Joint Pain

[Brooke]

I have not had joint pain ever, I hope that I do not. I was just wondering how many of you have it? Did you have it before being diagnosed? Or was it from Pred/Cytoxin/Rituxan/Or some other drug?
Just curious.

[Sangye]

Wow, you are lucky with that. It was my first symptom--woke up one morning and one finger joint felt as if it had been smashed by a hammer. Gradually it spread to all joints except my spine. It was migratory. I can't even describe the pain. I've had broken bones that weren't nearly as painful. Within a few months of it starting I was pretty much crippled with pain. It was the only symptom I had for many months, and it's a reliable indicator for me that the Wegs is either waking up or fully awake.

I've also had pred withdrawal pain. It can be surprisingly bad, but for me has a very different quality than Wegs pain and is so much easier to handle.

[Psyborg]

I also had joint pain as my first major symptom. It can be pretty excruciating. I'm well controlled but still get an occasional twinge, I think the twinges are largely due to tapering Prednisone. Still get the pain and stiffness in my index finger fairly frequently. Occasionally it crops up in an ankle or knee as well.

[Jack]

Almost unable to walk due to joint pain before diagnosis.

[Brooke]

Yikes, does not sound good at all. Does the joint pain stop after Cytoxin/Rituxan? Or what helps the pain?

[freakyschizogirl]

I got pain when i went on the pred for the first few days. Other than that i do get aches and pains in my Ankle but thats cos i broke it 2 years ago.

[Psyborg]

Most of my pain went away with the pred, even more has gone away over time of being on CTX then MTX. I have to say that at one point I had to sit on my butt and slide down my stairs to get down because the pain and weakness were so intense. Now it's a mild annoyance at worst, and some days I have no pain at all.

[Geoff]

My experience of joint pain was totally bizarre in so far as I would be OK at work and then it would gradually kick in during the afternoon leaving me 'crippled'. I couldnt pop the pain killers out of the foil, my wife would have to line them up along with the sleeping tablets. Come the morning, I would get up, shower, go to work and start all over again! Luckily after DX all joint pain has gone, although I get 'flashes' in my toes or fingers occasionaly.

[pwc51]

My experience is like Geoff's - build up during the day and by the time I am back from work it was excrutiating! By morning it was as if I had never had a problem. Usually a different joint or joints each day. Largely gone now but a good indicator of flare.

I have had other pains that seem to have been associated with the large pred infusions and whilst very uncomfortable it is a different 'quality' of pain! These are around for a few days and then go.

[ArlaMo]

I had pretty severe joint pain before I was diagnosed. I even got cortisone shots in my knees and elbows - I could barely walk or move my arms. Trying to stand up from a sitting position was excruciating! I got stuck in the tub once for several hours . I got in to soak my aching joints and then could not get out again. Going on pred has definitely helped with the pain, but I still get achy sometimes.