This condition has never been mentioned to me but I've long suspected that it was what I had as part of my primary Sjögren's. It is the only explanation I can find for the intense episodes of inflammatory pain I have suffered from intermittently for 7 years now. Lately the pain has been coming and going in my left groin. I do have wear and tear arthritis in my hips, lower back, fingers, neck knees and jaw and the lower back is described as "significant". But this wouldn't explain the sudden flares that descend like a thunderstorm and leave areas of me in excruciating pain for days or even a week or two - before departing as swiftly as they came? I think just about every part of my body has suffered from episodes of this palendromic type of pain but my groin/ hip has been the main site affected for about 18 months now.
When a flare strikes I'm almost immobilised by it for a few days and start to panic because I can't take pain killers. My inflammation bloods CRP and PV or Sed rate usually tarry with pain levels. But by the time I've got a doctor's apt it's usually eased up - or else they have assumed it to be my acknowledged wear and tear. But I think it's just one of the many ways my Sjögren's flares. Does anyone else have these type of flash episodes of joint/muscle/nerve pain where you feel like you've been kicked by a horse?
I'm on the highest dose of Cellcept now (3g) and so far still feeling rubbish (fatigue, Sicca and GI problems) but much less SFN pain.
I have to admit I have not heard that term used regarding RA. I have arthritis that isn't RA but yet my joints do get involved and swell. My hip and back drive me crazy and I am spending a whole lot of time sitting lately with either ice packs or heat.
From my experience in nursing I know that some people seem to stay I constant flare with there arthritis and others have intermittent flares. Have you been on Methotrexate previously as that seems to work well for many people. I hope you get some info that will help you. Good luck. Irish
Thanks Irish. Palindromic is a term coined because, as the word palindrome suggests, it arrives and departs in exactly the same way so it mirrors itself. PR is sometimes seen as a precursor to RA - but with a faulty starter motor - meaning that it doesn't always become full throttle RA but can burn itself out or just keep reigniting but remaining non erosive, or else it can turn into full blown RA.
Mine did seem to burn itself out after two years of Methotrexate and Plaquenil. But I couldn't tolerate these finally nor Imuran. And as I actually had Sjögren's rather than RA or PR - my disease didn't burn out but continued to flourish. So the palindrome aspect seems to be different to OA in that it doesn't just grizzle and grind on - but arrives, tortures and then departs leaving the sufferer feeling vaguely bewildered but very relieved each time. Hope this explains?