I was diagnosed with RA earlier this year. I have been on 10mg Methotrexate and just gone up to 12.5mg. The problem is the pain. I have been prescribed Co-codamol, Tramadol and Buprenorphine. All have made me sick and drowsy and unable to work. Any suggestions?
6/19/09 11:32am
Opiates can be hard to get used to - you may want to have a chat with your rheumatologist about small doses of the painkillers or perhaps trying an anti-inflammatory like Celebrex instead. Is the pain from active or from damage to joints? If your disease is active and your joints are still swelling, you have morning stiffness, etc., then maybe your dose of methotrexate isn't enough. You may also want to talk to rheumatologist about other options, either increasing methotrexate, supplementing it with another DMARDs like Plaquinil or perhaps a small dose of prednisone (it can work as a sort of booster, kicking whatever medication you're on from doing okay to doing really well) or maybe you need to try another medication altogether. It is possible to get to a point where you can live relatively well with this disease and function in your everyday life. If you can't function well, either because of the pain or the side effects from the opiates, talk to your rheumatologist about changing your treatment.
6/19/09 3:17pm
the flighty RA you're describing is fairly common in the early stages - it's one of the reasons it's such a difficult disease to diagnose at first, sometimes it hides and it can be hard to pin down. I'm glad to hear that you have a referral to another doctor, because that first one sounds like a piece of work. I'd recommend that you do some research here or in other sites before your appointment and write down your questions - it's easy to get overwhelmed and forget to ask things. We have a great area about the basics of RA and one for people who've just been diagnosed. I can also highly recommend a book called The First Year with Rheumatoid Arthritis (more about the book and an interview with its author here). And take some deep breaths. Living with RA isn't always fun (okay, so it'd be more fun to live without it altogether), but it's very possible to continue leading a relatively normal life. That's the good thing about life - it goes on and you learn to live around the disease and get on with things anyway.
Let me know how things go?
7/16/09 3:54pm
Lene
Just thought I would like you know that I saw my new Rheumatologist today. She also suffers from RA so knew exactly what I am going through. She gave me a large steriod injection to help me with the pain that had become quite overwhelming. She is also putting me on Sulfazine as well as Methotrexate and will give me 12 weeks with these medications before seeing me again and considering Anti TNF's.
I am so relieved to have found someone who understands will help me to move forward with this horrible disease.
Thanks for your support.
Jackie
7/16/09 10:11pm
So glad to hear that you've found someone who understands on a personal level what RA is! She sounds very sensible and like she's treating you exactly the way everyone ought to be treated.
Thanks for letting me know!
3/22/11 1:09am
Hello Dear,
Is there any other way (except medication) to control the morning pains??
Plz let me know
3/22/11 10:40am
There are many ways of reducing the experience of pain, but medication really is the best way. A long time ago, I learned a trick in a children's hospital about setting your alarm clock for two hours before you have to get up, taking some pain killers (with a piece of fruit or cracker to make sure your stomach doesn't rebel) and go back to sleep. When you get up, the meds are working and you will have a better start to the day. All these years later, I still do this every day and it makes my mornings easier.
Non-medication ways of reducing your pain can include doing gentle range of motion exercises before you get out of bed or having a heating pad next to your bed that you can put on the really bad joints to warm them up before you have to start your morning routine. A warm shower or bath can also help. Setting your alarm clock for a bit earlier than you normally get up can give you the opportunity to slowly get your joints moving.
6/12/09 6:27am
ALL MEDICINES HAVE LOT OF DANGEROUS SIDE EFFECTS.BESIDES MEDICINES,NATUTAL FOOD SUPPLEMENTS LIKE OMEGA 3,GLUCOSAMINE ETC,ALOE VERA JUICE,GINGER,GARLIC AND PHYSIO-THERAPY FOR R.A. AND FOOD DISCIPLINE CAN BE HELPFUL IN REDUCING PAIN AVOID SPICY FOODS,HIGH SUGAR AND TRANS FATS ETC TO REMIAN FIT AND HEALTHY
6/18/09 10:03pm
Methotrexate is sometimes given with plaquenal(SP). I have to take vicoden 500 three time a day. I also take Arava for RA. I have sjogrens,raynads,fibromyalgia,oseoarthritis. I still have some pain and then other times I have a lot of pain. That is when I take a prednisone boost. That helps get the pain under control.
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By Jackann— Last Modified: 03/22/11, First Published: 06/11/09
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Lene
Thank you very much for your very valuable advice. I originally saw a Rheumatologist privately and after only one appointment he said here's some Methotrexate and get on with it. That was 12 weeks ago. I think I have active arthritis which seems very devious and travels to different parts of my body. It seems to stay in one place for a while then when it gets fed up moves on to another area. I have really struggled with pain. Unfortunately it is also difficult to get to see the same GP at my practice as they are always so busy. Luckily after a very bad episode of pain I managed to get an appointment with a GP who has now referred me on the NHS to another Consultant. Hopefully then I will then get access to a secondary line of care. It is a very frightening time and as I have to work full time, life is very hard at the moment. I will take all your advice with me when I eventually receive my appointment.