look at my profile. I used to be totally against it till the pain got so bad I had to do something. medication pain killers weren't working for me. My sister actually suggested it to me and i was like NO WAY!!!!!!!!!! I disagree with that TOTALLY!!!!!!!!!!!!! it took me over a year till finally I gave up and tried it. I want to make it clear. I am NOT some stoner in my house getting high!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't even do enough to feel it in my head. One little tiny tiny hit and it takes my pain away. then when I am not in pain I DO NOT GO NEAR THE STUFF. Just used for pain ONLY!!!!!! and honestly for me it was the best thing I have done!!!!!!!!!!! I also had an RA specialist tell me (under the table), that she had other clients that did it and it helped them. I don't do it in front of anyone. I go outside and take a quick hit and then go back to my life and the pain isn't so bad. I have been on "perscription" medication and have been high as a kite. pop a pill or take a hit what is the difference as long as it helps. I am also not against perscriptions either. but for pain that is what i use.
I am not trying to shove this down your throat. to each there own but when i hear someone is in pain and it is killing them it is so bad I just have to tell of my experience.

If you want to talk to me privately write me a message or anyone who wants to talk about this write.

I wish you the best, with whatever you choose.

andrea :)

Honestly the first year I really fought painkillers. I work with addicts, and I see the desperate behavior of those who get hooked. But, I finally had my Dr. rationalize that I was not able to COPE adequately with my disease or illness, because my body was in a constant state of suffering. I now take Percocet as needed, and boy has it changed my quality of life. It is just important to be careful and not "rely" on the medication all the time. Good luck.

I believe strongly in getting control of pain. The stress of pain just makes everything else worse. I took a lot of oxycontin (up to 75 mg) for a long time, but I needed it to get through some rough times, and I did not become addicted.

Having said that, I did become *accustomed* to it. I know it messed with my head in the beginning, but I completely lost that in the time I was taking it and the year + that I've been off pain meds. I tooki15 mg oxycontin the other day, and it completely screwed my head around and also made me nauseous. A friend, who's a nurse, told me they start people off at much lower doses, and thinking back, I did, too.

So, work with a doctor you trust, make sure you pay attention to how you're handling any drug, and be judicious in what you take.

BTW, when you talk to your doctor, make sure you discuss the swelling, as well as the pain. Narcotic pain killers are NOT going to deal with the swelling, which may very well be the source of the pain, in the first place. Perhaps you need to discuss prednisone dosage, if only for a short whiloe.

Best wishes,
doug

I was given tramadol and mobic when my pain got to the point where I felt I need "help". this combination (mobic is an NSAID) helped me TREMENDOUSLY and almost instantly - I took them both every 12 hours for a few months and then came off of them completely for a few months ("refusing" to admit that I did need them sometimes) - I've started taking them again now, as needed and it has made the world of difference for me (it takes the edge off of UGH UGH THIS SUCKS to "okay this is a little uncomfortable but I can manage") - I prefer it to not make it all miraculously better (I think I might like that "too" much). I struggled with asking for pain meds because I was afraid of getting accustomed to taking them and because I felt it was somehow a "failing" on my part (I know, it's not logical). But when I finally did ask, the nurse who answered the phone asked me why I'd waited so long. :)
I agree with Doug - getting the pain under control, or at least "getting a handle on it" is important. Once I felt more in control of it, I could do more to help myself (more exercise, etc).

I talked to my rheumy..he gave me lodine aka Etodolac...but also told me if i feel i need a narcotic i needed to call my PCP!!! huh? why?...i just thought that was weird...why do i need a specialist? isnt he supossed to do the meds for R.A ? doctors are annoying..and extreamly frustrating...but thanks everyone for your help i really mean that!!

Kim

I thought it was very strange that my RA doc does not prescribe narcotic pain medications. When I first asked him about them, I was afraid he thought I was drug seeking, so I declined a referral to a pain management doctor. Six weeks later, I got brave enough to ask for a referral. And he gave me one, but it took seven weeks to get in to see a pain specialist. I saw him on Wednesday. It did not go well. And yes, he managed to give me pain! Why would you as a doctor, manipulate every joint in my body to illicit pain if you know I have RA? He gave me a prescription for vicoprofen. Not touching my pain. He also caused most of my joints to swell, so caused more pain! Wish I would have asked my primary care physician. I guess the bottom line is that it is about malpractice and litigation issues.

Good luck, I recommend your primary care physician if you have a good relationship with him.
daizy8

I absolutely cannot take NSAIDS...I am terrified that is the only thing my drs will offer...narcotic meds (mild ones) make me ill...but if taking one n the evening helps me a little it is worth it.

I have been on Hydrocodone for about a year now. The Rheumatologist I saw said he did not believe in treating pain that way, because it will make you more sensitive to pain. Then he got rude with me because I asked him again. He had me Tramadol, and I had a SEIZURE! That Rheumy put me on a crazy cocktail of drugs. Tramadol for pain, Plaquenil for RA, and Amnitryptalin for sleep. That whole combo caused the seizure. So I fired him! He was rude, and very far away from my house/work. So now I am just seeing a PCP, starting a Rx NSAID tomorrow and honestly, I don't know what I would do without the pain meds. I have two little children! My blood work came back abnormally high for inflammation, so my PCP actually understands and isn't afraid to treat my pain. I have all the classic symptoms of RA, but I am Rheumatoid-factor negative (which is good!) My eyes, are terribly dry, and my joints crack and pop and grind. I have to take the pain meds or I wouldn't be able to manage daily chores. Alot of people can judge me because of it, but I don't care, they aren't in the pain that I am in...and the worst part- it gets worse as we age, and I am only 26!!!

Thanks again for all the input....i plan on making an appt. with my PCP..i think i need to know what dr. does what...pretaining to R.A ..i had no idea i had to see my PCP dr. for things related to R.A!!


confused in Oregon

Kim

I think I have said this so many times, I feel like I am beating a dead horse with a hammer. If you are only taking prednisone, and you are in terrible pain, you need to get on better meds. A DMARD and a biologic if necessary. I lived like that for 6 years. Pain killers and prednisone. It just masks the fact that your body is slowly being destroyed on the inside. All my deformities come from the days when my docs treated symptoms instead of the disease. I have severe RA, but I am active and alive, as opposed to crippled and non-functioning 5 years ago. I finally begged my doc for better meds, when they took Celebrex off the market for a few years. I am a different person today. Except now I am not on mthx, because of liver damage. So I am exhausted, but at least no flares.

Unless you have tried all these new drugs, and are med resistant (I have met one or two), I would DEMAND better treatment from your rheumie. These meds do cost a lot more than prednisone, but isn't the quality of your life worth it?

Angelia I am taking.mtx been on it a year..I'm on remicade right now....i have tired Humeria,Enbral,plax, and was on prednisone over a year..my rheumy just gave me Etodolac....so i guess we will see if it helps..I sure hope so.


Thank everyone
Kim