Kickas.org Forums Rheumatoid Arthritis General Discussion #1 RA Web Support Group Is this normal for as?

I have been getting horrible sudden scream out loud pain in my Achilles tendon every once in a while for a few months now and I don't have any idea what it is. I know that's where the as is most concentrated but I don't know what's going on there. It feels like a thick rubber band is snapping at the insertion point in my heel, just above the pad of the foot. Should I be scared or panicy or is this 'normal' as pain I should get used to?

Sounds like enthesitis. Enthesitis in various joints is somewhat common for those with an arthropathy (AS being one). It's a nasty pain. Here's a link to some of the treatments for it.

--Greg

Yes. Have had this several times. Worst was when gardening - I did in fact scream out. Horrible. Fortunately did not last too long. Also get it temps-en-temp when out walking. Had a left ankle moment this afternoon when walking upstairs.

Have never done owt 'specific' for it. IF lasted for hours say, then would have to do something positive to treat.

At times (in the past, hopefully stays in the past), the spondy really affected my feet. The Plantar fasciitis was so bad that it then caused me to pull a tendon/ligament in the top of my foot. could put no weight on my foot when that happened, for several days no weight bearing on that foot. i've also had heel pain so bad, again, could put no weight on that foot.

Found a wonderful podiatrist that has given me so many useful recommendations, has helped me so much, that I haven't even needed to see her for 2 years now. and before that i think it had been about 2 years.

See if you can find a really good podiatrist.

Too, tell your rheumy about it.

PT may also be helpful.

While it is rather "normal", should in no way just suck it up and assume you have to put up with it.

My SI joint getting so inflamed that the muscle spasms make functioning impossible is also "normal" but in no way "just accepted". Or the bone spurs pressing on nerves. Or back when I used to tear tendons and ligaments. All "normal", but not "acceptable" or "accepted".

Went to doctors, found treatments to help: 1. prevent these things from becoming so severe and/or 2. treat the problems as they occur.

Thanks for the link Gbash, I think someone else once mentioned that term to me but I guess I just forgot. I can be sitting there minding my own business with my foot still and it will hit me out of the blue, unreal, if it wasn't me I wouldn't believe such pain was possible.

Mollyc1i, is it wrong that I am comforted to know I am not the only person who screams from it. I don't do it all the time, usually just the first time in a while when it takes me off guard like yesterday. I shifted my foot and it hit me like a ton of bricks and then kept coming and going all night. If i dont scream i just wimper or hold my breath because i cant breathe through it. Mercifully it didn't happen today but I have no idea of what tomorrow will bring.

Thanks for the pep talk Sue22, you are right I was looking at normal as the same as to be tolerated. I guess that's just my mindset with migraines, I don't really expect things to work. This pain has been a few years now and I keep hoping it will spontaneously go into remission but hasn't yet and I am starting to think it might never stop. I am incredibly grateful most of the other jumping joint hot spots have been quieted by low doses of the Sulfasalazine but this one spot won't quiet for anything yet . deep in my hip also gets severe pain from time to time but that isn't a constant and isn't as striking as my foot. Do you really think I should call the dr over it, it's not really new and he knows and I am not on the proper dose of my medicine , it might be a "I can't help you until you get onto the full dose" sort of conversation

Enthesisis is right weird. Lying in bed this morning, suddenly R. ankle let me know it was around... Didn''t scream, as not that bad, just a sudden aching pain in the 'usual' spot. Happily soon went. But...

AS is such a monster -

Enthesitis is my primary complaint from beginning of symptoms (12 yrs ago, with plantar fasciitis) to now. Every tendon attachment on my legs hurts, but my treatments are working fairly well. Pain meds cover the rest. In flares, heels start hurting again and sometimes the Achilles does too. Hands can hurt at times, when work is too busy. Sometimes, everything hurts just because it CAN. A PT visit could help, as well as a podiatrist. Some good orthotics could help, though I haven't had good luck with custom ones. The ones I get from the New Balance store work the best of all.

Yeah, probably wait for full dose of med to happen, but keep track of the pains from time to time to see how the meds are working and if they are helping everything.