Rheumatoid Arthritis, any ideas on pain relief?

[MommyDoylee]

Hi,

Not been on here for, erm, years?!!!! Anyway, I suffered with Junior RA, came back with a vengeance in 2011. Doctors are about as much use as a chocolate teapot (and thats the Rheumy specialists) - there's no let up in the pain from my knees, elbows, wrists and all my fingers.

Things I've tried.... Heat packs, naproxen, Celebrex, ibrophen, corteosteroid injections, steroid tablets, joint ace omega 3, paracetamol, swimming, cycling, resting, switching to an automatic car, warm baths and the next thing they mentioned in methotrexate?

Any help or pain relief ideas would be appreciated as I've got two small kids and trying to hold down a career :-))))

Doylee x

My arthritis is psioritic so similar but not exactly the same.

You need some proper pain relief. Cocodamol (30/500) or tramadol, they are prescription only.

You might also get some relief from an antiinflamatory such as naproxen.

I had methotrexate for 10 years. The side effects lessen but for me I still had one day a week where I felt lousy and would not have been able to work (student for most of that time so could take it on days I had no lectures).

I also use a tens machine and ice. Ice/pack of frozen peas will reduce swelling.

I have two sets of wrist splints, one to keep my hands imobile in the day - the ones you see all the time, the others are 'resting splints' which need to be made for you but are made in about 15 mins.

What do you wear on your feet? Doc Martens are good to give you support.

Hi MommyDoylee, perhaps you ll be interested in this RA clinical trial that's about to start :) www.stemcellsfreak.com/2013/01/mesoblast-commences-stem-cell-clinical-trial-on-RA.html

Thanks Sashh. I've got psoriasis too but my Rheumy doc has never really said much about the psoriasis element!

Tramadol I haven't tried, can't have cocodamol again, nearly ended up in hospital with stomach problems! But I agree, I need a form of pain relief that works! Last two times I saw the "specialist" I left with only anti inflammatory meds, nothing for the pain. In fact last time she did an ultrasound and there was no inflammation... But was still given anti inflammatory meds!!!

Ive tried at least 3 NSAIDS, naproxen was one. Celebrex and etoricoxib.

I like the idea of the tens machine, might dig my one out.

Baths help while I'm in them but as soon as I get out and walk or dry myself the pain comes back with a vengeance!

I'll look at doc martens too I think!

Thanks again! :-)

Thanks mam. That trial looks positive, I've not tried the biologics yet, think they are hesitant to put me on them as I haven't gone down the methotrexate route. And the price of biologics are extortionate apparently the NHS don't like giving them out. But if I keep persisting then I'm sure I'll get there with the right meds! I think I'm going to keep the link in my favourites to show my doc. Not that she seems to be too bothered due to my age I guess.

My problem's with back pain, not arthritis but have recently found a new roll-on "freezing-gel" which is good for temporary relief : Biofreeze, chemists can order for about £10, good luck.

Accepted wisdom is to try DMARDs before biologics partly because biologics work best in combination with a DMARD often mtx.
I've been on DMARDs for 15yrs mostly methotrexate (mtx) with very little problems except when I took a break to have DS it didn't work so well when I went back on. Now on Humira with mtx which is fab.
If you go on the DMARD and it works for you this will be the greatest pain relief. It's scary stuff but if properly monitored you are unlikely to have irreversible problems whereas if you have untreated inflammatory arthritis then you are likely to cause irreversible damage.
Getting me on DMARDs quick has been credited with the lack of bad joint damage despite having very active disease at times. Tramadol is one of the few drugs that really spaces me out & makes me feel very sick.

Thanks for the replies, Showtime - I'll look up the roll on biofreeze! Wonky I'm really concerned about the MTX. For the fact that irreversible damage can be done scares the bejesus out of me. I think if I'm careful I might be able to time the dose at the end of my last day at work, then I have 4 days to recover- but realistically I've still got the girls to look after & housework etc.
I know they have to try dmards but it's a shame they aren't more advanced!!!!!
I think I need to bite the bullet and go on MTX.

You definitely need some more robust pain relief, and some anti inflammatories (with added stomach protection) if you're not already taking them.

I don't have RA, but do have HMS and it's got to the stage where a lot of my joints are damaged. Blood tests show no signs of inflammatory processes, but I tried going without any anti-inflammatories and ended up in constant pain and unable to maintain the level of activity I need to keep my joints moving. In my case, I'm constantly pulling and straining things and having naproxen available helps to alleviate that. (I can't take ibuprofen - I had constant runs when I was self medicating with that, pre-diagnosis)

TENS can be helpful and some people get lots of relief from being in warm water - see if you can get a physio referral and some aquatherapy.

Celebrex did nothing for me until I was on the max dose of 400mg. I need to take omeprazole as celebrex gives me terrible reflux but it's worth it, for me. Ice packs or heat packs are an option. The general rule is ice for inflammation and heat for muscle aches and pains, however some people can't tolerate ice. For me, ice really eases the pain.

Are you very swollen and stiff? If so, it might need a DMARD adjustment to dampen down the disease activity. Methotrexate made a huge amount of difference to me and I would really recommend giving it a whirl. Not everyone gets the bad side effects.

I really feel for you. RA is really flipping difficult to cope with, at times.

Thanks Crashdoll. Not swollen at the moment but very very stiff for most of the day & through the night. I have to drive a lot for work so getting an automatic car has helped me so much. The problem I have is nobody really knows what it's like. Nobody I know has ever had it, and those that say they have it aren't on medication so I doubt they really have it as they haven't got a clue!!!!! And my poor kids are too young, I'd prefer them thinking mum is lazy than them feeling bad that mummy is in crippling agony.
I'll speak to my Rheumy doc, see if I can go for a low dose MTX.
Anybody have any experience dealing with DLA? I got rejected but I'm going through appeal at the moment. Seems very drawn out and unfair.

Thanks ouryve. Naproxen didn't do anything to help me, but I'm happy to keep trying everything!! Off the naproxen now and tried Celebrex and just been given etoricoxib!! I've got a physio referral and wanted to try accupuncture and hydro. Although I've been trying to call the number to make an appointment and it just rings and rings - tried 19 times friday & probably nearer 50 times this week in total! Crazy!

Hello, I don't know a massive amount about RA but I do have a close friend in her 20s with severe RA. She swears by turmeric (in conjunction with methotrexate and prescription pain killers) apparently it's a potent anti inflammatory. She buys empty medicine capsules from Holland and Barratt and fills them with turmeric powder from the supermarket! As I said, I don't know a huge amount about it, but it might be worth looking in to? Best of luck

I have psoriatic arthritis. It wasn't diagnosed in the UK, the doctors kept telling me they weren't linked. Blood tests were inconclusive. Doctor here (Dubai) diagnosed me from the way I walked, blood tests came back as conculsive. He was very cautious with meds and what works for me is, vitamin D, methotraxate, imuran, folic acid (high dose) and panadol joint. Panadol doesn't touch it, panadol joint is fantastic. I had a very bad attack so took prednisone and I am coming off that very slowly. I am lucky that methotrexate doesn't affect me much. I just have to remember on the morning I take it that the first food I have is a bowl of plain yoghurt to calm my tummy. If I forget, my tummy aches all day.

Oh, forgot one thing. My parents bought me a product called Kneease. It is amazing, if I have a busy day and my knee is aching, I pop the kneease on and it helps.

kneease.com/