Reply to an Answer

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.