Your rheumy is right, she must treat the symptoms. We are mostly all in the same boat. Not many docs will prescribe pain killers especially to those of us with chronic illness's. Mine gives me tramadol and the voltaren gel and patches. I take a low dose of prednisone daily and more if I am hurting. I use heat alot to help and watch my activities and during a flare I go get steroid shots to help me through it. It's hard but its safer than the possibility of becoming addicted to pain killers. I am sorry for your pain and I hope you get some relief soon.

I've had RA for 28 years, and I have taken nearly every medication available.  I have had a geat deal of experience with both doctors and medicine.  Your Rheumatologist is like many RA doctors - - - they do NOT want to prescribe pain medications.  They'll give you some very mild treatments (such as: Tramadol or Voltaren gel), but when RA starts to give you intense pain that effects your ability to function, then you will need to get established with a Pain Management doctor.  I have had to wait to be seen, so I understand your situation, and unfortunately, your options are limited.  I would suggest appealing to your RA doctor.  Let him/her know that you have scheduled the soonest appointment possible and ask for a prescription (one prescription w/no refills) to help you just until you see the pain doctor.  *Also Tramadol is for "moderate" pain and Voltaren gel is a NSAID not a pain medication.  As your pain increases, you will need a more serious medication, BUT this does not make you a drug addict.  It simply means that you wish to relieve a very real physical pain, so that you can function and live your life.