I'm having a flare and it is affecting hte joints in my hands. my rhuemy wants me to take pain meds

I am no expert but learing fast.  Flares need to be shut down ASAP to reduce any damage they may do.  Acutally I am suprised that the doc did not added another dmard.  Pain relievers like naproxen also have anti-imflammitory properties.

Battling RA often requires a number of different treatments. It is rare that a disease modifying drugs (like methotrexate) will work so well that no other medication is needed. Sometimes it needs to be supplemented with an additional disease modifying drug or with painkillers and/or anti-inflammatories. Depending on the painkillers you're prescribed, you may not be "loopy all day". Even if you are prescribed a narcotic kind of drug, you may not be loopy and if you are, it probably won't be for long - over time, often as quickly as a few weeks, your body will adapt. The medication will be going to treat your pain - it has something to do other than make you feel loopy.

FuzzyQBall is right, it's important to get a flare on the control as quickly as possible to hopefully avoid it causing permanent damage and anti-inflammatories can help with that. If you have concerns about the type of pain medications your doctor is suggesting, given her/him a call and discuss your concerns. There are many different painkillers out there and together, you and your doctor will be able to find one that works to address the pain and the flare, as well as allow you to function in your daily life.

Good luck!

The thing I really hate about rheumatoid pain is the knowledge that damage is being done.  Historically I've always done just fine to muscle through stuff, knowing there was an end point and my body would set itself right.  But since my diagnosis, having joint pain kinda wigs me out.  The more imflammation, the more pain.  Thus more pain over time adds up to more damage.  I'm on celebrex which is a Cox-2 inhibitor, it inhibits the body's imflammatory response.  It was first presented to me as being "for pain", but it does more than that.  You may want to get clarification from the doc as to what drug he/she is suggesting.  It might be something that reduces your pain because it's doing other GOOD things too.