Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
Why would a doctor not prescribe something for pain? What do you get for pain?
I can't take NSAIDS but hell if I don't!
Yesterday morning I woke up with pain on the right side of my back (kind of like a sprung rib feeling) if that can happen and a new pain in my left shoulder. Right where the clavicle meets your shoulder. There's this little ball type thing and it hurt like hell. So I took 1 Ranitidine per prescribed by my PCP (Per my RA doc) and one Motrin after breakfast. Pain gone.
Last night after work went out and worked with my new horse. Well, my 800 lb black beauty stepped on my left foot....the one with the bunions and splayed toes! My super played toe got BRIGHT RED and swollen. Luckily it's not broken. I ice packed it last night. This morning it hurts but I can move it. AND I also have a cyst on my lady parts and it hurts to sit down!
And hands and feet are hurting more than normal....Maybe there is something to Gluten and RA...had jasmine rice last night and a couple of times when I've had pasta for dinner II woke up flarey! I've bought Gluten free pasta and woken up fine.
I've taken Vicodin which does not mess up my stomach but hate the "high"....Couldn't imagine an MJ prescription for a RA patient due to possible lung issues. WTH?
Do I keep taking Motrin (which really is few and far between) or when I go see my PCP on the 16th for other issues ask her opinion? She is very anal (which I love). I've never seen her but go with my husband on his appointments and she is very thorough. She orders all kinds of test because she says she is anal. LOL
So....to get it straight....you can still get a flare and be on MTX right? Waking up still and painful is the norm? Later I feel better but you know it's always lurking right there...the pain.
I can't take NSAIDS but hell if I don't!
Yesterday morning I woke up with pain on the right side of my back (kind of like a sprung rib feeling) if that can happen and a new pain in my left shoulder. Right where the clavicle meets your shoulder. There's this little ball type thing and it hurt like hell. So I took 1 Ranitidine per prescribed by my PCP (Per my RA doc) and one Motrin after breakfast. Pain gone.
Last night after work went out and worked with my new horse. Well, my 800 lb black beauty stepped on my left foot....the one with the bunions and splayed toes! My super played toe got BRIGHT RED and swollen. Luckily it's not broken. I ice packed it last night. This morning it hurts but I can move it. AND I also have a cyst on my lady parts and it hurts to sit down!
And hands and feet are hurting more than normal....Maybe there is something to Gluten and RA...had jasmine rice last night and a couple of times when I've had pasta for dinner II woke up flarey! I've bought Gluten free pasta and woken up fine.
I've taken Vicodin which does not mess up my stomach but hate the "high"....Couldn't imagine an MJ prescription for a RA patient due to possible lung issues. WTH?
Do I keep taking Motrin (which really is few and far between) or when I go see my PCP on the 16th for other issues ask her opinion? She is very anal (which I love). I've never seen her but go with my husband on his appointments and she is very thorough. She orders all kinds of test because she says she is anal. LOL
So....to get it straight....you can still get a flare and be on MTX right? Waking up still and painful is the norm? Later I feel better but you know it's always lurking right there...the pain.
I think today is just so bad due to the added issues last couple of days and then Wed the terrible MTX crash. And the pain....it's so hard to describe. It's pain but it's not. It's more like an annoyance maybe because we just learn to accept it.
" For myself - pain is part of the everyday landscape. I've learned the best way to manage pain is to take a comprehensive approach: medically, physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally. "
I'm starting to get this myself. You seem to always be at such peace with it.....I think that's the spiritual part of it. And so wise.
How lucky you were to be able to attend a 6 week program. Just trying to find a real live support group is so hard. You would think us with RA would love to be able to talk in person etc. But many of us I guess are at a point where even that is a huge choice.
"I enjoyed learning more about the spiritual and mental tools to help manage severe pain - when nothing else seemed to work: Mindfulness Meditation, prayer, distraction, music, baths, reaching out to others (sometimes it was hard to phone someone but that can be helpful)."
All wonderful idea's. I'm not a "religious" person but I am a spiritual person. I love Music and I think it plays a HUGE part in feeling good. If I am having a bad day I always open my iTunes on my PC and listen to Violin or any classical or old school blues.
I use to go barefoot everywhere. Since I worked at home I never wore shoes. Until last year when PCP told me I need to. I now where Vionics only and when I ride I wear men's boots with vionic inserts and I wear Vionic slippers and flip flops around the house. They are heaven on my feet.
We have an in-ground swimming pool and I told my husband I will probably be using it a lot this summer. We'll have lived here 2 years April 1 and rarely used it because we bought the property to have our horses at home. Now I have to learn to split the time....Nothing like a swim after a ride, huh?
I LOVE that site! And RAWarrior too. It's very hard to find any information online or even books about RA because it is such a multidimensional disease. No two people are exactly alike when it comes to RA. That is what I am finding out the most. There are not many "how to" books out there but the site you mentioned I love. I also like running into peoples blogs as well. There is just something about knowing you are not alone that helps a lot too.
Thanks so much Sally!!!
When I got on a good combo, I really didn't need any pain meds, and didn't take them for over 10 years. Those were the "good ole days!"
Then meds failures, I was put on Nycunta, a synthetic narcotic. It helped at first, but when everything failed, I was back to prednisone. Meds still aren't working a year later, and I feel like I am a drug addict. I hated hydromorphone at first, now I am taking it too often. I don't know if my pain tolerance has gone down, but I really don't want to be in any pain anymore. I usually take it before bed, so I can get a decent (sort of) sleep.
I would not hesitate to ask for pain meds, if you need them. My goal is still to get off of them all again, but I need Orencia to start working. I have 3 weeks to make 6 months on it, by which time it is supposed to be working, and then I am going to be upset. I still have one drug I would like to revisit if Orencia doesn't work. But that means going off Orencia, and the provincial plan won't let you back on if you go off. So some major decisions to be made.
I'm supposed to be starting another RA pain course in a couple of weeks. I guess it won't harm me, as things have changed radically for me from when I had my last one back in 2000. That is something you might want to see if it is offered near you. To learn some tricks and some new ideas.
I hope you get that pain under control soon!