Quote:
Originally Posted by MAT52
I'm delighted to have been of assistance although I'm no medic - but just a very interested person with previously unaccounted symptoms and a geekish disposition! Your RA sounds positively primary ie your main disease. So what medications are you taking for it? Have you researched whether these could cause peripheral neuropathy as a side effect? I took Sulfasalazine, methotrexate, Hydroxichloraquine and Imuran - only methotrexate did not hospitalise me with allergic reactions. All potentially can cause parasthesia - especially Hydroxichloraquine.
If you aren't on any medications that could be responsible then perhaps the active RA is paving the way for Osteoarthritis, which in turn is causing damage to your joints and affecting your nerves? I would try to see a neurologist if I were in your shoes and have investigations such as nerve conduction, brain, neck and lumbar, MRI etc. You can have RA with another non rheumatic disease of course, such as Hypothyrodism, cancer, MS, Diabetes, Parkinson's etc. But an endo told me that PN would be in longstanding diabetes only. If your RA is active and seropositive then perhaps it is causing your PN. I don't see how this could be ruled out if you still have high amounts of inflammation. There is a connective tissue involvement for many with RA after all. You will get there in the end as I have - a few years ahead of you with my symptoms and diagnosis. Nothing is black and white in rheumatology!
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Thank you so much for your response - yet again. I am taking methotrexate for the RA. I've only been on it for a little over a month. I just got my RA diagnosis July 1, 2016. I actually went to the doctor in May for my PN, which I have been dealing with since January of this year. Then I mentioned my joint pain, which I always attributed to being overweight, and she ran blood tests. Then suddenly I'm at a rheumatologist with rheumatoid arthritis, not a single clue what it was, being sent home with some folder of information about it and a medication prescription for MTX. Still no clue why the PN, which is why I went to the doctor to begin with.
I am rather inflamed. But because I am overweight, it's hard for me to SEE how much. My hands hurt like absolute hell, even using the turn signal in the car is painful. I feel like every one of my finger joints are broken. My Rheumy prescribed me prednisone, haven't taken it yet, I am too scared. So, like I mentioned, I've had this joint pain for 3 years now. I kind of thought MAYBE it was something not great but I think I was too afraid to know. Then came the PN this year (long before I started taking any meds for RA) and when the PN got worse in May, so did the joint pain. So, I have to believe there is some correlation.
Thanks for the information, once again. I am so glad you got a diagnosis. I wish none of us had to deal with any of this, it really does not seem fair, but it must be nice to have an answer finally. I hope I will someday too.
OH I forgot to mention, the craziest thing, I've never ever had any joint pain or pain in my feet. Just woke up one day and had numb toes. So strange.
08-06-2016, 02:28 PM
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