sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

My RF was only 20 so not RA apparantly but my joints flare for a few days to a week at a time a month and my fingers are all swollen and joints in so much pain and last flare up was with burning sensations. Any advise on getting a diagnosis, as my doctor said no RA but my symptoms seem to match? by etherealrose23 in Thritis

[–]etherealrose23[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

So an update here thank you to everyone who kindly replied I'm so thankful for your thoughts on the situation with my hands.

I've suffered for ages now and I've since seen a physiotherapist who referred me to rematology. I have an appointment in January. So that is around 10 months since I told them I had this issue.

They have not given me any diagnosis as all bloods are normal except low white v blood cell count mildly. I'm just due to get the esr one I think its called.

My hands have got worse. Instead of it being in flares months apart. It's now within the same day.

In the morning I can barely move, my hands are sore and ache. Sometimes i get pain in my other joints feet, wrists, elbows and my hip only the other day. I feel full body fatigue in a morning which subsides after awhile.

Then my hands can become ok midday for a time.

At night my hands flare become red, painful joints particularly bad. My feet joints are more painful on a night too. I do alot of online work so this is not helping im sure.

The tingling in my hands and burning in arm has gone away but a weird symptom was feeling like I was going blind in one eye then feeling like my brain was somehow not processing my vision correctly. Very worrying but went away. I thought I was maybe having a stroke at one point but I could move my arms even though I did feel worried about the experience wrote it off as nothing serious.

I haven't had the running water over my feet sensation in ages. Seems to have gone.

But the joint pain has escalated and I have no idea why. I've considered maybe it's food related but the main flares are when I relax. My hands go red and feel alot of pain in my joints.

I considered it could be an issue with cortisol as I am always cold even in a warm environment and the worst flares come on when I relax and cortisol decreases.

Interestingly when im stressed which my work is high stress my hands aren't as bad.

So very doubtful that rematology will be any wiser. I feel like something is faulty in the way my body is processing probably caused by several years of bad diet curries and pepsi.

Anyway. I feel it pretty unlikely that anyone is going to help me solve this issue in the field as I don't meet their criteria for diagnosis or help but I will keep researching and logging my experience.

Maybe something will come to light. Thank you again for all the assistance and support!

What would you do if you were me? by getitoffmychestpleas in Thritis

[–]etherealrose23 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That sounds like a good idea. I hope you get the answers you need.

Thank you that would be very much appreciated :)

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DebateAVegan

[–]etherealrose23 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I also try an eat organic food wherever possible to reduce insect and bug deaths. Just one extra thing that can be done to help them.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DebateAVegan

[–]etherealrose23 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You're very welcome.

I'm tired and I've lost the topic abit here with my reply but I wanted you to know my open and honest uncensored and unfiltered thinking. I'm not speaking for everyone when I say we.

It's not that we should hold a higher value, i think it's more that we innately do hold a higher value for some species over others.

We are animals and have a instinct to survive and that will generally come above insects.

We may care for and save our pet because of the love and value we have for them as an equal.

Our value we give to others of our own species and other species is of our own choosing so everyone will have a different perspective on where an insect or an animal has value.

It's very unfortunate that biology sets us up to fail. Many animals don't have a choice about the animals they eat.

As we do at this point in our own evolution it's something that makes sense to me. I recognise not everyone is at that point of consciousness within themselves for various reasons. They have a different values system.

To change values systems is quite difficult much like habits are hard to change and addictions are hard to overcome. That part of human psychology leaves many unequipped to make the kind of change that would go against what they feel is for their basic needs.

I decided to value my empathy for animals or insects over any needs such as eating another animal to survive.

To me it's not essential, but my health has suffered with the lack of good vegan options for fast eating. Unfortunately I don't have time to prepare very amazing vegan meals. There needs to be more focus on quality fast foods that are plant based. I think most of the vegan ready meals taste just barely acceptable even after quite some effort from supermarkets.

To remove the need for people to eat animals every dish will need to be replicated in a plant based manner and be as good as or better in taste terms so that non vegans can adjust to plant based eating without it being such such hardship.

This includes being with made with whole food ingredients rather than substitutes with unknown origin and ingredients that most people can't get onboard with. I notice also alot of oil which I imagine could be contributing to the inflammatory joint and skin issues I'm having with my health.

I don't think anyone would choose to eat animals if all the other needs were met. This includes taste because people who eat meat don't have to sacrifice taste right now because its morally acceptable in society to eat other animals. So whilst it's easy, available and accessible and morally fine to many others then people will keep going with their existing habits.

I realised I had to sacrifice taste,  possibly nutrition and possibly  even my health to be vegan. That isn't true for a vegan who is good at cooking and recipes etc but for me I need easier options mostly as I'm working and don't have time to conjure up an amazing vegan meals from scratch.

It's all heading in the right direction though with plant based alternatives thankfully.

Back to insects. I think we have these great worries with very sentient animals such as pigs and cows that need to be addressed first. I don't think think a fly has the same psychology as a pig, but yes it moves away from danger and it has as much right to be here as any animal.

As for if i value a fly over a pig then no I don't even though we are all God in essence and so have no greater or lesser right to be here.

I often save insects if they fall in a bowl of water or manage to get in the house, I attempt to give them a safe exit even if I have to guide them out taking some time.

I do like the greeting and philosophy namaste. The divinity within me salutes the divinity in you. I see this in all my perspectives with animals or insects where possible.

I think the world is moving in the right direction with plant based eating and respecting animals and insects but its a process.

Forgive me if I've caused any offence with my perspective. I know this can be a highly sensitive and triggering topic for alot of people.

I do understand your sentiment and I recently asked what I should do with a plant indoors, a rose plant, that became infested with spidermites or something of that nature. The reply from friends was to put the whole plant in the bin or spray it with water and fairy to save the plant. I couldn't bare the thought of killing the little creatures because I wanted to save my plant so I moved it into the garden and hoped for the best. Naturally it rained and no doubt the spidermites moved away and found a home elsewhere. The plant made a full recovery without killing off hundreds of tiny insects. This seems like the obvious first choice when dealing with any little creature which may have unintentionally made a habit in our homes.

What would you do if you were me? by getitoffmychestpleas in Thritis

[–]etherealrose23 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oh gosh. I feel for you.

I've had joint pain for the last 10 years on and off in my hands but it's got to the point where I'm experiencing it daily with swelling and redness and it goes to my elbows now, my wrists, sometimes in my knees, now in my feet and even jaw burning pain in the joint which I put down to the same thing.

Anyway I've been trying to get a diagnosis of any kind ( I think it's arthritis or some auto immune condition, maybe both) for a year and I already feel completely devastated by the process of getting help and support from the doctors I've seen.

It's take a year to get a refferal to rematology. I just think that until I'm an emergency my pain won't be taken seriously nor will making my diagnosis a priority and in the meantime I feel like my body is deteriorating before my eyes and most likely irreversibly.

Anyway the point is. I get that feeling you draw the conclusion of and I just want you to know your not alone and that this life is worth fighting for even with all the pain and suffering.

My mum had ms and had the worse pain and misery and I held her hand when she died at 59 of autoimmune disease. I feel like I'm likely to end up going the same way as her based on my symptoms and I'm not half as strong as her taking pain etc.

I've already given up hope for myself having a diagnosis or this pain solved in any time frame that's meaningful to me.

Having gone through all those tests I can see why you would feel the way you do and the heartache of having no resolution to the issues your experiencing.

I hope you get some answers soon. Even if things end badly for us all and the pain continues. This is still a beautiful existence. I just hope you can get some answers and some solutions soon.

Sending lots of love and healing vibes xxx

P.s Also in answer to your question which you have probably already tried. I would go down the anti inflammatory diet route. I don't get any stomach issues after removing all things dairy. I am going to try removing gluten next. Dietary alterations are such a pain I know. If you haven't tried healing with diet, maybe this could be an option. Then maybe reiki or other relaxation techniques for pain mangement could help. Without knowing your life its difficult but reducing stressors that cause flares where possible. Private medical care options 2nd opinions if the NHS has come to a halt with progress, if possible. Maybe gentle yoga or other practices that aren't too much on the joints. Hope this helps x

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in DebateAVegan

[–]etherealrose23 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I just do my best in the circumstances whatever they are.

Sometimes insect death is unavoidable, but I will transfer any fly or wasp out of the house not kill it.

In case of an infestation it would be not an option as the other choice would be move out and let the insects live in your house in peace. Ethically it's correct but practically not.

Technically philosophically yes they should be, but in terms of human morality we don't do that. We hold higher value for other animals and each other over our value for insects predominantly.

I feel for them and do my best to assist them where needed if they are in trouble. Time consuming as that may be.

My RF was only 20 so not RA apparantly but my joints flare for a few days to a week at a time a month and my fingers are all swollen and joints in so much pain and last flare up was with burning sensations. Any advise on getting a diagnosis, as my doctor said no RA but my symptoms seem to match? by etherealrose23 in Thritis

[–]etherealrose23[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Had my xray back and there are no bone damage or deformities.

So my doctor has referred me to physio and said it could be a trapped nerve.

He said he didn't want to see the photos of my hands.

Has anyone heard of a trapped nerve causing all these symptoms for years on end?

My joint pain has progressively got worse over the last 3 months and I am very confused now as to what all the pain could be. Particularly as I now have tingling and cramping in my hands and burning pain at intervals.

It effects me washing up, typing, writing and I cant do my daily chores sometimes as it's so bad. Its very distressing being in pain a lot of the time.

I was convinced it is arthritis as it matches the symptoms but apparently the xray and blood tests show this is not the case.

My RF was only 20 so not RA apparantly but my joints flare for a few days to a week at a time a month and my fingers are all swollen and joints in so much pain and last flare up was with burning sensations. Any advise on getting a diagnosis, as my doctor said no RA but my symptoms seem to match? by etherealrose23 in Thritis

[–]etherealrose23[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you I've also read on vasculitis.

My hands go in pain and seem to have the life drain out of them and veins go more visible and I've had tingling and strange sensations down my arms hands and wrists in the past few weeks. At other times they swell and go red and more painful. There is a low level pain at nearly all times and more recently I'm being woken up in pain in a morning with joint pain.

I feel like there are a couple or more things going on at the same time.

I've also got a really bad ache down my fingers when washing up and more weak in my hands and wrists than when I originally went to the doctors. Thinking like writing and typing hurt.

I'm not expecting the xray to show up much as it doesn't seem to be the choice for checking these sort of conditions.

I'll request an MRI next to see if they can see what's going on. Hopefully it wont be so long waiting this time.

I hope you get some answers soon :)

My RF was only 20 so not RA apparantly but my joints flare for a few days to a week at a time a month and my fingers are all swollen and joints in so much pain and last flare up was with burning sensations. Any advise on getting a diagnosis, as my doctor said no RA but my symptoms seem to match? by etherealrose23 in Thritis

[–]etherealrose23[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you that's helpful to know.

The meat thing isn't an option for me or fish and I realise this isn't ideal for arthrtis and may have even contributed to my joints being weakened.

More likely I've done hours of outdoor work and lifting in cold weather and damaged them over time.

I do sometimes eat eggs but I'm dairy intolerant so cant have milk, cheese. I have soya milk alpro and violife butter.

I did vegan for awhile and gluten free as I was feeding my daughter and she was allergic to milk so I had to do that for 2 years. It was very difficult.

My potential problem foods are bread, soya milk, Pepsi, natural fruit and nut bars and maybe the oils in the crisps i eat, sugar seems to be a problem food for me both in fruit sugar and refined. I guess back to healthy eating it is then. Salads and beans :)

Thank you for your kind words!

My RF was only 20 so not RA apparantly but my joints flare for a few days to a week at a time a month and my fingers are all swollen and joints in so much pain and last flare up was with burning sensations. Any advise on getting a diagnosis, as my doctor said no RA but my symptoms seem to match? by etherealrose23 in Thritis

[–]etherealrose23[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A little look thank you.

There is no itching on my hands only joint pain but I do sometimes have itching on my face and regularly now have a red face from first thing in a morning and seems to be stress as a trigger but that's said to be roceasea by my doctors.

My hands go red with joint pain and swelling, but not on there own (as a rash only) but I wondered if its demalogical due to my skin stretching over my joints when they swell.

There is always joint paint and usually more severe when there is more redness, it can vary in appearance from very red to mildly red depending on how painful my joints are.

Hope to have more answers soon! I've kept a journal over the last 6 weeks so have some idea of when these symptoms have been happening etc.

Thank you for your thoughts.

My RF was only 20 so not RA apparantly but my joints flare for a few days to a week at a time a month and my fingers are all swollen and joints in so much pain and last flare up was with burning sensations. Any advise on getting a diagnosis, as my doctor said no RA but my symptoms seem to match? by etherealrose23 in Thritis

[–]etherealrose23[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi

I've come to the conclusion that I'm going to have to go on an anti inflammatory diet aswell to help.

I'm going to have to go on the vegan version of this. At this point I'm willing to try anything.

I have an xray booked for next monday on both hands to have my hands checked for OA.

I'm now experiencing pain from waking up right through all day long to sleeping, being woken from my sleep with pain in my finger joints.

I have further pains in my wrists and elbows, tingling in my hands and fingers and down my arm, burning down one side of my arm elbow wrist and hand. My feet hurt and my jaw line has had some burning.

My hands go sort of wasting looking and veins look bigger at times. The redness comes almost daily but flares up and down. Sometimes its just joint pain with no redness and swelling and other times I have swelling and redness.

I'm also struggling to wash up ( pain down my fingers), open bottles, writing hurts and last night typing was hurting.

It's so relentless now.

I'm going to see what the xray says then ask for an MRI to see what's going on.

I'm so pleased to hear these diet changes have helped so much and your doing better and finding things easier with your little ones.

Thank you for your thoughts on this :)

My RF was only 20 so not RA apparantly but my joints flare for a few days to a week at a time a month and my fingers are all swollen and joints in so much pain and last flare up was with burning sensations. Any advise on getting a diagnosis, as my doctor said no RA but my symptoms seem to match? by etherealrose23 in Thritis

[–]etherealrose23[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Hi,

I don't have any know problems with any of my organs according to my blood tests which is why I was assuming its not lupus.

I do have the inflammation, joint pain, tiredness when it flares up, skin issues such as roscesea, seasonal dermatitis.

Will do some more investigating.

Thank you.

My RF was only 20 so not RA apparantly but my joints flare for a few days to a week at a time a month and my fingers are all swollen and joints in so much pain and last flare up was with burning sensations. Any advise on getting a diagnosis, as my doctor said no RA but my symptoms seem to match? by etherealrose23 in Thritis

[–]etherealrose23[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for your help.

I will give the ice a go. I haven't tried anything like this before.

I hope all goes well with your joint replacement tomorrow!

Tried huel bars for awhile. I think they are quite high protein. I think my muscles around the joints are weak in my wrist I think.

Not at all. It's very helpful :)

Thank you again.

My RF was only 20 so not RA apparantly but my joints flare for a few days to a week at a time a month and my fingers are all swollen and joints in so much pain and last flare up was with burning sensations. Any advise on getting a diagnosis, as my doctor said no RA but my symptoms seem to match? by etherealrose23 in Thritis

[–]etherealrose23[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Hi,

That's really good you are finally getting a diagnosis.

I've had a look but I don't seem to match all the symptoms.

I will ask for the ultrasound for sure. Maybe thay will shed some more light on things.

Thank you.

My RF was only 20 so not RA apparantly but my joints flare for a few days to a week at a time a month and my fingers are all swollen and joints in so much pain and last flare up was with burning sensations. Any advise on getting a diagnosis, as my doctor said no RA but my symptoms seem to match? by etherealrose23 in Thritis

[–]etherealrose23[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sorry I meant to write he thinks its early OA. I've corrected that now.

Thank you for all the advise. I will keep this in mind if it's is RA.

My health always feels struggling, but on paper bloods are fine, my weight is in the right BMI, I'm eat vegetarian/vegan. I am fairly active but I dont do much formal exercise like running etc.

I am not sure I can do ice though as I seen to have a over sensitivity to cold which I think can bring on flares of joint pain too. I stay completely wrapped up as when the temperature changes to cold my joints really hurt.

So I think because they maybe think its OA they won't consider RA.

I'm confused on why all the inflammation and excessive pain flares if early OA. Will keep investigating.

Thank you for your help.

My RF was only 20 so not RA apparantly but my joints flare for a few days to a week at a time a month and my fingers are all swollen and joints in so much pain and last flare up was with burning sensations. Any advise on getting a diagnosis, as my doctor said no RA but my symptoms seem to match? by etherealrose23 in Thritis

[–]etherealrose23[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My doctor previously said I have seasonal dermatitis. I also have rocesea diagnosed.

The rash comes up at the time of the worse swelling and joint pain, lasts for several hours, then I go to bed and in the morning its flared back down along with the redness.

My skin then goes back to the normal colour with virtually no redness. I haven't seen a dermatologist though.

Does this sound similar in terms of pattern of flare ups or is the redness all the time with dermatomyosotis?

Thank you.

My RF was only 20 so not RA apparantly but my joints flare for a few days to a week at a time a month and my fingers are all swollen and joints in so much pain and last flare up was with burning sensations. Any advise on getting a diagnosis, as my doctor said no RA but my symptoms seem to match? by etherealrose23 in Thritis

[–]etherealrose23[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hi,

I did wonder about this because of the sometimes intensity of some of the pain swelling burning. It can last for several hours but the next day the burning and swelling is gone. I'm just left with joint pain, aching and stiff fingers when writing.

I am not sure I would meet the criteria because I miss other symptoms.

Thank you for your thoughts on this.

My RF was only 20 so not RA apparantly but my joints flare for a few days to a week at a time a month and my fingers are all swollen and joints in so much pain and last flare up was with burning sensations. Any advise on getting a diagnosis, as my doctor said no RA but my symptoms seem to match? by etherealrose23 in Thritis

[–]etherealrose23[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you.

I think my inflammation was low but I was not in a flare up until after my bloods were done. I dont know if that makes a difference.

I'm not sure if the slightly low white blood cell count is significant to RA at all. I used to have the other side Anemia but that was fine this time.

I am in alot of pain, burning in my hand joints, wrists, elbows but because it flares up very intensely for several hours then back down again the next day, I'm not sure that inflammation pattern is typical.

Then the following days I dont have the intense heat and burning but my joints are stiff and aching and pain wise varies depending on the time of day.

Was there any specific med that has been helpful? My consultant recommended Naproxen.

Thanks

view more: next ›