Sorry for your lousy pharmacy experience. Obviously none of them have had real chronic pain. I take Norco every day , usually a muscle relaxer, and sometimes take Tylenol also because I really don't have enough pain med to control the pain.
I recently started Enbrel, and like you, am hoping that will help enough so I don't need to go to pain management to get stronger pain meds, and hope I can decrease what I'm taking now. In the past after surgery the surgeon recommended tapering off the pain meds so I'd check with your Dr. how to go about it if you feel you can cut back or discontinue.
Wish there was a definite answer and solution but we all respond differently.

Hi Orchidsland, So sorry you are in this predicament, but you did get some good advice here. As for the pharmacy staff there job is to get a prescription, fill it and keep their comments or remarks to themselves. I would report them to the store manager and take my business elsewhere. My Rheumatologist stopped dispensing pain meds when the laws changed about refills so I have my pain managed now by a pain management doctor who is very understanding. I am on Nucenta ER twice a day and Oxycodin 15 mg. That is all that I am on now as my Acterma and Arava are on hold until this sinus infection is over and done with. So now I do have to take pain meds around the clock along with being out of work until I have the sinus surgery. When I am back on the RA meds and they start to take hold I am certain as when I was on the RA meds before that the amount of pain meds will decrease. Hope you find the right RA meds combo and start to feel better soon. At least you now have a working diagnosis putting you on the right track. Keep us posted.

My sister is a family practitioner and her number one recommendation for chronic pain is to get a pain mgt doctor. Even for a rheumatologist, it's hard to manage pain with so many legal requirements - to the point it takes away from their focus on the diseases/people. It's lots of "red tape", where a pain mgt has all the necessary staff and backup needed to stay in the pain business.
Another thing that is interfering with docs like rheumatologists and family practitioners is that we need PAs and NPs to see patients too. They do not have the same ability as doctors for pain medication...thus putting even more pressure on the already busy doctors. By "farming out" the pain mgt, patients get better pain management, PAs and NPs can see patients with less complex issues and the doctors can see patients with acute/more complex needs. (that doesn't mean there aren't great PAs or NPs who can handle complex issues or that there aren't docs who do a great job of handling pain mgt along with their specialty, just that it's a very good fit to add pain mgt doc)

I'm so sorry you had to go through such an ordeal with the pharmacy.
I've been through the same.
Actually got to the point I dreaded it like you brought me to tears. Pain is bad enough. Husband had a little talk to tha pharmacist. Got better after that. Then left narcotic in the pharmacy as I felt I did not need it at that point.
Which gained another pharmacists respect. As she had never had a customer decline a pain med. she became my greatest ally by recommending treatments to discuss with my PM.

Now fast forward there's a newer pharmacist that took over trained by the one who was such a blessing. As she left to have her fourth child.
Recently hurt her back. Yep she's in pain. Told me she learned never to doubt the pain "her patients" her words experiance.

I've heard so many stories like yours. If you are mobile, they cannot see the pain you must be OK. Heartbreaking to be judged while suffering.
One CP member highly recommended a private pharmacy, or mom & pop type if you can still find any. As they not only get to know you more but can order the same generics that at times make a huge difference.
As far as the need to continue in the future I can't say. Having multiple conditions its hard. Yet when the RA is managed everything is less bothersome. For me it can be a domino effect. RA gets to out of control other conditions are aggravated.
I get injections (nerve blocks), Rhizotomies also. So I have a PM who manages my pain. He's awesome. Trust is a key. Took time & getting to know one another. PM has been my saving grace. Like other specialities it takes weeding the good from the bad.

As mentioned with changes most other docs do not prescribe.
Either way I feel better having a doctor who specializes in treating CP.

What your going through with the pharmacy is uncalled for. At the least perhaps a call to the manager. It's just wrong. To judge seems so unethical.
Hoping you gain control soon. Mean time listen to your body & do what you must to preserve quality in your life.
Blessings
Sammy

not everyone can or does take biologics some are even allergic to dmards. it's all a crapshoot. different strokes for different folks I guess.

i think if we took a poll on here most that take any type of pain medication are on some RA med regime, that their own personal body can tolerate, allergy wise or co-morbidity wise. I bet half of them have pain management issues.

the pain management clinics within a radius of myself only do guided imaged cortisone injections and Physical therapy and no dispensing. they do lecture a lot, that's free. and they have great posters on the wall.

Depot