Comorbidities - coping when you have more than 1 condition
I have fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis (along with other odds and ends). My RA is under control according to my very low inflammatory markers, which is great. But it seems like the other two conditions have really ramped up since the RA diagnosis 2 years ago. Yes, I am getting older, but my joints hurt so bad when I walk that I want to scream. Angry feet. Bursitis in one hip. A really bad knee on the opposite side. It doesn't take much movement before I have to sit down. I finally figured out how to separate the fibromyalgia pain from the various joint ailments, but it seems like it is taking its role as a "pain amplification syndrome" entirely too seriously! I'm 63 years old, not dead, and I have things I'd like to do with my life still - but the pain stops me. Any good coping tips out there?
Hi
. You are dealing with quite a handful. That said, it is also a combination that I know others here also have. Our contributor Wren writes about exactly these, plus the bursitis thrown in here: https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/multiple-complications. Our contributor Mary Sophia wrote about RA and fibromyalgia: https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/stories/sero-negative-fibromyalgia. Fibromyalgia is discussed in many other posts on the site and you may want to use the search function to look for more items.
In addition, if you have different specialists, we know how hard it can be to get doctors to coordinate care. Our contributor Kelly Mack (full disclosure - I'm her husband) wrote about this here: https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/release-hounds.
I also want to note that sometimes inflammation numbers don't tell the whole story. Just this past week Kelly's rheumatologist noted that her IL-6 inhibitor will no doubt lower her CRP because of the particular pathways that IL-6 inhibits, but that alone wouldn't mean her RA was under control. It is important that patients be treated to symptoms and not just tests. I hope this information is helpful and that others chime in with their thoughts. Best, Richard (Team Member)It's frustrating when you’re dealing with multiple conditions that all overlap but feel different at the same time. There's only so much a person can handle. As far as coping, there are many things you can do and finding out what works best for you will be the key to build your own toolkit of coping mechanics. Here are a few things that our members have often said helps them to cope.
-Take breaks before you hit your limit
-Don’t push through. Find a way to alternate activity and rest
-Use heat for stiffness, ice for sore spots
-Keep movement light (short walks, stretching)
-Wear really supportive shoes and clothes
-Shorten or modify activities when you can
Coping isn’t about giving in to the pain, it’s about finding ways to move through it without letting it take everything from you. You deserve to still live life to your fullest potential. You have RA, but RA doesn’t have you. I hope these tips help and that you’re able to keep doing the things you love.
Kindly, Latoya (Team Member)
