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What helps with pain? Need your help.

Posted , 10 users are following.

halw
halw

ok, I've had ra for a year, and have been able to manage with out any pain meds other than NSAIDs. I use ice packs a lot on my hands. Several times a day. I'm the guy who posted "embril fail". Two weeks to new biologic.  Now taking a break from any NSAIDs And the pain toward the end of the afternoon is remarkable, I can not type which my job requires. Ice gets me through the work day, but first time I've considered any pain med so I get some kind of relief till I get back on NSAIDs.  It feels like going down the rabbit hole, but I need something to take the edge off. Tylenol does nothing.  Dr recommended tramidol, which I'm starting a trial.  I stopped drinking any alcohol, which did help some.  (And yes I know all about not drinking while on some meds.  I get it, that's why I stopped). I would say I have a higher pain tolerance, I float at a 4-5 most of the time and that is workable until the early pm when it's a 7ish and ice only does so much. 

Rather than had trying to figure out what my deal is, I'm asking if people will share how you manage your pain when it's more than what you can tolerate or function.  What works?

thanks in advance. 

0 likes, 17 replies

17 Replies

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  • gillian_25383
    gillian_25383 halw

    Posted

    I may be wrong but always thought that DMARD'S (Disease Modifying Anti Rheumatic Drugs)were necessary for RA as soon as possible after diagnosis to prevent any further joint damage. Be aware that RA can affect other tissues e.g. heart
  • gemma83759
    gemma83759 halw

    Posted

    If I still can't tolerate the pain even after much pill popping and heat patches and ice packs I fill a deep bath and lie in it for a long time. I'm a person that always showered and very rarely had a bath. However this flare up in currently experiencing is unlike any other. My pain threshold is also very good but this pain is horrendous. Hope it helps. I'm starting a biologic after Xmas too. Hope you find some relief.
    • halw
      halw gemma83759

      Posted

      Thanks for your comment.  I haven't thought of trying a bath, maybe I'll give that a try.  Best wishes for your biologic start!  I hope it does wonders for you.
  • Rowbirdie
    Rowbirdie halw

    Posted

    I ve used paracetamol every 4 hours before now - it reduces pain if kept in system all the time and least side effects.

    Finger / hand exercises so joints don't seize up

    Enough sleep and warmth

  • Guest
    Guest halw

    Posted

    Pain pills are the only thing that controls my pain from RA. Even then it doesn't get rid of the pain but dulls it to where it is tolerable. Also take prednisone with flares. I do use heating pads and a gel that is cooling but they only last so long and i cannot sit in a chair the rest of my life. 
    • halw
      halw Guest

      Posted

      Thanks River, I've been buying creams on amazon that states it works with arthritis pain.  So far nothing really helps.  I've been doing some essencial oils too, which is enjoyable, but only the cold packs reduce the pain for me.  My goal is to get off the prednisone so that I'm only back on it during flares, but either my ra is that severe and/or the right cocktal of meds are yet to be found.  Not liking this life of long term steriod AND being in such pain.   Thanks for your comment and best wishes to you.
    • nathan72763
      nathan72763 halw

      Posted

      Hi halw I didn't get on your first posting that you took prednisone. I also have never taken the regular drugs and I've had ra everywhere for 15 years. I Can't use ice as I'd be a snowman but I do take predisilone 5 mg on my own experimentation. I read that 5 mg is very unlikely to cause any side effects in the long term and you don't have to keep tripping to the doctors to be monitored which I hate. 

      I ask my regular doc for pred and I started with 15 mg I reduced to 5 over weeks and have remained stable for a long time. I've done a huge amount of research into a natural cure and although I can't promote  on this forum I elliminated certain foods epsom salt baths cider vinegar over years and very slowly I've reduced the intense suffering to manageable levels. I never eat meat or dairy food either. 

       I feel I could give of pred but I'm not bothered by it. It's an antiinflamatory which is good is small amounts as  inflammation does a lot of General damage not only to the joints but just about everything.

  • gail32047
    gail32047 halw

    Posted

    You don't say if you're on prednisone but if you are, try taking it at night instead of morning. There is research out there that shows RA sufferers get better sleep due to less pain with the knock on effect of less pain during the day too due to a more rested body. It helped me a lot. Tossing and turning all night, even if technically you're asleep does not make for a good next day.
    • halw
      halw gail32047

      Posted

      Thanks gail for the note.  I'm on pred, but one side effect is that it interfers with my sleep, so I take it in the am, but thanks for the idea.  I will often wake up two or three times at night anytime I'm on more than 10mg a day.  It might be that it's because I've been on it since last Feb with a couple failed attempts to taper.  Currently on 10mg per day and hoping to try 7.5 in a week or so.  Best of luck to you and your own health.
  • gail32047
    gail32047 halw

    Posted

    About that prednisone taper - are you sure you want to do that with your current pain level? If so, and you've been on the stuff since February you will NOT be able to drop from 10 to 7.5 that quickly. The withdrawal will be evil! I have just weaned off prednisone this month after taking it for 6 years. It took me 18 months. I have tried unsuccessfully at least 5 times to ditch this stuff.

    There's lots of ways to taper. Here's what worked for me. Drop 1mg a month until you get to 7mg. Your body normally makes about 7 to 7.5mg of steroid so the nasty withdrawal starts once you get below that level.

    Then take 7mg on every uneven numbered day (1st, 3rd, 5th etc) and 6mg on the even days, for a month. On the following month alternate 7mg and 5mg and so on until you get to 7mg/0mg. Then start reducing the 7mg by 1mg per month.

    You may need to maintain some doses for longer than a month, especailly once you get into the low numbers as the smaller the amount the worse the withdrawal. You're trying to get your adrenal glands back to full time work when they've been on holiday for nearly a year.

    Withdrawal symptoms are;

    Aching joints and muscles

    Brain fog

    Fatigue

    Loss of appetite

    I-don't-give-a-damn-itis

    A good naturopath can help with concoctions that support adrenal function. If you decide to go ahead , Good luck

  • Rowbirdie
    Rowbirdie halw

    Posted

    Hi

    just to add my experience into the prednisolone discussion- at my worst my rheumy told me to take 10 mg for a month then to reduce to 7 and a half and stay there ( not go up again)  while waiting for biologic to begin and take effect. Since it s started to work I was told to taper down very slowly- 1 mg a month and am still on 3 mg. this seems to be working for me.

    i I take mine in early hours of morning with a banana and painkiller for best effect, which esp helps pain and stiffness when wake in the morning.

    • gemma83759
      gemma83759 Rowbirdie

      Posted

      Hi Rowbirdie, do u know when it's ok to take oral prednisone after having the steroid injection in the hip?
    • Rowbirdie
      Rowbirdie gemma83759

      Posted

      Hi Gemma

      i guess it s best to check with GP. I have had steroid in knee at the same time as continuing steroid tablets and also there is steroid put in my infusion alongside the biologic but continue with tablets.

      Are you currently not taking pred tablets? I think you should get advice before resuming as I get the impression with RA they use prednisolone tablets always with an end in view( ie to help while something else takes time to work and then taper off from needing them )but otherwise it s best to be off them.

    • gemma83759
      gemma83759 Rowbirdie

      Posted

      Hi Rowbirdie, thanks for your reply. I've never had oral prednisone for my ra. I had the steroid injection into my hip about 4 weeks ago to help all my joints, normally it really works for me but this time Everdeen after the injection the pain is still really bad and unrelenting. I'm currently not on any dmard only pain killers including morphine and ibprofen.I'm waiting on starting a biologic at the beginning of January. It just seems so far away and thinking of getting through Xmas in this amount of pain is killing me! Rheumatologist said I could also have oral steroids but she didn't say when I could start them. Thanks. G. X
    • Rowbirdie
      Rowbirdie gemma83759

      Posted

      I had the same thing that steroid jab worked first time but not next and then I was put on tablets so I m sure you can have them ASAP. If you re on morphine the pain must be awful. Yes - it will make a big difference while you wait for biologic to take effect so get them from gp now before Christmas. X
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