pain managment
Thank you for all your previous help everybody!
I do have another ?, What are you using for pain control? Currently Im taking tramadol with tylenol at 300 mg a day, the effectiveness is wearing off over the last year.
Do any of you wear a "pain patch"...fentyl or otherwise...Can you recommend anything else, do you see a pain mgt doctor?
Im a potter and this awful R/A is stealing ,my life away, I just want to function instead of laying in bed crying.
any reply would be appreciated. :)
(also on mtx 6 pills once a week, fr 4 weeks, no help yet, I feel worse)
God Bless Each Of You!
My advice would be to not take any pain meds if you can until you know whether the methotexate is working. My doctor told me early on that if I start with pain meds my body would eventually become used to the dosage and I would always need more. He said I would eventually wind up with a morphine patch or something similar. I knew I didn't want that so I elected not to take pain meds. I do know people who take Vicadin and it helps. Hang in there!
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Gloria
Thursday, August 27, 2009 at 05:23 PM
THANK YOU!
Depression comes into play when ones body is racked with pain 24/7 and then it crosses your mind....why even live...so thank you!
Gloria
Yes, it is normal for you to develop a certain tolerance for any medication over time, so you may want to try something different for a while and once you find it doesn't work as well for you anymore, perhaps go back to what you're using now - being away from it for a while could possibly make it work well for you again (of course, this is not a medical opinion, just something I've noticed with myself).
The first step in managing pain is to get your RA well suppressed, so I would suggest you go back to your rheumatologist and discuss treatment options. However, even if your RA is well-managed, you may still need painkillers, especially if your joints are pretty damaged or your work very physical (since you're a potter, you do have physical stress on your joints). Pain patches can be very effective, but you may want to ask your doctor for a referral to a pain clinic - they specialize in a multidisciplinary approach to pain management, including not just the pharmaceutical response, such as painkillers, but also biofeedback, meditation, etc. and this may help you manage your pain better.
One more thought - you may also want to ask for referrals to a physical therapist and occupational therapist. The combination of these might help you find equipment (such as splints or suggestions for a different setup of your workstation) that will help you work in a way that may put less stress on your body.
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Gloria
Thursday, August 27, 2009 at 05:20 PM
thank you so much for the reply and for the article "better living through chemistry"
I needed to read this because I worry about taking pain medicine, so THANK YOU!
Gloria
Gloria
Thursday, August 27, 2009 at 05:20 PM
thank you so much for the reply and for the article "better living through chemistry"
I needed to read this because I worry about taking pain medicine, so THANK YOU!
Gloria
Gloria
Thursday, August 27, 2009 at 05:20 PM
thank you so much for the reply and for the article "better living through chemistry"
I needed to read this because I worry about taking pain medicine, so THANK YOU!
Gloria
Lene Andersen
Friday, August 28, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Glad I could help!
Now go get some good meds so you can continue to create beautiful things! 
Gloria
Friday, August 28, 2009 at 12:00 PM
Your writings are so true! Your gifted!
Why suffer?
You can see some of my things at my web site www.emeraldforestpottery.com
God Bless you,
Gloria
OMGOSH!!! Lene is so dead on!
Gloria, I was in your shoes not so many months ago. Since I read Lenes post on better living through chemistry I have been through 3 levels of Darvocet, and am on my 3rd level of Vicodin now. Vicodin 10mg is making me feel almost human again. I also take Humira weekly, Planqueil and about 20 other drugs. I have searched the web over and over and belong to MANY support groups, and the biggest thing I can tell you from talking to thousands of people with RA is that if your Rhuemy does not believe in pain meds.......run, do not walk, to a new Rheumy! Why should you suffer day in and day out! Mine asks me on every visit if my pain meds are strong enough! I dont abuse them, but when it hurts too much, he ups them!
I hope you feel better soon!
Brad
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Have you ever tried one of the biologics?
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Pardon me for being opinionated, but your doctor is nuts. If you are in pain, you need effective pain control and that includes painkillers. I have taken painkillers for my RA for over 40 years and have never needed a morphine patch. This is not to say I won't need it in the future, but 40 years in, I'm still fine. Check out my recent post called Better Living through Chemistry and if any of that sounds like you, I would recommend a second opinion or a referral to a pain clinic.