Swollen ankles/flare/depression

[jessiblah]

So I am sure I am in a flare right now. Tongue sores, joint pain, fatigue, nerve pain and now my ankle is twice the size it is supposed to be. I had no injury to cause the swelling. It isn't even in the joint it is above the joint. I wore boots on saturday and flats today. I was trying to dress up and look good but apparently my body didn't like that. I usually where my tennis shoes that i spent $100 + on with expensive orthotics. So I decided to go to the store to get a wrap for my ankle and a special kind of ice pack and I couldn't even get my tennis shoes on. I just turned 23 years old last thursday and I am sick of feeling 50. If my life is going to keep up like this, it isn't worth living. My life can't even go forward because of all of my medical issues. I should be able to do anything at my age but some days i can't even get out of bed. I just spent the last year of my life in physical therapy for my knees and shoulder. Now I was just in the ER for groin pain that turned out to be a "hernia" but not exactly because the intestines are not poking through so we will wait until the intestines are poking through to do surgery.

I just wish someone could tell me that life will get better and I will never have to live like this again. The medical bills are piling up and life is getting more and more stressful. I am too freaked to go on antidepressants again as i had a horrible experience the last time i was on them but I need to do something. I am sick of feeling this way.

[bloodless]

I'm sorry you are going through this, but if you've needed antidepressants and really feel you need them now, you should really see about a different prescription. Because everyone is different, there are several drugs out there now. Let all your docs know ALL your complaints until they get it right.

[susanep]

I am really sorry that you so young has to go through this. Try to take everything they think might help you, and remember it does let up, and you can feel better.

susanep

[Tinker]

Jessiblah, so sorry you are going through this pain and misery at any age.

Is only one ankle involved or is it both?  I am not aware that this is part of SS.

I hope you get the right medical care and start to feel better soon.  Don't give up. 

[jessiblah]

It is one ankle. I have always had problems related to my ankles but this seems a little higher than the ankle itself. It is very painful and swollen. The swelling has decreased over the past few days but I can not wear shoes without a brace on as it hurts too much and still slightly swollen. There was no actual injury, well at least one I can't remember. I have been losing chunks of memory all of a sudden too. They are just little tid bits of memory but who knows. I go back to the rheumy at the end of the month so hopefully i will have some answers then.

[bloodless]

Sometimes orthopedic surgeons are a godsend. When I've had ankle issues in the past, the orthopedist would inject something in there (I don't remember what it's called) and make them feel better. Makes me feel like the tin man in the Wizard of Oz that needs oiling. 

[jessiblah]

steroid injections in the joint scare me. Plus Sjogren's decreases moisture including that of your joints so in turn the cartilage starts wearing away because of it. Steroid injections destroy cartilage as well over time. I stay away from steroid injections as much as i can. I have an orthopedic surgeon for nearly every joint. My dr's office knows me so well I do not even have to say my name they recognize me and my file is the largest there.

[Tinker]

I have 2 swollen ankles and legs.  My doc ruled out cardiac, kidney, liver, and arterial venous circulation with the doppler.

She called today and referred me to a lymphedema clinic.  A doc there will check me out now.

I don't know if lymphedema is a symptom of sjogren's but everything else is.

Maybe you are having a similar situation.  At any rate, I wouldn't wait.  It only gets worse.  Once that skin is stretched out if doesn't exactly snap back the was it was.

Good luck. 

[Styx]

jessi, it sounds to me like you are undertreated. The joint symptoms you describe are typically the most responsive of Sjogren's symptoms to treatment.

Has your doc talked to you about methotrexate?

I'm young (28) and sick too. Hang in there!

Styx