managing the pain

Wow, I feel so bad for you.  Why is it taking so long to see your doctor?  No one should have to wait that long when they're in pain.  I used to work for a great ortho doc and he always said, "If they're in pain, they have to be seen. Today."  Even if that meant we worked 'til 8 or 9 at night sometimes.  Call back, and insist to be seen sooner.  In the mean-time, Advil or aspirin has always worked better for me than Tylenol, yet I've been told a little of both sometimes works.  Best to you!

there are a number of things you can do to help the pain and the first one is to call your doctor to see if you can get an earlier appointment.  If it is not possible for the rheumatologist to see you or to prescribe something over the phone, make an appointment with your family doctor - he should be able to give you prescriptions for painkillers that will give you better pain control until you see your rheumatologist.  RA pain can be unreasonable and it is unreasonable to expect you to manage with over-the-counter drugs. Call your doctor as soon as possible - you don't have to live like this.