Question
QUESTION: I have recently been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, which luckily is currently 'mild'. I was diagnosed due to pains in hands and feet, but have suffered for years from apparent 'sinus problems' -severe pains in cheeks under eyes, headaches, and a bunged up feeling in the nose. Although I HAVE had sinusitis in the past, I've recently been getting the symptoms while my sinuses are, to quote the ENT guy ' So clear you could drop a bus down them'. I also sometimes get very red cheeks, often when I'm feeling tired and unwell with that 'fluey' feeling you get with RA sometimes.

I've also had peripatetic tooth/jaw pain and the dentist couldn't find anything.

It's recently dawned on me when someone else with RA was having some similar symptoms that it could be RA related, but I'm not due to see my consultant for a few months so wondered if you could help with a 'yes it's likely' or 'no it's not'.

Thank you!



Anne

ANSWER: Anne,

I do not think that it is likely that the sinus problems are due to RA.

Lupus is another type of autoimmune disease that sometimes causes sinus problems. It also causes a red rash on your cheeks called a butterfly rash.

Rusty
http://arthritis-symptom.com/lupus/index.htm

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you.

I'm somewhat familiar with Lupus and don't think mine is a Lupus rash. I wasn't actually suggesting it was sinusitis but that it might be something like referred jaw pain, especially with the moving toothache problems I was having.

Any further thoughts? I really appreciate your input.

Answer
Anne,

In general these symptoms around you face do not sound like the are caused by RA. That said, I am not sure you can rule it out. RA effects everyone different and can create pain almost anywhere. It is just very uncommon to hear of this type of pain associated with RA.

I sure hope you find some answers soon. I wish I had information that could be more helpful.

Rusty
http://arthritis-symptom.com/Rheumatoid-arthritis-symptoms/index.htm