I don't have a solid diagnosis, but what's going on in my body appears to be lupus. I am being treated as if I had it, with plaquenil and meloxicam. I recently went on anti-anxiety meds as well, but that is just because I worry way too much but has nothing to do with lupus as I've been dealing with anxiety most of my life.
I've been feeling pretty dang good (happy, excited, loving life again) since going on the anti-anxiety meds, even popping out of bed early on the weekends! However, the past 2 weeks I have been feeling very very exhausted, no energy again, and now the past 2 days my hands and feet have been super stiff and sore. My hands hurt so bad it hurts to write, and playing my violin is almost out of the question. I did it cause I need to practice, but I hurt really bad when I was done. I wanted to take the hood off my jacket last night, but I could barely pull the zipper my hands were so stiff.
Is this normal for lupus flares? It's only my hands and feet right now, plus the exhaustion. My hips were a tad sore after practicing the violin (I was sitting down the whole time cause I'm so tired), but no other pain.
I get like that with my knees and hips. They get super achy and stiff. I try to move around when I'm sitting so I don't get stiff, but then it makes the aches worse. It's a vicious cycle. The meloxicam should help with your soreness, but if you just started it, it can take a few weeks to fully kick in. Heat has helped me a lot too... hot baths/showers, or even heating pads. I feel like the moist heat helps the most though. In another post, someone wrote that they treated themselves to a hot parrafin wax treatment and said it really helped with her aches and soreness. That's next on my list of things to try during my flares.
I was dxed in 1998 and I was also very unsure and fearful. I had four children the youngest then was 8 and the oldest 18. I did not have a supportive husband and was soon on my own with all four.
I found that as the disease begins to "settle" or I learned about it, flares took on a common theme and mine would begin with mouthsores, fever, joint pain, GREAT fatigue and then would run a course, much like the flu, ending with feeling bruised all over and then it would just go away . As I have gotten older (54 now) I find that the additional arthritis issues and just aging with this disease to have new challenges, much as I felt when first diagnosed. I just hope things settle back down for me. I suppose with time, they will.
Two years ago I had problems with both of my hands swelling and stiff, could not open or close them to write or even hold my hair brush...everything was a struggle for about 6 months, I had to wear wrist splints the whole time, and was on prednisone. But since then, no more problems with my hands,... now and for the past 2 weeks it seems that my hips and feet are the new attack site for Lupus, aching and stiff, hurts to walk, sit, and even lying down in bed. Five years ago, it was my knees, had trouble walking and so much pain...no more problems with them. So for me the flares can last 6 months, then later move on to a new location. When I am in a flare though, it is hard to remember that this will eventually end and things will get better......." THIS TOO SHALL PASS ".............:)
Yes I have constant hand joint issues and I too believe moist heat works the best as a pain relieve! Things come and go, take wadvantage of the good days and take it easy on the bad! Praying for ya!
I have also been tested for Lupus but the results came back negative, however the Consultant prescribed me plaquenil. I cant remember a time when I was able to "pop out of bed early" however with regards to the stiff hands, tiredness/exhaustion I can understand. However all of my arms legs, muscles, face, head etc hurt ALL of the time. My face has been hurting for going on 2 years and I have been mis diagnosed a number of times. the pain in the last few weeks is really bad in my knees, ankles and wrists affecting my working day and home life greatly!!!!. I feel like there is no light at the end of this long dark tunnel !
Hi, sorry I don't know your name. Do you have a Rhuemy if so do he have you taking anti-inflamatory drugs for the stiffness and the aches in your body and joints, are you taking any prescription pain meds like Tramadol or Oxycodone for severe pain. For the low energy levels that you are experiencing my Rhuemy has me taking supplements like DHEA is for energy it acts like Plaquniel does for the body. He also has me taking folic acid, vitamin D3, Omega 3&6, and a multi vitamin. Also you should keep a tube of pain cream rubs at home so that you can put them directly where the pain hits you. You should be taking Plaquniel, Methotraxte, pain meds, anti-inflamatory, drugs and supplements to help control Lupus flares. The mistake some people make is that when they are not in a flare they stop taking their meds, this just kicks you back into another flare you should not stop taking your meds or supplements just because you are feeling better.
I'm taking plaquenil and meloxicam. I'm also on lexapro for generalized anxiety disorder, so I can't take too many different pain meds or it can cause a fatal reaction called seratonin syndrome. I read about serotonin syndrome from anti-anxiety/ anti-depression meds mixing with certain pain meds, so I got a medic alert bracelet with all my medications listed........lexapro, propanolol for performance anxiety (it's a beta-blocker), plaquenil and meloxicam, plus a couple others for other issues.