RA pain help/suggestions
Posted , 8 users are following.
Hey everyone, today is not a good day at all, I've been diagnosed with RA for about 4 months im.currently on MTX, prednisone, celebrex, tremadol, and folic acid, and today I'm in a lot of PAIN can't sit comfortable at all my leg has shooting pains going up and it and ito getting me very ill and frustrated, any advice on how to deal with the pain? I've tried walking, I've tried sitting etc etc non stop shooting pains, my rheumys office is closed on weekends, I've taken celebrex and prednisone today not helping
0 likes, 9 replies
Buckeyes chris73946
Posted
good luck!
shirlee86000 chris73946
Posted
So sorry to hear about your bad day Chris, pain is alwful and it's the not knowing when it's going to go that gets to us. When I had a bad day before my methotrexate days ( a couple of months ago) I used to soak in a lovely warm bath with Epsom salts in, it really did help and then just get an early night, hope this helps
Rowbirdie chris73946
Posted
Hi Chris
which country are you in?
in the uk the usual procedure is if the methotrexate hasn't made a difference after 12 weeks then they add another dmard( eg sulfasalazine) Actualy recent research shows its best to tackle newly diagnosed RA aggressively with 2 or 3 DMARDS right from the beginning as there is a window of opportunity in the first 2 years after diagnosis to really hold the disease back.
it sounds to me that you need to see your rheumy and ask what more they will do. I ended up having a biologic ( Rituximab) after 9 months of pain and increasing immobility.That has made a significant improvement including fatigue.
sorry that doesn't help you with the question of what to do about the pain right now- can only suggest heat( or cold as some find that helps)
But do expect they can do more to help you than currently.
i have found arthritis research uk and NRAS websites very helpful and informative .
chris73946 Rowbirdie
Posted
Rowbirdie, thank you for your response I'm in the U.S I talked to my rheumy last week on the phone which I explained to her the meds are not working she told me to stay on the MTX until our next appt (august 11th) and she was then going to start me on biologics
Rowbirdie chris73946
Posted
glad you have a system over there which shortcuts the need to try less expensive things first as so many people find a significant difference with a biologic .
do you keep a diary of your symptoms? I ve found that helpful in giving objective feedback when I ve been given a new med.
Hope your rheumy can also advise in the short term while waiting for the biologic.all the best.
tony09890 chris73946
Posted
It won't help you today but for the future you may want to try some of the things that have helped me: paracetamol, turmeric and MSM. They don't stop the pain, just shave a little off the top.
Light tony09890
Posted
That's why we are usually also prescribed painkillers....to tide us over till the meds take effect. Paracetamol should help, as will others. Just don't stop with them.
Babyboomer27 chris73946
Posted
patyrod chris73946
Posted