Are you on any RA meds? I can see another post you made (popular posts), so maybe you answer that question in that post.

But, the answer is that most of us take RA meds, which=h are designed to reduce the symptoms of RA, including pain. I don't know what dose of hydrocodone (is that Norco?) you're taking, but are you taking it on schedule. It sounds like you're messing around with drugs and doses, but that's not the way to do this. Call your doctor, see a rheumatologist, get on some good meds.

I've been where you are, and I suffered. That was before the people starting coming down on opiate prescriptions. Abuse has tightened the rules, but be smart and don't mess around with your own dosing. That causes problems. See a doctor.

have you been diagnosed with RA? Are you seeing a rheumatologist? Pain meds and NSAIDS and even prednisone are treating the symptoms but they are NOT stopping the progression of the disease. Have you ever taken any biologics or methotrexate? Unless you've tried and cannot take them for reason, please talk to a rheumatologist about them.

Pain killers will not stop the crippling deformities of RA. Click on my Avitar. Look at my hands. They are both twisted and deformed. PERMANENTLY. This all happened BEFORE I got on the proper meds available today.

Untreated RA also affects major organs like lungs and heart. Painkillers and prednisone do NOTHING to stop that!

Check our my video to see what my hand slook like: http://tinyurl.com/MirahRA-video

I take arava daily, methotrexate weekly, prednisone daily, hydrocodone 4 times a day, Celebrex twice a day, Zoloft daily, clonzapem as needed, vitamin d & folic acid daily. I feel like I'm forgetting one but that's the majority. I'm waiting on orencia approval. I've been diagnosed three years now & this is the worst flare yet. I do see a rheumatologist every 2 months for labs & checkup. Today I'll be going to my gp who handles my pain contract. She works with my Rheumy. I'm desperate for this one to stop. I have a toddler & 9 year old (who is amazing) to take care of & I'm struggling to do that.

I also don't mess with my hydrocodone dose ever. I'm prescribed 1 pill 4 times a day & that's all I take. I have increased my steroid & nsaid but it hasn't helped.

what dose does your rheumatologist have your methotrexate at ?

did the rheumatologist ever talk to you about taking tandem dmard's while you are waiting on the biologic approval to come through?

if you happen to think of it - some of the rheumatologist have (free) samples of the biologic injector syringe's in their fridges - usually enbre and/or humira which would do you no good since you are scripted for orencia.

can you call your insurance company and see what you can do to speed up the pre authorization approval of your biologic?

are you starting on orencia? are you in the US? I thought that usually most major insurance companies required that one start with enbrel or humira - the anti tnf's first standard bearers - first for purposes of insurance approval and first line of biologic attack.

what treat to target reasoning did your rheumatologist give for starting with orencia?

depot

I take .04 cc of methotrexate & cant go higher due to liver issues. I tried enbrel & had a severe shot reaction so she stopped that immediately. I am in the us & insurance said something was submitted wrong which is why I haven't been approved yet. Orencia will be my next because the dr seems to think it's the med that will work. I've had ra three years now & haven't found the right meds to stop progression. This is the worst flare I've ever had. I'll be seeing my pain doctor this morning so she can work with my Rheumy to decide how to treat. Sorry if I'm rambling I've only slept four hours due to pain

Without a biologic the MTX alone doesn't do much for me. With a biologic + MTX I'm pretty good without any excruciating pain that keeps me up all night unable to think of anything but the pain. I had figured out how to lessen the intensity of flares greatly (not completely but greatly) and I'll share how I did/do it. I'm not an MD, this works for me but may not for you, and I do not know of other conditions you may have that make it undoable for you. I eliminate ALL nightshades from my diet. Google Nightshades or RA and Nightshades, or just Tom Brady's diet. Depending on your body weight and metabolism strict diet control will takes 10 days to 4 weeks to notice a big difference. I'm guessing with the pain killers that you take 3-4 weeks. That's no tomato, potato, red and green pepper (beware paprika in prepackaged foods/meats), eggplant, okra, cucumbers, peaches, cashews, almonds. Also, processed sugar, egg whites, sodas, if a label just lists "natural spices" or "spices" do not consume. Do eat lots of walnuts and pineapple, drink pineapple juice (NOT FROM CONCENTRATE) and to keep the choo choo train moving in your body at least 6oz of apple juice (NOT FROM CONCENTRATE).

For immediate help of the pain, throbbing, use a topical essential oil.....the ones that work the best for me in order of effectiveness are Frankincense, Cypress and then Majorham (sp).

You're on a tremendous amount of meds that will stress your liver and then add MTX and then a biologic.......doesn't surprise me that you have liver numbers that raise flags.

I am daily taking folic acid, meloxicam (generic mobic), 5mg of prednisone (lungs generate too much fluid without it). Weekly injection of MTX (3.5), and every other week injection of Actemra.

Wish you well!

Thanks for the reply I'll look into that eating plan. I'm currently underweight so if it causes weight loss I can't do it. I'm 5'2 95 pounds. The doctor gave me a Celestone injection & Percocet to take between my hydrocodone doses for this flare. Also did labs to see how bad the inflammation is. Hopefully something will show the cause of this one since I have no idea what did it.

Sorry to hear you are hurting so badly. I do go to prednisone, which helps control the pain if not the flares. And do take it easy. Sleep is a good thing, always!

I hope some of the suggestions here, help!