Hi,
Am new to this forum and glad I found it. Am from Australia and was diagosed with RA approx 12mths ago. Have had pain in knees and hands for some years but early this year it got much worse. Sholder then started and now and am much worse than last year. Have been on Sulfasalizine and MTX for approx 9mths which has reduced the pain but am still suffering every day. Was also on prednisone for some months. I'm told the blood test only just showed I might have RA and inflamation markers are ok and were so before the meds. Was told I've been clinicaly diagonised with RA as the blood tests don't really show it.
Tried dropping the MTX back to 10mg but wow did that give me a hurry up. Am in pain every day and most weeks can handle it if I don't do much at all. What I don't understand is if the tablets should be taking all the pain away or is that to much to ask for?? I'm guessing from the other posts that even with the tablets day to day pain is pretty much the norm.
Seeya
Ray
Hi Ray, I am an aussie also. Its so hard for me to say yes the pain will go away. but everyone is different. I have psoriatic arthritis and have been in pain pretty well constantly for 5 years. Tried methotrexate, but it did nothing but give bad side effects. Then changed to arava which was fantastic at the beginning. still in pain but nowhere near as much. I have also taken a 200mg slow release tramadol for the 5 years. 4 months ago the arava stopped working and i was approved for enbrel. Since the 1st shot I feel like I have a life again. The fatigue lifted and the pain has been minimal. Still not game to stop the tramadol though, as I still have bad days and moments when the weather changes or I have done too much. So to answer your question ,find the right medication combination and your quality of life will be much better. All the best Ally|
RA and pain-free don't easily go hand-in-hand. I always have some measurable pain -- but somedays are better than others. Ask your doctor for pain medication to get you through the worst days.
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Hi Ray...welcome! I'm glad you found the board too. It helps to be able to read what "normal" for RA is. Everyone is at least a little different in how it affects them.
Is your RD aware that you're still in a lot of pain? Maybe he/she can change things up a bit and that will help. I have mostly pretty decent days with some occasional flares. I can't say that I'm ever pain free though. So hang in there, things can still get better.
Linda
Hi and welcome Ray!!Jay, I have been at this treatment thing for a year, and still am battling a lot of pain most days. I have a lot of swelling which is consistant with Psoriatic Arthritis(which affects the tendons as well as joints). I have tried several different combos and we are still working to find what will work for me.
Good luck and strengthen the patience level. I would talk to my RD about pain relief that you can live with. I have trouble with the pain relief during the day...because I have an allergy to asprin and NSAIDS. Take care and let us know how you are doing with your journey.
Hi Ray and welcome to AI,Hi Guys,
Thanks very much for the advice. Certainly intend discussing this with the specialist early in the year. Also am trying to get a second opinion but living in a regional location in Aus means it's very difficult seeing doctors.
Have decided I'd like to continue travelling as we used to so 2008 is the year I try every option. Bit worried about taking so much medication but I guess that's one option I don't have.
Noticed the thread on the Garvan Institute and am certainly keeping everything crossed.
Thanks
Ray
Welcome Ray. Like the others, I have pain every day, despite taking two very strong opiate pain meds. However, if I didn't have my meds,. I would be bedridden. So, we just learn to live with whatever relief the meds offer us.
I hope you are getting adaquate relief from your meds. If not, I agree that you need to talk to your rheumatologist. Complete freedom from pain may not often be possible, but there are many drugs available, so your doc should be able to find a combination that can at least keep your pain managable. Some of our members have had excellent results from the biologics like, Enbrel, Humira, Remicade. There are also some newer RA drugs like Rituxan and Orencia that offer some hope. These meds also may help slow the destruction of joints.
Good luck! I hope you have a good RD who will listen and work with you on pain management.
Be well, Nini
Hi Ray and welcome. I have been battling ra for over 2 years. I tried several meds I was allergic to, some didn't work, but now I am on Enbrel which I inject once a week. I have had some pain free days but they have been few and far between. Mostly, the pain varies and travels. The first shot of enbrel I took, the next day I felt awesome! I then wore myself out and felt bad again by evening. The weather plays a huge factor on the way I feel. If it's raining or snowing, I ache something fierce. I take vicodin and it helps mask it, it doesn't completely go away but it sure helps. Ask your dr. maybe he/she can give you something to help you feel better.