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This might be a stupid question, but.......

Posted , 7 users are following.

constance.de
constance.de

As far as I know, Methotrexate, Sulfasalazine, Planquenil are all medicines that 'help' to relieve RA in one way or another.  But surely, they only reduce the pain?!!  The silly question - what happens if you just put up with the pain?  Do you just seize up?

I'm new to RA.  I am, however, 76 - and am 'afraid' of taking any more medicines (I am taking Prednisone for  PMR at the moment).

Looking forward to your comments.

C.

0 likes, 26 replies

26 Replies

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  • tony38011
    tony38011 constance.de

    Posted

    I would think it depends on how severe your RA is as to whether you sieze up or not. I had all of my RA immune supressing meds stopped 4 months ago due to complications caused by a more recent chronic condition. I'm currently taking tramadol and a short (one week) course of naproxen to try to combat the constant debilitating pain. I can't take long term anti-inflammatories because I had a mild heart attack 10 years ago, which rather ironically was caused by anti-inflammatories. Not sure what my GP is going to come up with after I've finished the naproxen on monday...a minor miracle I hope! smile I've had RA for 12 years with multiple joints affected...hands, wrists, shoulders and knees being the worst, and yes I have more or less siezed up at least during the mornings, evenings and night time. I'm not too bad during day time but even then life ain't much fun and my good wife has to do a lot to help me. My consultants are trying to come up with some form of effective treatment, but to be honest and realistic I don't hold out much  hope. 

    So to sum up - metotrexate and enbrel worked great for me prior to the complications brought on by my other health condition and I'd give my right arm, under anaesthetic of course, smile to be able to take them again.

    • constance.de
      constance.de tony38011

      Posted

      I'm new to RA. Hands and ankles affected.  They are stiff, swollen and painful, but the pain is bearable, that's why I don't want to start taking extra medicines.  As you have probably read, I have PMR and must take prednisone.  I think I'll just saunter on for the present.  See what doctor suggests!

      Thanks for your reply.  C.

    • lodgerUK_NE
      lodgerUK_NE constance.de

      Posted

      Visit the ARC site and read up on Flexiseq, developedd by the ARC research and a big pharma in Germany.   It is a bio-mechanical gel and works like WD 40.   Brilliant, I can know type once again and another Lady I know is knitting for the first time in 10 years.
    • tony38011
      tony38011 constance.de

      Posted

      If you can get by without  extra meds then all well and good. As with most people, I hate taking meds, especially the strong immune suppressors I was taking for my RA, though as previously mentioned - I'd go on them now in a heart beat if I could.  Unfortunately for me,they, enbrel especially, played a significant part in me getting septic arthritis in my hip, which ain't much fun I can assure you... I needed surgery and 6 weeks of strong antibiotics to clear it up. I now run a high risk of getting sepsis if I go back on immune suppressors, though my rheumatologist is tinkling with the idea of putting me on long term antibiotics plus a low dose of an immune suppressor, probably methotrexate, which as you can imagine I'm not keen on doing one little bit. If I don't go on this treatment then it looks like like I'll have to soldier on for the rest of my days (I'm 64) like I am or probably even in a worse state in time...talk about a catch 22 situation!! sad 
  • matthew28646
    matthew28646 constance.de

    Posted

    Hi Constance66322, all those drugs methotrexate, sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine are DMARDS, (disease modifying anti rheumatic drugs that supress the immune stystem, they arent painkillers. Prednisolone is brilliant becasue its a steriod BUT you can only use it very short term because its very potent and can cause very bad side effects. You could try normal over the counter pain relief like paracetemol or even co-codamol but the co-codamol you can only buy 8/500 not 30/500, the 30/500 you can only get on prescription from the GP. You could try ibuprofen from over the counter or speak to your GP when you next see him and ask for something like Naproxen which is a stronger anti inflammatory or you could ask about stronger pain relief BUT all have there own side effects, the stroner you go with painkillers the more chance you are of getting constipated and the higher you go with anti inflammatorys the more chance you get of bleeds of the stomach ad ulcers etc but you can get a stomach protector like omeprazole or lansoprazole to help with that. I take Naproxen 250mg with 30mg of lansoprazole and just 500mg paracetemol as and when and it helps me. Go and speak to your GP and have a good chat with him/her and see what they say. All the best, Matt
    • EileenH
      EileenH matthew28646

      Posted

      As I explained earlier, in PMR and GCA pred is the "DMARD" and the pain killer - there is no other option and we may take it for years at a low dose. Because we are on pred we can't use NSAIDs without risk. It's a pain in the anatomy when you develop RA as well and the pred dose gets too low to manage the RA  - but some rheumies believe that the DMARDs also help in PMR. They don't - unless you are unlucky like Constance and have been blessed with both when they help the RA part!
    • constance.de
      constance.de matthew28646

      Posted

      Hallo Matt.  A little of my history.  I have had Polymyalgia Rheumatics (PMR for short), for 3+ years.  For this illness one has to take steroids (in my case Prednisolone).  I was on high dosages, fluctuating between 20 - 40, and once - 60 mgs.  Now, I am down to 5 - 6 mgs, but I must keep taking Pred.

      I have Co-codamol (prescribed - 100 tablets!!!), omeprazole (stomach ulcers and acid reflux).  Can you see why I am loathe to take any more medicines?

      Thank you for your interest and reply.  I do appreciate it.

      Have a good weekend (suffering in a heatwave here in Germany).

      Greetings from Constance

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