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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / August 2005frustrated, tired and can't take much more!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have posted here many times, I have had RA for over 3 years, finally started the MTX about 8 months ago, take 17.5 but had to go down to the 15mg. I have been having pain in my hips and the bones you sit on, and tight muscles all in my right leg up by where the hip attaches to the butt, anyway I have worn orthodics for 2 years, not sure why, the first RA doc I saw said get them they will help the RA in your feet, I don't see him anymore and they haven't done much for my feet, except make it very hard to find any shoes I can wear them with, and they are out of graphite so it is like walking on cement> Anyway went to a new podiatrist, she is very nice, trying to make me a new pair, although she said I have a neutral gait, and wasn't sure why I was wearing them. Went to a running store she suggested to get a pair of tennis shoes, was put on the he treadmill for an analysis and he said the same thing neutral gait, should wear a cushioned shoe and not an orthodic, anyway I tired without an ordthodic for a while, my back flared up, probably cause it was use to it, I don't know. I have know had the orthodics done 4 different times, each time getting worse, and NOTHING helping the pain in the back of the upper thigh and the butt area. The new shoes with the orthodic made my knee and ankles hurt. I talked tot he RA doc, he gave me a scrip awhile ago for enbrel, but told me to decided if I wanted to take it, I said I was waiting cause I read it causes weight gain, so no thanks, the MTX has already done that to me, I think it is because I don't feel like exercising from the pain in my hips and the fact that I have zero energy. I am on meds now for a sinus infection, seem to get a lot of those since on MTX. I just don't know where to turn, I want to have normal walking days but right now I don't even go anywhere I don't know what to wear. It is so frustrating, bare foot in the house! Sorry for the constant whining, just am feed up to you know where with all of it. I wake up with anxiety over the fact that I can't find a shoe or an orthodic that will work. Seems kinda silly I know others have way more problems, mine seemed to be centered on the extreme fatigue and the anxiety and heart palpations from not being able to exercise and the struggle with all the weight gain, even before I wasn't exercising. Please forgive all the whining, I just needed to vent, I do feel better just wish I knew what to do about these stupid shoes, but gut instinct is to through the orthodics away and just get a spenco innersole and try that. Well thanks for listening. Becky Becky, Didn't you post the last time that you had just been diagnosed with hypothyroidism? Have you started treatment for this condition yet? The hypothyroidism (low) getting under control will go a very, very long way in helping you to feel better. Low thryoid causes people to be very fatigued, caused weight gain, depression and irritability, and a whole host of other problems. I really think if you get this under control a lot of the stuff you are dealing with will be better. Also, the hip thing sounds like some nasty bursitis and may require an injection as well as some PT to get it to settle down. Perhaps a good PT could also help you figure out the whole orthotics issue. If I were you, I would at least give the enbrel a try. It certainly can't make things any worse for you and not everyone gains weight on enbrel. In fact, it is a small percentage that does. More often people feel BETTER and therefore are more active and lose weight. Since you have already gained because of inactivity and because of pain levels, I would think you owe it to yourself to at least try it and see how you do---definitely worth the try to see if you have reduced pain levels!!! Go for it and then work on the weight issues when you feel better!!! It is very possible that the hip pain stuff is causing you to walk funny and that then throws off your back and your knees and your feet causing all of them to hurt. To find shoes that really work for you, go to a good shoe store, get your feet measured properly, try on lots of shoes and make sure the shoes are comfortable from the minute you try them on---none of this breaking them in stuff. Also make sure the shoes fit your arch properly. You may want to read the thread here entitled "foott" that covers some problems others are experiencing to see if any of that might fit what you are going through. Just some thoughts! Please, please, please, get the hypothryoidism treated and try the enbrel and quit putting yourself through so much misery! Sending prayers that you get to feeling better soon!!! Donna G HI Donna, yes my general practitionier said I was hypo thyroid, he sent me to an specialist and endrocologist, who said that my levels were in the normal but low normal range, and didn't feel that I need to do anything about as yet. I told him all my symptoms but feels that it is not related to thyroid. So what do you do. I am waiting now for yet another referral to get a second opinion. I have been to 2 special shoe stores, I am on my 5-6 th different pair of shoes, the orthodic just doesn't seem to work in anything, and they keep adjusting it and it keeps getting worse, I am wearing a pair of Asicis Gel 2100 GT today, and didn't not but the orthodic in, my lower back is starting to rebel, but if the shoe store guy and the podiatrist tell me that I am a neutral walker and do not need them thought I would give it a try. So would be less anxiety on my part. I see my RA doc this next Thursday to discuss all these issues, he will just probably say see your primary care doc, it is very frustrating. Thank you for the prayers and your response, Have a great week Becky > Becky, > [quoted text clipped - 41 lines] > > Donna G They need to run the antibodies test for thyroid. Heart palapations is from hypothyroid. So is the tiredness etc.  SignatureLove and hugs to all Good thoughts coming your way too. Squirrely Jo > HI Donna, > yes my general practitionier said I was hypo thyroid, he sent me to an [quoted text clipped - 61 lines] >> >> Donna G Squirrelly, That is also done, he said he was looking for a disease called Hysimotoes, I know that is spelled wrong, anyway it turned out fine. Thanks Becky > They need to run the antibodies test for thyroid. Heart palapations is > from hypothyroid. So is the tiredness etc. [quoted text clipped - 64 lines] >>> >>> Donna G That is good Becky, I have Hashimotos and it is not fun. Alot of times you can have thyroid problems though and they say you are in the normal range. They have a new normal range out there. So it is lower. I know how much of a hassle it is trying to find out what is going on with you and you get no answers. I sure hope you find the answers to what is going on with you. SignatureLove and hugs to all Good thoughts coming your way too. Squirrely Jo > Squirrelly, > That is also done, he said he was looking for a disease called Hysimotoes, > I know that is spelled wrong, anyway it turned out fine. > Thanks > Becky Hi everyone this is MM [aka another Becky}, frustrated, tired and can't take much more!!!!!!!!!!!!! {Yeah this sounds like me, and thensome. Lotta things not same,yet many are VERY much the same sounding . Like symptoms. Fatigue,caused weight gain, depression and irritability, and a whole host of other problems. too much stress {me def.} sigh ZERO energy! <<<snipped>>> Low thryoid causes people to be very fatigued, caused weight gain, depression and irritability, and a whole host of other problems. I have had thes esymptoms for very long time. Newsgroup Spambuster said: >>>snipped>> t is very possible that the hip pain stuff is causing you to walk funny and that then throws off your back and your knees and your feet causing all of them to hurt. MM Becky says: Pretty Much my whole body hurts all time. in wheelchair almost all time now. <<<snipped>>> too much stress over these stupid Drs. kicking me around as if I were a football doesnt help me any. I am dealing with REAL Severe Chronic pain, yet I feel as though they are treting me as if I were 13, not 31 as I am. My pain meds. are not working. My house is always a disaster.I'm soooooo down in the dumps, but I'm down , because I hurt like all the time. Am soooo fatigued ALL the time. <<<Snipped>>> Alot of times you can have thyroid problems though and they say you are in the normal range. They have a new normal range out there. So it is lower. I know how much of a hassle it is trying to find out what is going on with you and you get no answers. AM tired of this. just feel like giving up, completly. Becky said: RA for over 3 years, MM Becky said: When I went to wherever it was I went. The lady was a little snotty to me, and seemed to me she was either being a b!$(# or just is one. Tried to tell her that my body does flareups when we're going to get rain that I have swelling in left leg,knees, headpain, preassure and such . She said to me that if I had ANY knid of Arthritis or anything she would be able to tell if I did because I would be all swelled up, ALL the time> And this was the firsrt time I met this person. I have always been pencilthin. Well, that is sort of still true, a little. My legs are massive, used to be EXTREMILY thin legs that a re like big round trees. I gotta go making self feel like crying not stoppin. MM Becky outta here Becky, I am sorry for what you are going through. I am on Enbrel, MTX, Azulfidine, and prednisone among others. Even while being on the prednisone I have been able to lose weight. Not a lot, grant you, but 10 lbs. I don't have RA, but AS (Ankylosing spondylitis), it's just like RA, but also involves the lower back. For me, the back pain is centered in the top half of my butt. It is sort of a catch 22, because the back pain does lighten up with movement, but also having problems with my feet, it is difficult to stay moving for very long. Donna G is right though, perhaps a physical therapist could help you out. I went and they showed me some exercises to loosen my back and to stretch out, and they have definitely helped me. I hope that you can find some relief soon, Char2 Char, Thank you for your words of encouragement. I just forced myself to go to the gym, but it was not good for my back. I am wearing a pair of new tennis shoes without my orthdoics, the new foot doctor just can't get them right, and she keeps telling me I don't need them and that I wear the wrong shoes, so I got some she suggested, they don't work either. I am battling a terrible cough right now. For some reason I have had the most extreme fatigue each morning when I am trying to pull myself out of bed, maybe it is to much stress over these stupid orthodics and shoes, who knows, I also feel like I am getting a sinsus problem, might as well. I have some zithromax in the cupboard I just may start it. Just got my labs back the said I was a little anemic and my lever enzymes were clear up to 40 they have always been 22, but I will start milk thistle and that will help I know. My husband has been so wonderful he just wants me back to how I used to me, gee so do I. Told him maybe I needed to see a shrink, he said oh no, but maybe a counselor would be a good idea, to learn to handle stress without all this, I can't sleep get heart palpations allt he time and have ZERO energy! And of course all blood work looks fine!!!!!!!! Thought for a while I was getting some where with the thyroid but no such luck. Well sorry didn't mean to add another chapter to my long whining story. Thank you so much for your words and just taking the time to read the post, it is very much appreciated. Have a good week, Becky > Becky, > I am sorry for what you are going through. [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > I hope that you can find some relief soon, > Char2 > Char, > Thank you for your words of encouragement. I just forced myself to go to [quoted text clipped - 38 lines] > > I hope that you can find some relief soon, > > Char2 Hi Becky, It's me again - perhaps the doc. meant Hashimoto's thyroid disease - couldn't you get your general practitioner to give you a trial of thyroid hormone (scream and shout!) since the endo has dismissed you. I hope some doctor helps you soon, a thyroid problem doesn't go away or improve on its own as you probably know..I agree with Donna's post below. Treatment for a failing thyroid will go a long way to making you feel well generally, and specifically might help with some of your general symptoms. Good luck Diana > Squirrelly, > That is also done, he said he was looking for a disease called Hysimotoes, [quoted text clipped - 73 lines] >>>> >>>> Donna G Becky, If they have a range from so and so to such and such, some people must fall outside one end or the other. Can't they at least try to treat the thyroid? Not to compare you, but my cat checked out at minimum thyroid levels and the vet said that a lot of animals (I don't know why this can't apply to people, too) have "in range" lab tests but benefit from the medication because their level of need is higher or lower than the "average". I used to have very low blood pressure (it still is fairly low, but not like it was) and they would never get concerned about it. I finally asked the nurse, "Isn't there a point between *low* and *no* that you get concerned?" LOL Anyhow, it's worth a try. If you can fix one problem, that will do a lot for your mental state. I would also agree with seeing a good physical therapist. You might want to ask the pt about your shoe problem, too. Mine gave me a hint that really helped with my heel spur. He told me to put the arch support with the cupped heel "under" the sole of the shoe. These were SAS shoes. Also be sure that you are wearing a large enough shoe. I thought I was, but I tried my mom's SAS that she couldn't wear and found I did need a size larger. Good luck and our prayers are with you. Loujean Retired and love it. Throw that FISH out and put in an S to email me. >HI Donna, >yes my general practitionier said I was hypo thyroid, he sent me to an [quoted text clipped - 61 lines] >> >> Donna G {{{Becky}}} Do you have a flat foot or an arch? If you have an arch, why don't you try a pair of open toed Birkenstock Arizona sandals. That cork center is the best thing that ever happened to me. Stops the floor shock into the rest of the body. But not everyone can wear them. I get mine from http://www.birkenstockcentral.com/ No affiliation yada yada Once you know your size [I take smaller than I can buy in street shoes cause these are actually wide enough for my foot] you can go to the bargain page all the time. I finally gave up on the sneakers and orthodics. My knees and feet throbbed all the time being confined in them and still throbbed at night when I took them off. I don't care what doctor tells me they are good for me and several did -- when something hurts, my body is telling me a different story. Anyway, the cork seems to make the difference for me. Duckie > I have posted here many times, I have had RA for over 3 years, finally > started the MTX about 8 months ago, take 17.5 but had to go down to the [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > Well thanks for listening. > Becky Signature_('> (_<_) _ _('< -quack (_<_) _ __('< *QUACK!* <_{__) _('< "|,,|_" (_<_) _('< "AFLAC!" (_<_) Becky, I have had arthritis for 6 years and have, at various times, been on MTX, azulfidine, Humira, Remicade, prednisone, plaquenil etc. Enbrel has been the only thing that really helped me. I gained a lot of weight from being on prednisone for 5 years, but now that I am off of it, I do not notice a weight gain from the Enbrel. I would give it a shot if I were you. Also, in the beginning, I found talking to a therapist helpful. It is a lot to deal with on a daily basis and it is very easy to get depressed. My weight gain from prednisone bothered me tremendously and I am just now starting to lose the 50+ pounds that I gained. It is an uphill battle, but the Enbrel and some therapy may help. It can't hurt to try, right? Take care and good luck, Barbara And when a friend takes you for cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory...it's always an uphill battle. I'm glad to see you survived our shopping trip yesterday. Folks, this is my friend Barbara. I told her all about you guys...and that she should hang around for a bit. melissa >Becky, > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] >Take care and good luck, >Barbara Welcome to the sandbox Barbara. :) any friend of Melissa.... I'll be dipped right Melissa Duckie I have had arthritis for 6 years and have, at various times, been on > MTX, azulfidine, Humira, Remicade, prednisone, plaquenil etc. Enbrel > has been the only thing that really helped me. I gained a lot of [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Take care and good luck, > Barbara Signature_('> (_<_) _ _('< -quack (_<_) _ __('< *QUACK!* <_{__) _('< "|,,|_" (_<_) _('< "AFLAC!" (_<_) Yup...long story.... melissa >Welcome to the sandbox Barbara. :) any friend of >Melissa.... [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >> Take care and good luck, >> Barbara Thanks Barbara, I will speak to my RA doc this Thursday and maybe I will start the enbrel, I really don't mind taking it if I knew for sure all the symptoms and problems that I was having was from the RA, I am not sure they all are. I have decided it probably would be more beneficial for myself and my family to gain a little weight but feel better and go back to doing the things I use to do. Easy to say hard to follow, well off to the chiropractor for a look at my back. Thanks again Becky > Becky, > [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > Take care and good luck, > Barbara Becky, As I mentioned earlier, I am on Enbrel as well. It's not the miracle for me that it has been for others, but the one miraculous thing it did do for me was to stop the overwhelming fatigue that I had, all day, every day. Looking back now, I don't know how I made it through that...working full time and trying to keep house when I was exhaused from the moment I woke up. Here's the doc telling me that exercise would help...how the hell can you exercise when you need all your energy just to get up and go to the bathroom? LOL However, after starting the Enbrel(and adjusting the MTX and adding a small dose of pred), I did start exercising-just walking. Very slowly at first and for very short distances. I feel that it helped me in a number of ways: It helped me to sleep better, I lost a small amount of weight, it sort of de-stressed me a little bit, and it made me feel that at least I was doing SOMETHING to battle against this damn disease. I can't walk every day-sometimes my feet just won't allow it, but I do it when I can. Let us know, if you start the Enbrel, how it's working for you and good luck, Char Hi Char, Thanks for the well wishes, I go to see my doctor on this Wed and am taking the prescription of enbrel I just had filled. I stopped wearing my orthodics these past weeks, and the pain in my hips is not as bad, the fatigue I don't think that will ever get better, but part of it could be stress, worrying about the shoes and orthodics nd the back issues. I do notice more pressure on my bad joints in my feet without the orthodics, but that is about all. I hope that the doc can tell me what I need to here, I can hardly stand getting up in the morning. I didn't know that the RA could be the cause of fatigue all through the day, I defiantly have it, everyone says to me where to you get your energy, I think what energy, I just do what I have to do and keep going. I have been having a lot of sore throats lately and more sinus stuff but that could be allergy. I would love to be able to find something we could all take with no side effects and make us feel like we used to. I do have an appointment with a counselor to help me deal with this a little better and not beat myself up so much. I also signed up for a Tia Chi class that will run on Monday nights for an hour, and am looking into the pool schedule for a couple times a week. I start back to work in exactly 3 weeks from today, sure hope things will have improved by then, but got to learn to take each day as they come. Thank you again for your concern. I will let you know how it goes. Oh and only 10 more days of the TB meds and then I am done with that, can't believe it has been almost 9 months already!. Thanks Becky > Becky, > As I mentioned earlier, I am on Enbrel as well. [quoted text clipped - 19 lines] > luck, > Char |
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