Need help with apply Diclofenac and Bandaging
First off, my son is non verbal...has Down's and a bit of Autism. Although he can use an iPad with perfection, he doesn't tell me where his pain is, how much pain he's in, etc.
At any rate.....he's been limping again. I've been applying the Diclofenasc on his right foot.....from the ankle down. Might sound like a ridiculous question but what areas do you all concentrate on in any? Do you put it on the bottom of your feet? How about in between the toes?
Does Tylenol help you? He's on Eliquis/blood thinner so he can't take all over the counter pain meds. Is there a combination you've come up with that helps your pain? Prescription drugs? Over the counter?
Also, sometimes he's in the mood for an ace bandage/support....not always....I don't know if it helps or bothers him. Does wrapping your feet help you?
Sometimes he'll turn his head in a way one does with a stiff neck/pain. If you have the same, do you apply the Diclofenasc gel there as well?
Any input at all will help.
He's been diagnosed with PsA but his latest blood work was leaning towards Lupus although his rheumatologist isn't convinced another staff member agreed with the Lupus results.....he tested positive for Jo 1 as well.....any of you have similar results?
Hi @harry09. I have been wondering how you and your son are doing. I wish you didn't have so much confusion over his diagnosis. Have they told you what specifically in the blood test results leads them to believe he has lupus? Here is an article from our sister site, Lupus.net, about the diagnostic process for Lupus: https://lupus.net/tests. Hopefully, that will give you some insight into their reasoning. Lupus is about as difficult to diagnose as PsA. It is hard to say where on your son's foot you should apply the medication without knowing where the pain is. Can you tell by his limp which part of his foot hurts? PsA pain often presents in the Achilles tendon, but some people also feel pain on the tops of their feet or in their toes. You might want to ask his doctor whether it is safe to apply the medication to his neck. If he has PsA-related pain, it would most likely present in the spinal column. I am not very familiar with Jo 1. Hopefully, you will get feedback from others in the community. It must be difficult and often frustrating to try to help your son when he can't tell you about his pain. My heart goes out to you. - Lori (Team Member)
Hi Lori,
Thanks for answering so quickly.
These are the latest lab results.....not all of them but the ones that appear to me to be the culprits:
Ana Scrn - positive
Anti Jo 1 - 1.2
Anti Smith - 1.7
Chromatin - 1.2
Chromatin Ab - positive
Jo 1 - postive
Ribo P Ab - positive
Smith Ab - positive
SSA - 1.9
SSA Ab - positive
Do they mean anything to you?
I checked the link you sent for Lupus, briefly, will go back and study. Looks like it's a difficult one to diagnose. He meets many of the symptoms but he does as well for PsA. His next appt with his rheumatologist is Aug 25. Hey! If you know of any questions I should ask.....Fill Me In!
Good to know about the Achilles and toes! Thank you! I'll give them more attention.
When he limps? I can't tell.....yet.....which part of his foot affects him the most. He gets irritated when I watch him too closely. So much like his brothers who don't like it when I watch them closely either. So Irritating for me.....just trying to help! But.....I have to admit.....I didn't like my parents watching me closely either.This parenting thing is tough, @harry09! We are a non clinical site, so I can't comment on the test results, but I wouldn't know what they indicated anyway. So much of the diagnostic process for both PsA and Lupus is dependent on the doctor's interpretations of all the tests and the clinical observations put together. I would probably ask whether the doctor sees any joint damage and what is pushing him or her specifically to lean toward one diagnosis or the other. If you don't feel confident in this doctor's diagnosis, don't be afraid to seek out a second opinion. Not all rheumatologists are equally familiar with either condition. It might be helpful to find someone who specializes in PsA and/or Lupus. Please keep us posted if you feel comfortable doing so. I will be thinking of you! - Lori (Team Member)
