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...
My finger surgery is now scheduled for Sept 30th. Since I will need to be off all NSAIDs for 7-10 days prior, I was hoping there was something else I could take between now and then to knock down the pain and swelling in my hands. We tried low dose Prednisone (5 mg), but my BP shot way up on that, even when I tried cutting it in half.
Now my doc is saying my choices are down to just Tylenol. I'm actually afraid of Tylenol because many years ago, I had severe mid-section pain after taking it. I don't know if that was some weird coincidence. I don't think so.
Anyway, I was just surprised to have my RA doc recommend Tylenol. Really? I didn't know it had any anti-inflammatory properties. I'm feeling unusually vulnerable and depressed about this. Like there is "nothing in that black bag for me" anymore. Not a happy place to be.
I guess I am a difficult case. Humira quit working for me after a couple of years and then my doc said my labs didn't show inflammation so he wouldn't prescribe anything but NSAIDS. But my hands are huge with swelling and pain in the morning.
Now my doc is saying my choices are down to just Tylenol. I'm actually afraid of Tylenol because many years ago, I had severe mid-section pain after taking it. I don't know if that was some weird coincidence. I don't think so.
Anyway, I was just surprised to have my RA doc recommend Tylenol. Really? I didn't know it had any anti-inflammatory properties. I'm feeling unusually vulnerable and depressed about this. Like there is "nothing in that black bag for me" anymore. Not a happy place to be.
I guess I am a difficult case. Humira quit working for me after a couple of years and then my doc said my labs didn't show inflammation so he wouldn't prescribe anything but NSAIDS. But my hands are huge with swelling and pain in the morning.
Maybe I missed something but why wouldn't he give you another biologic? I wouldn't say you're a hard to treat case. I'm on my 3rd bio since December if you count Humira that failed. If you're hard to treat then I must be impossible.
Also, if there was no inflammation then why did he put you on an anti-inflammatory?? As for Tylenol, my understanding is it treats pain but doesn't have any anti-inflammatory properties. But swelling causes pain so maybe that's what he's trying to help you with. Other than steroids & nsaids I'm not sure what you can take to reduce swelling quickly. Since those are both out with the increased bp & upcoming surgery I'm not sure what alternatives there are. Hopefully you can restart the nsaids and a new biologic after the surgery and get things back on track. There are other pain relievers that don't have tylenol if you need a bridge til a new bio starts working. Vicoprofen has a pain reliever and ibuprofen (nsaid). That might be something to consider. If tylenol upsets your stomach just make sure you take it with food. I've recently developed an ulcer so I know how horrible stomach pain is especially when aggravated by meds.
Taker care,
Emerald
Thanks for the feedback. Well, the reason he isn't putting me on another biologic is because he said my blood work doesn't show any "active inflammation." hmmm I don't understand this. I've had RA for 45 years now and it seems I am back to square one (back in the 70's, all they could give you was aspirin.
We did try Orencia for a few months, but it just made me worse (honestly).
As for why he put me on anti-inflammatories.. your guess is as good as mine. Probably because I complained a lot and because, at least, they help some.
Yes, I am looking forward to crossing that bridge (getting through the surgery and then back on NSAIDs, at least). Thanks for the info on Vicoprofen. I hadn't heard of that one before.
Good luck and hope surgery goes well
Many doctors have told me that a GI reaction to Tylenol is impossible, but 15 minutes after taking it I'm upchucking. Worthless stuff- terrible for kidneys and liver and it doesn't do diddlysquat for pain or inflammation.
Have you considered a new rheumy?
2scicrazed, I have wondered about Celebrex, but Ive read a lot about BP effects from it, and I have to be very careful about that. Seems it doesnt take much (in the way of meds) to spike my BP.
Altoclef (love that name), I hear you, but I am so freaked out about going cold turkey for a week. Im afraid I wont be able to use my hands at all. Ill be working until the day before the surgery. Thanks for all your input, and oh yea, I have most definitely given the "new rheumy" a lot of thought lately. So much has changed with him. Its like he isnt even the same doc I knew 5 years ago. Used to be, he would do anything to try to help me. Now it seems like he is doing all he can to not help me. Makes me wonder if he is being dictated to by someone at the top of the organization (i.e., its not up to him anymore). If I do go elsewhere, it will be with a different organization, not the University hospital group Ive been with.
Annette, thats good to know about the alternate form of Tylenol.
Nonightshades, Ill look into that oil. Ill take anything I can get right about now.