Joint Pain needs more than over the counter

Posted , 7 users are following.

I am a 53 year old woman diagnosed with SS and mild Lupus. I am currently taking 400 mgs Hydroxychloroquine a day with great results. Until recently over the counter pain meds have been enough to handle joint pain and headaches but now I can't seem to stay ahead of the pain and at times I feel desperate for something stronger. I have a Doctors appt. this week and would like to request a medication I can use only when needed for pain. Any suggestions? I don't want anything that will knock me out just something better than regular over the counter. Thanks!

 

1 like, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • Posted

    After trying all kind of pharma narcotics I found that cannabis is most beneficial in my case.

    Good luck.

    • Posted

      You could have a point there. I've never needed to try it myself, but I've heard it helps in all kinds of conditions.
  • Posted

    Hi Sally. As an RA (35 yrs) and Sjogren's (20 yrs) sufferer I've always been fortunate enough to be able to control joint pain with homeopathy and life-style, so I don't know what to suggest.

    What I do know, however, is that you should be very wary about going on steroids, unless it's for a short burst of just a few days. Doctors faced with cases that can't be treated by all the usual means are sometimes tempted to fall back on long-term steroid therapy, just to keep the patient out of their hair. This happened to a friend of mine, who recently died after 50 years of serious illness and disability (including an amputation), most of which could be traced back to a life on steroids prescribed for rheumatic fever in her youth.

    I know you want to feel better but please be alert to this risk.

  • Posted

    Try to go over for a while -if you are not doing this already- to a "vegetarian" diet

    -no meat, no fish ,no MILK PRODUCTS, rarely an egg.

    A lot of fresh vegetables and fruits if possible organic.

    and discuss with you doctor taking as well the natural supplement MODUCARE [ at least an hour before food or 2 hours after] twice a day a capsule .

    Just a two suggestions [from a physician dealing with natural medicine for 35 years]

    All the best

    • Posted

      Thanks for your advice. I've been on a nearly vegan, low gluten diet for a few years now and it really helps. I've just ordered some Moducare as I'd never heard of it before. I'd like to recommend Simba. It really helps with fatigue. I fortunately don't get joint pain but have so many other symptoms. I've refused medication to date and it will be a last resort.
  • Posted

    Hi Sally I am Pam from the FB group British Sjogren's. Hi yes I know all about Sjogren's and its big brother the wolf. You are doing well 400mgs of Hydroxychloroquine are you in the UK? If so I am surprised your on the generic as it seems most UK rheumys have switched to Plaquinel which most patients seem to tolerate better. OK re the pain, first are you on Pilocarpine? This is the drug my consultant recommends to try to restore any glandular tissues in the mouth and eyes. It idea being if you can tolerate it  there are benefits but as I personally had the sicca symptoms at 20 and am now 68 sadly my glands are beyond help. May I ask what blood markers you have ?
  • Posted

    This might not be the reply you are looking for, but, I have suffered severe joint and muscle pain over the years and at long last have found help. I visit physio therapists and they have found a number of reasons for the pain . In some cases this has been inflamed and swollen tendons and/or ligaments. They are able, at least in my case, to reduce the pain. I now rarely take pain killers. The improvement was not fast or dramatic but continual and progressive. I hope this may be of help.
  • Posted

    Thank you all so much for all the good advice I knew I could count on you all for help. I live in the US I am on the AIP diet which has helped tremendously with the pain already. I like the idea of finding new ways to deal with the pain with mental exercises thank you. I also think you are right about staying away from narcotics and steroids if at all possible. In times of desperation I have thought of Cannibus but have never tried it and I'm reluctant to head down that road. I had asked my doctor about it and he seemed unenthusiastic stating that long term studies have not yet been done on the effects on the brain. I am finding it hard to accept that I can't do the simplest tasks (gardening) without paying such a painful price. I was just diagnosed a year ago in August have the rest of you had to dial back your physical activity to stay flare free? Any secrets to heading off the pain?

    Thanks so much for your input

    Sal

    • Posted

      Hi Sally,

      I'm largely in remission these days (for about the past 6 years) but am currently coping with a minor flare-up due to a stressful situation plus an accident I had a month or so ago that put a strain on practically all my muscles and joints.

      I don't really have to take any special precautions outside of flare-ups, apart from acknowledging that in my 70s I can't do all the things I used to! However, during flare-ups - like now - I find it's important not to push myself, while at the same time maintaining a basic exercise regime to avoid my joints seizing up. In my case that means cutting back from walking an hour or so every day to about 15 minutes and doing fewer numbers of each movement in my daily exercise programme - and cutting out any movements that really hurt altogether, just for the duration.

      Sometimes it's a matter of listening to your body and being kind to yourself without letting yourself turn into a complete couch potato.

    • Posted

      Keep in mind that Md's are not getting anything from Cannabis most Md's recommend whatever they get a cut from, It's sad but that's the truth I'm lucky to have a Dr that is really humble and he recommended cannabis to me . I'm in an illegal state and makes it more difficult , I use an oil and the dose is literally the size of this icon🔹👈I do not get high from it . I'm 50 . Best of luck !
  • Posted

    Thanks Lily I guess the hardest thing for me is not feeling guilty about taking the time to rest.  I haven't been able to figure out how to do that yet.

     

    • Posted

      Hi Sally, I see you say you're 53. Do you still have young kids, or are you a carer for your partner? I never married or had children so I've always admired mothers, especially those who work outside of the home as well. However, these days (I'm 71 and retired from paid employment) I still do a busy voluntary job as well as looking after a friend with dementia - who's now in a care home, which makes things easier.

      I notice the same phenomenon among some of my friends, most of whom are my age. Some of them seem to feel they can't justify their existence unless they're exhausting themselves working flat out 24/7 looking after their grandchildren, whereas others seem to be able to establish a healthy balance.

      Are you really not able to scale back your physical activities a bit or is it just guilt that's stopping you? In my book, no guilt should attach to accepting the limitations imposed on us by ill-health or ageing. I didn't want to give in when the first signs of ageing appeared. However, I've learnt that acknowledging my limitations, while not allowing them to take over my life, has in fact kept me more active over the long term.

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