What can I do when exercise and rest don't help?

Movement of any kind is critical; the longer the body is still, the stiffer it gets. Have you tried yoga? If not, I highly recommend finding a beginning yoga class.

I'm currently on Plaquenil, another immune suppressing drug. I have been on it since October 2014 and it seems to be helping with the pain, but definitley has it's other side effects. Everybody's are different but I've decided to stay the course with it for a couple of years to see if I can get my RA into remission.

I hope this helps.

 

Sorry you re having such a bad time and so much pain.

if you can't take methotrexate some people find sulphasalazine, another DMARD , works. Can you get another rheumy appointment to discuss meds with them as there is other stuff they can try, both to help inflammation and to do more to hold back the progression of the disease. 

I have been in the situation you ve described and the only way I felt better was when the disease was under better control medically. I think that would help you feel more positive and less controlled by this discouraging disease.

If you do get a chance to go on a biologic trial I would take it as this has helped me and I too was worried about the effect of immune suppression as I work in a school.you would be monitored carefully and the drug stopped if there was adverse reaction or too many infections.

All the best

Hi Sue,

When flaring

1    I always used ice (or cold towels to get relief, not heat)

2    I always take an anti-inflammatory BEFORE exercise as a precaution (as advised by both my dr's, & for me this works

Just recently I tried mtx & arava but was severely allergic to both, & no matter what I thought before (which was to never take biologics) my immune system clearly doesn't like being compromised so won't go there.  My rheumy actually told me to go back to what I was doing because 1) there isn't anything he can give me & 2) it clearly was working for me - I actually asked him 'if I was your mum what would you suggest?' and  that's when he told me there was nothing else he could offer. (even though he is concerned about my inflammation markers)

Yep this disease is a pain in the ar.... but we all have to learn to live with it as best we can.

I hope for you that you find a way around your dilemna

BTW don't forget if you don't use it you lose it !!! 

Heat or cold - whatever works for you ....... 

Good that you don't have any intention of stopping movement .. it is critical to being able to move at all later- and the arthritis will  get worse if you don't

I suggest you only do 10 or at the most 15 min of pilates or dancing etc at a time & rest in between sets (dances) - however walk walk walk as well - as a dance teacher I know only too well how hard it is to keep going when the result is pain for the rest of the day.

Exercise won't hurt or exacerbate the condition so don't worry about that.

Last year I broke my humerous (bone in the upper arm) and because my arm was immobilised for some 7 mths my arthritis  took off in my hand and because of the inactivity I lost the use of my hand & had to have petacarpal replacements for all 4 knuckles (the big knuckles in the hand) -- fortunately it was a complete success but I learned a valuable lesson in  the process - which is why I am saying keep moving!

Watch sugar, gluten & dairy as well in your diet -- these are the big 3 to stop using if you have any kind of arthritis (they all exacetbate inflammation)

 

Hi Sue, my experiences have always been helped when in flare up pain, to slow down, not do any strenous activity exercise, as working the already painful RA or Fibromyalga pain intensifies it..really take it easy until you can get the fatique and body pain under better control..are you taking a prescribed anti inflammatory such as mobic or other? Really crucial. Can you take plaquinil since you are not able to try biologics? I have done best and very well in plaquinil, which has extremely few side effects, according to my prescribing RA doctor and nurse. It is only suggested i get my vision tested once a year. I have no side effects on this (4 years). Magnesium took away all fibromyalga type all over pain, let me sleep deeper, and helped keep my flares under much better control. Magnesium enables other nutrients and minerals to be absorbed much more and in adequate amts, when taken with calcium and D3. I believe that because the tumeric/circumin was taken with the magnesium, that the magnesium greatly intensified the absorption of them, which would very possibly cause your body to break out in night sweats.Magnesium is truly a magical godsend for RA disease. I find the deeper and more restful my sleep is, the better my pain is managed. Alsi, staying away from foods that cause inflammation, staying away from foods you may be sensitive to (example: gluten, grains, soy, dairy, tomatoes..high sugar foods, natural or other) helps alot..and that often gluten or other sensitivities can cause a candida condition, that hugely exasperates RA, Fibromyalga pain,all over fever, flares and fatigue.It truly is vital that you take a daily anti inflammatory. My doctor has also advised me to take an ober the counter ibuprofen in between my anti inflammatory doses, when in more serious pain, which helps alot. Alternating between warm and cold works best for me, with more cold.

Hello suelmc222

I think I am at the very start of RA in two finger joints and sore thumb joints and weak wrists - not seen the doctor as yet as researching.  I am 65 and in really good health  Always exercise and use hand weights.  Now I am thinking I should not do the hand weights.  My diet is excellent and nutritious with no white bread, cakes, biccies etc and I drink 3 pints of water a day.  This is so annoying to get and not a nice forward thinking plan.  I note you work in a hospital, I worked also but in a secretarial role so typing all day is what I love.  Although taking dictation started hurting my right hand and I had to keep shaking it - it must have sounded strange and not very professional for me to keep shouting out "hang on, don't go so fast" lol - I did get on with the boss luckily.

What are biologics?  I'm not looking forward to all the different meds either.  My hubby has arthritis in various parts and is going tomorrow for steriod injection in his knee.  I give him lots of green smoothies to alkaline his inflammation and give him tumeric capsules and fish oil to keep him moving.  Some days it seems to work wonders.  I understand you saying motivation in the mornings.  I have just retired but I don't think this helps - and I was thinking about returning but don't think typing would be a good bet.

Good job for sites like this.

G x

Hope you don't mind me joining in.  I live in England btw.