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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Lupus / June 2006Lupus Question
Hello. I was diagnosed with RA/SLE back in 1989. Something I've always noticed is that when I'm sick, whether it's a cold, sinus infection, etc., or when I have an injury (surgery, cut, burn, etc.) the joint & muscle pain is very mild. After the healing of the wound/infection is over, pain returns to the usual level. I'm guessing it's because my immune system is focused on the injury and not the rest of my body (?). I've been dealing with sinus infections about 4 times a year since around the same time I was dx'd with RA/SLE. It's nice to have a break from the everyday aches & pains when I've got the sinus infection. I don't know what makes me more miserable... the joint/muscle pain or the sinus infections? I just had foot surgery 6 weeks ago... reconstruction of my metatarsals... where the Dr. cuts off the heads of the metatarsals so that my toes with drop back down to the normal position... and it was a WONDERFUL break from the aches/pains of RA/SLE -- even though I was dealing with the pain from the surgery. Does this happen with most/many Lupus patients?  SignatureKendall F. Stratton III Fort Fairfield, Maine USA k3@(86_the_Spam)Maine.rr.com http://home.maine.rr.com/k3 "Support Bacteria - It's the only culture some people have!" Maybe it isn't so much that the immune system is focused on the sinus infection, the surgery or any other thing but your mind is focused on it. You know like kicking something and hurting your foot so your head will stop the excruciating pain and the feelings of your head is going to explode of your migrane headache...but the headache is still there but you are now concentrating on the toes you just broke. Glad to hear that the surgery and the results of it are wonderful! Sherry > Maybe it isn't so much that the immune system is focused on the sinus > infection, the surgery or any other thing but your mind is focused on [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Sherry Nope! Ain't it... The symptoms of RA/SLE (pain, stiffness and inflamation) are much better whenever I either have in injury or a serious chronic sinus infection. I'm certain. Last week (5 weeks after the surgery -- when things were pretty well healed) I started getting the severe pain & stiffness in my joints and muscles again. Then I came down with a wicked bad cold and got a nasty sinus infection this past weekend and now I'm almost pain-free. Maybe it's the antibiotics? I usually have to take them for 21-42 days to completely get rid of the infection. And like I said before... I'm taking the antibiotics 4-5 times a year. I've heard that antibiotics help some others with arthritis (?). You'd think that know a lot about SLE (having it for what, 16 years now), but I don't. I take Enbrel shots twice a week whenever I can. I miss the doses more often than I take 'em because of the sinus infections. My Rheumy and I think maybe it's the Enbrel that's (not causing, but) aggrevating the sinus allergies/infections. She'll take me off the Enbrel until I call her back and beg her to prescribe it again because I'm in so much pain. Two shots later, the pain is at a tolerable level, but then my sinuses start to bother me again. I had the same problem with Methotrexate years ago. It's a constant roller-coaster ride... with both the pain management and controlling the sinus infections. SignatureKendall F. Stratton III Fort Fairfield, Maine USA k3@(86_the_Spam)Maine.rr.com http://home.maine.rr.com/k3 "Support Bacteria - It's the only culture some people have!" I had a friend, who has just died a few months ago, who had RA all her childbearing years and older to 85 when she died and she was maintained all those years on penacillamine.... don't know just what the relationship to the other antibiotics is but I do know that lupus patients should avoid it due to 'sensitivities'.... that is about the extent of my knowledge on it... but as well this friend of mine never had to take another med for pain her entire lifetime! It worked for her and worked well and I still don't understand why..... I read about it and found out that it is an oldstanding and 'old fashioned' med for treating RA.... worked like a hot dam for her!!! HTH! hugs, Shelagh >> Maybe it isn't so much that the immune system is focused on the sinus >> infection, the surgery or any other thing but your mind is focused on [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > constant roller-coaster ride... with both the pain management and > controlling the sinus infections. > I had a friend, who has just died a few months ago, who had RA all > her childbearing years and older to 85 when she died and she was [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > hugs, > Shelagh Hello Shelah, I'm sorry for the loss of your friend. :-( I found some info on Penicillamine (http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/uspdi/202445.html) and am going to discuss this with my Rheumy and ENT to see if many it will help control both the RA/SLE and the Chronic Sinusitis/Rhinitis. The DMARDS that are out there today (Enbrel, MTX, etc.) work wonderful in controlling the pain/stiffness, but seem to aggrevate the Sinusitis. Thanks for the info. :-) SignatureKendall F. Stratton III Fort Fairfield, Maine USA k3@(86_the_Spam)Maine.rr.com http://home.maine.rr.com/k3 "Support Bacteria - It's the only culture some people have!" Sometimes I think my wild, over active, immune system is just so happy to have something valid to concentrate on that it leaves the rest of me alone. I would look for allergen sources within your home. Starting with things like furnace filters and heat/air ducts. Next check the drip pan under the frig. Bev > > Maybe it isn't so much that the immune system is focused on the sinus > > infection, the surgery or any other thing but your mind is focused on [quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > constant roller-coaster ride... with both the pain management and > controlling the sinus infections. > Sometimes I think my wild, over active, immune system is just so > happy to have something valid to concentrate on that it leaves the [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > pan under the frig. > Bev So then, you experience the same as I do... relief from pain & stiffness when sick/injured? We've got 4 well-know allergens in this house: Ginger, Angel, Maggie and Beau (http://home.maine.rr.com/k3/_temp/Allergens.jpg). They are our 4 cats. I'm almost certain that I'm allergic to them, but there's no way that we can get rid of them. I do take Claratin and Sudafed on a daily basis. I also run 4 HEPA air-cleaners whenever the windows are closed (winter season) and vacuum the house thoroughly every day. The rest of the year the windows are wide open. It's definitely the indoor allergens that bother me the most. I irrigate my sinuses twice a day with homemade saline solution (1/2 tsp of Kosher Salt and 1/2 tsp of Baking Soda mixed with 2 cups of warm water). SignatureKendall F. Stratton III Fort Fairfield, Maine USA k3@(86_the_Spam)Maine.rr.com http://home.maine.rr.com/k3 "Support Bacteria - It's the only culture some people have!" > Ginger, Angel, Maggie and >Beau (http://home.maine.rr.com/k3/_temp/Allergens.jpg). Drool... SignatureAndy Taylor [Chair, N E Lupus Group] See http://www.northeastlupus.org.uk for more! Drooling is not very becoming on a grown man. You can get by with it when you are under two years of age. Bev > > Ginger, Angel, Maggie and > >Beau (http://home.maine.rr.com/k3/_temp/Allergens.jpg). > > Drool... > We've got 4 well-know allergens in this house: Ginger, Angel, Maggie and > Beau (http://home.maine.rr.com/k3/_temp/Allergens.jpg). They are our 4 > cats. I'm almost certain that I'm allergic to them, but there's no way > that we can get rid of them. Cats definitely hate to lose a good housekeeper/cook/groomer/entertainer/lap-provider. Have you tried grooming them with a spray-on moisturizer? Your local pet shop should have one for cats. They can help with the dander and dried saliva. --Bill Thompson For starters what is the basket weave you have at the window? (I wouldn't dare take a photo of my bedroom - it's too messy and dusty!) The cats are adorable! Maybe if there is something legitimate going on the lupus seems to be less active in other areas - it just concentrates on the injury! That nasal wash is good if you are jammed up but like any decongestant it should only be used for a few days otherwise it stimulates the nasal passages to make more mucus. Get some Lysol or other antibacterial spray and shoot it through the ducts. The intake ducts are a great place to start while the unit is running. Then turn it off and do the other ducts. Refrigerator drip pans can usually be removed and washed in the kitchen sink. Usually you have to pop the bottom grill off the frig to get to it. Those things can make a BIG difference! Bev > > Sometimes I think my wild, over active, immune system is just so > > happy to have something valid to concentrate on that it leaves the [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > (1/2 tsp of Kosher Salt and 1/2 tsp of Baking Soda mixed with 2 cups of warm > water). > For starters what is the basket weave you have at the window? (I > wouldn't dare take a photo of my bedroom - it's too messy and dusty!) > The cats are adorable! That basket weave "thingy" is a light. Thank you -- yes they are adorable. > Maybe if there is something legitimate going on the lupus seems to be > less active in other areas - it just concentrates on the injury! That's what I'm wondering. Is is like this for (m)any Lupus patients? > That nasal wash is good if you are jammed up but like any > decongestant it should only be used for a few days otherwise it > stimulates the nasal passages to make more mucus. If I don't irrigate at least once a day, I'm misserable and things are worse tomarrow. > Get some Lysol or other antibacterial spray and shoot it through the > ducts. The intake ducts are a great place to start while the unit is > running. Then turn it off and do the other ducts. We should own Lysol stocks... we use so much of that stuff. We spray everything with it. No air ducts in this house -- Wood as Primary, Baseboard hot-water heat as Secondary > Refrigerator drip pans can usually be removed and washed in the > kitchen sink. Usually you have to pop the bottom grill off the frig to > get to it. Those things can make a BIG difference! I will check the fridge drip pan today! Thanks! SignatureKendall F. Stratton III Fort Fairfield, Maine USA k3@(86_the_Spam)Maine.rr.com http://home.maine.rr.com/k3 "Support Bacteria - It's the only culture some people have!" |
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