

quite awhile afterward.

I hope you're able to get a diagnosis and treatment soon!

Judi in Indiana

>

> Greetings,

January 7, 2006

It sounds like you might have fibro on top of RA. That's what

happened to me, I had RA first, now even though most of my pain is

joint pain they think that some of it is RA pain, and some of it is

fibro where the muscles attach to the joints. Apparently this

happens a lot, when you're in pain for a long time eventually your

pain mechanisms just go haywire, and that's fibro (or that's one

thing it can be). For me, they're treating my RA more aggressively,

and my doc also wrote a note for me to take a month off work and

rest up. I promised to eat really well and swim every day (which I

can't do when I work because I'm too exhausted -- I'm also a single

mom).

Go back to your doc and get an explanation in terms that you can

understand. You're entitled to it. I know that I lose 20 IQ points

every time that I walk into the doctor's office -- the stress makes

me stupid.

>

> Greetings,

>

> I was wondering if by any chance any one may have heard of this. I

went to see the pain doctor on Thursday and I told them about

the " skin pain " I get. Now I think I have said that the doctors

still do not know if I have fibro or RA I am still waiting to hear

on test results. I told the pain doctor about my pinky. About a week

ago I had some pretty nasty pains in my right hand. I took a pain

pill and eventually my pinky ended up " relaxing " .

>

> Now when it does it crosses under my ring finger. I have to force

it to stay in place. I also have this feeling in my skin like a

serious irritation. The pain can get to the extreme of my not

wanting to put on clothes or lie under a blanket because it hurts so

much.

>

> My PCP said it was just an extension of the pain in my joints but

the pain doctor said something else. This is the bit that has me

confused. She mentioned some word that I cannot recall to save my

life. She told me that my brain has been putting up with so much

pain that it has just given up. It is now just sending out pain

signals all over my body. It does not matter if there is actually a

reason for it. So I guess its " phantom pains " ..I think anyway. She

was not really clear about it. I am not sure if it is phantom pains

or really a problem.

>

> My mother in law told me that she experiences pain like this and

that it is normal for her with her arthritis. I am all sorts of

confused by all of this. Has any one else ever felt it?

>

> The best way I can describe it is it feels almost like the flu. I

don't have the fever or any of the other stuff that goes along with

having a flu just the extreme body aches. Has any one else

experienced this?

>

> Nash

>

January 7, 2006

>

> Greetings,

>

> I was wondering if by any chance any one may have heard of this. I went to see

the pain

doctor on Thursday and I told them about the " skin pain " I get. Now I think I

have said that

the doctors still do not know if I have fibro or RA I am still waiting to hear

on test results. I

told the pain doctor about my pinky. About a week ago I had some pretty nasty

pains in

my right hand. I took a pain pill and eventually my pinky ended up " relaxing " .

>

> Now when it does it crosses under my ring finger. I have to force it to stay

in place. I

also have this feeling in my skin like a serious irritation. The pain can get to

the extreme

of my not wanting to put on clothes or lie under a blanket because it hurts so

much.

>

> My PCP said it was just an extension of the pain in my joints but the pain

doctor said

something else. This is the bit that has me confused. She mentioned some word

that I

cannot recall to save my life. She told me that my brain has been putting up

with so much

pain that it has just given up. It is now just sending out pain signals all over

my body. It

does not matter if there is actually a reason for it. So I guess its " phantom

pains " ..I think

anyway. She was not really clear about it. I am not sure if it is phantom pains

or really a

problem.

>

> My mother in law told me that she experiences pain like this and that it is

normal for her

with her arthritis. I am all sorts of confused by all of this. Has any one else

ever felt it?

>

> The best way I can describe it is it feels almost like the flu. I don't have

the fever or any

of the other stuff that goes along with having a flu just the extreme body

aches. Has any

one else experienced this?

>

> Nash

>

January 8, 2006

I'm so glad that you're going to be able to take a month off work.

Maybe your meds will kick in better and you'll be able to return to

work with more vigor. I certainly do hope so. I can't remember what

meds you're on, but if you're not on one of the biologics, I would

strongly recommend Enbrel. It is working very well for me.

I hope you enjoy your month off!

Sue

On Saturday, January 7, 2006, at 07:25 PM, eemalawyer wrote:

> For me, they're treating my RA more aggressively,

> and my doc also wrote a note for me to take a month off work and

> rest up. I promised to eat really well and swim every day (which I

> can't do when I work because I'm too exhausted -- I'm also a single

> mom).

January 8, 2006

Thank you, Thank you all so very much for your replies. My PCP told me that he

has " never " had anyone say they experienced " skin pain " with RA or Fibro. That

is the reason I came to here to ask. I cannot help but wonder just how much he

actually listens to his patients. I had a pretty good feeling I was not the only

one.

I noticed a few people talking about living in warmer climates. I have been on

my husband for a couple of months now about moving. I think I mentioned I am in

western mass. This cold is really getting to me. I don't even want to walk out

my door because it hurts so much. It is starting to get a bit depressing. My

husband is from Australia and I have asked him over and over if we can please go

home and he says no. He tells me how much it hurts him to watch me suffer from

the cold and then says there is no way in hell we are moving. I have reached the

level of confusion but I can tell you that the cold has to be the worse thing I

have dealt with so far.. I truly envy people who live in warmer climates.

Re: [ ] Re: Am I alone on this?

I'm so glad that you're going to be able to take a month off work.

Maybe your meds will kick in better and you'll be able to return to

work with more vigor. I certainly do hope so. I can't remember what

meds you're on, but if you're not on one of the biologics, I would

strongly recommend Enbrel. It is working very well for me.

I hope you enjoy your month off!

Sue

On Saturday, January 7, 2006, at 07:25 PM, eemalawyer wrote:

> For me, they're treating my RA more aggressively,

> and my doc also wrote a note for me to take a month off work and

> rest up. I promised to eat really well and swim every day (which I

> can't do when I work because I'm too exhausted -- I'm also a single

> mom).

January 8, 2006

In a message dated 1/8/2006 4:28:41 PM Central Standard Time,

nashirafae@... writes:

> I think I mentioned I am in western mass. This cold is really getting to

> me. I don't even want to walk out my door because it hurts so much. It is

> starting to get a bit depressing

hi ...

i'm in central MA area, I can relate to how this COLD is really

affecting me , you do live in a really nice area. when ever my soon to be wife &

I are

able to visit the western part of state we usually do. We can actually walk

around holding hands without being " stared at " .... such a gay friendly area

peace,

gayle ..out chasing and looking for rainbows

January 8, 2006

Hi Bridget, I believe the climate has alot to do with my pain also I haveRA for

6 yrs. The lows of any storm, are when im always at my worst. The humidity is

the worst for me, I live in N.H. on the coast and theres always moisture,seems

like the summers are worst for me when its real humid,I grew up swimming in the

cold atlantic but i broke down couple yrs. ago and bought a 5ft.pool so i could

swim, the more active I am the better. My joints couldnt handle the cold,cold

water anymore i also have raynauds disease Id be on the beach and my skin would

be turning red,white,blue, enough so everyone noticed, so I think we need warm

dry climates, my rheummy says i would still have my flares no matter where I

live,lol Well the best to you,did you come from australia too? Ive always lived

on the coast. well best wishes to you.ginny p.s. you were saying you have skin

pain,I have skin cysts,but not skin pain

Bridget Hiskins <nashirafae@...> wrote: Thank you, Thank you all so

very much for your replies. My PCP told me that he has " never " had anyone say

they experienced " skin pain " with RA or Fibro. That is the reason I came to here

to ask. I cannot help but wonder just how much he actually listens to his

patients. I had a pretty good feeling I was not the only one.