i feel wholly unqualified to answer this because i only take otc painkillers occasionally. i usually just live with what pain i do have - i've gotten used to it. the only things i can suggest are to use a heating pad or blanket to see if that helps ease the pain, or maybe a hot tub/sauna kind of thing.

other than that - go back to your doctor. you are the customer - tell her the pain is severely affecting your daily life and quality of that life. tell her that regardless of swelling (or lack thereof) the pain is interfering with everything. tell her you have taken hydrocodone and it's not touching the pain. be specific and explicit. and tell her what you want. i'm assuming the injection would be a cortisone or something? (i haven't had anything like that). tell her you want to try that to see if it helps.

if she refuses, to me that means she is not working WITH you. i would look for a second opinion or another doctor.

agree steph, but take care to add heat too long. I completely understand melissa . forgive me for constantly repeating myself but get rid of all the nightshades in your diet (white potatoes, tomatoes, red & green peppers-many preservatives and spices are derived from these, egg plant, some nuts and some fruits also, google is your friend) and once you've gotten them all out of your system (your weight and what may already be stored in your body may slow process) you'll notice flares are much much less frequent and much more manageable. I take no pain meds at all. The only anti-inflam that I've taken since Aug 1 was a couple of weeks ago I had to take two Aleeve because I broke down and had a filet-o-fish from mcdonalds. I knew better. It's a hard diet to control because paprika is in so many things (if it says "spices" on the label then you say no to it...btw, paprika is in mustard). Also be conscious of potato starch being used as a gluten.

For me, it is worth the effort. If you try, it may be for you. Hope you feel good soon.

Melissa,

I completely understand where you are coming from. Pain is a gigantic part of my life as well. My pain rotates to different parts of my body but the daily constant is my hands, wrists, and back.

You could try heat, perhaps a paraffin wax dip for your hands, warm running water, or, if it feels better, you could apply a cold pack to ease the pain. Please remember the 20/20 rule with heat and, especially cold packs. Apply to affected area for no more than 20 minutes, remove for a minimum of 20 minutes.

Warm baths are helpful. If you have access to a sauna or jacuzzi, this would help as well.

I'm terribly sorry for your pain and I sincerely hope you can find a therapy that will, at the least, ease some of your pain and provide you relief.

Regards,
TheWino

I have mittens that go into the microwave. They really work well when my hands are a mess. Trish

I'm in the same boat.
I have other conditions that cause chronic pain also.
Like you I'm trying to gain relief on pain med, same pain med as a matter of fact.
My Pain management doctor explained when the RA flares it triggers the other pain full force. Domino effect. One sets off the rest.
Makes sense really.
Even on the last dose of prednisone I did not get my usual relief.
Something is causing my RA to go crazy.
I know many are complaining of weather depending on where they live.
This is my worst since I was DXed.
I just keep praying for relief. I swear every day somewhere on my body is at high pain level & I never know where it's going to hurt the most. Hurts from head to toe but one day it can be my shoulder, another hands, another feet & currently it's my SI Joint & neck.
I completely understand.
I'm holding back the tears daily here. Yet I know without the meds it would be worse.
I'm giving it couple weeks then calling my doctor. Only because I was off treatment & been back on for about a month. Want to give it time.
Normally I don't say this but it just sucks.
I wonder if your RA is doing the same. Causing more pain with your fibro.
Hang in there & we'll pray it gets better. I agree with letting your doctor know your this miserable.
Blessings, Sammy

How long have you been on your RA meds? Are you still waiting for them to kick in? If so, then maybe some prednisone to hold you until the meds start working. If you've been on them for a while, then it sounds like its time for a change. Your dr should be able to give you something to help with the immediate pain. Nothing at all is not acceptable.

In the same boat here. Have dealt with Fibro pain for years but the RA pain is excruciating. Even though I have remicade infusions I still get flares occassionally. I use cold packs and neurofen plus and over the counter anti-inflammatory here in Oz which seems to help.
Hope you get some relief soon
Kelxx

Hi Melissa - I'm sorry to hear you're experiencing so much pain. I don't know that I've dealt with as much pain as you're describing, but I find that sometimes ice is more effective than heat. You could also try alternating - 20 minutes of ice and 20 minutes of heat.

I have two double-headed massagers - one at work and one at home - that help with certain types of pain (usually works best with large muscles). The one I have at work is a TheraRub PH CO12 - make sure you look for the double-headed kind; otherwise, you're unlikely to get the force you need to counteract the pain.

My last recommendation is one I haven't actually done, but that I considered when my flares were at their absolute worst, and that is seeing a pain specialist. Given your history of fibro and the addition of RA, I would think that someone who specializes in pain management could work with you to experiment with strategies. Plus, in the event you need something stronger than Vicodin, the specialist could help you manage the dosing to avoid dependency.

Regardless, I wish you peace and pain-free living soon.

I had a similar problem, my rheumatologist was not aggressive enough with my pain so I went to a pain management specialist and now I take morphine along with hydrocodone. I don't get high on it because the pain absorbs the medicine. Good luck.

Hi all. Thanks for the responses and well-wishes. Today was a little better. To clarify, I'm currently taking MTX 20mg, Orencia (started that in Aug after developing an allergic reaction to Humirs, before which I took Enbrel). I've been in a flare for over 3 months. Was on Pred which seemed to help at higher doses, then inflammation rose after finishing. About a month ago, Dr added Sulfazine and 10 mg Pred, and last week she increased Pred to 20 mg. I am teaching overseas, and here they seem very stingy on pain meds - the Hydrocodone is what I got from the US rheumy. Only thing pain mgt center Dr has done is give me trigger pt injections for the Fibro, which helps for a bit. Indeed, the Fibro pain is exacerbated by the RA pain. Baths, microwaved pads and even a TENS unit are not cutting it, I am going to see my rheumy in the States during Christmas break. Somehow I have to get through yet another week if school.

I would go to a pain management service or group. They will try this and that until you are relieved of pain. Sometimes the Rheumatologist do not know what to order or are hesitant to order pain medication. You should be able to deal with the disease and have a somewhat normal life. I would be going to pain management doctors quickly. Have you ever tried the Butrans patch Lyrica? Hope you are feeling better soon.

Christine, I have taken Lyrica in pill form (along with exhausting most of the meds list for Fibromyalgis) with no effect, but not in patch form. Are there other ones you'd recommend?
Sometimes I wish I was more of a textbook case - nice swelling, blood tests that corresponded with how I felt. The doctors here seem unable to think outside those parameters.

Missed my graduate class. Probably the staff Christmas party tonight as well. Darn pain! And in one week I have a 15+ hr flight....

At this point, which would you recommend as a course of action to get me through next week- the rheumy or pain clinic when the pain intensity is widespread? How is a prednisone injection different than the pills? Is there a medication, patch or injection that pain clinics can give that is quick acting and at least take me though two weeks at which time I see my rheumy in the US, for whom I have more confidence?

Thanks.

That's a shame to have missed out on events.
I totally understand huge relentless flare myself.
My Doc will give me the steroid injections to give me a head start & little boost with the prednisone.

Your in a tough situation. They make anti inflammatory patches Flector if you have pain in one area that's causing you more pain then the others. I'm hurting head to toe, even the bottom of my feet but the neck is driving me crazy so I'd use the patch on the neck.

If they won't prescribe pain meds is there a chance the doctor would up the prednisone just til your able to see your own doctor here?

I can't think of anything else. Such a shame. A couple weeks can feel like a couple months when the pains up there.
I wish you the best of luck.
Let us know how it goes & what your doctor does once your home.
Stay safe,
Sammy