Daily pain | Arthritis Information

Hello,

I was diagnosed with RA in 03 I am currently on Enbrel, prednisone, vicoden, and arava, and orudis. Every morning that I wake up my whole body is in pain. It's about 1/2 hour before I start to feel better. I have to take almost 6 vicoden a day in order to be able to function. My doctor seems to think this is okay. Does anyone else experience this with RA? And is this normal? Thanks

momof3

I FEEL FOR YOU I WAS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND I SAT ALL DAY AT WORK AND IF I TRIED TO GET UP AFTER A LONG PERIOD OF TIME I WAS IN SLOW MOTION. IT CAN MAKE YOU FEEL SICK EVEN. HAVE YOU BEEN ON MXT. ARE YOU STILL WORKING? I GOT A NEW MATTRESS AND IT DID HELP MINE WAS FIRM BEFORE (MY HUBBY HAS SOME BACK PROBLEMS.) REST AND MORE REST HELPED ME.

ITS THIS NORMAL? YES

BOY I AM WINDED TODAY I NEVER ANSWER POST LIKE THIS BEFORE.

Thanks so much for your reply. I was on MTX first but I was having bad side effects from it. My hair thinned out terribly. My doctor put me on arava instead. Yes Im still working unfortunately. I drive 45 min a day to work and that is very tiring also. I wish I could work my job from home. When I wake up in the morning it feels like someone is sitting on my whole body. It is hard to get up out of bed. It's even hard to move around and get comfortable in bed. And yes I do have a very comfortable bed too. I was just wondering does anyone else feel this bad every morning. I have switched to ultram for pain and it didnt do a thing for me. Vicoden is the only pain med that helps. I hate to take them too. I dont want my body to get too used to them. I just want relief from all of this pain.

Dear Mom - As normal as can be. This is the life of most people with ra. It sux. Pain and fatigue. The right med mix helps. I really watch my pain pill intake because I don't want to build a tolerance. I try to take only darvocet, they are weaker, unless it is big pain. I keep hearing that it gets better, some days, not many, it is.

Thanks again

momof3

Hey momofthree, want two more? Just kidding! Welcome.

Yep sure do!!!!

Just love kids so much wanted them around all the time. But when they started to grow up is when all the trouble started. Well not bad trouble just the usual kids stuff. AND I dont think I could have afforded 8 anyway!!!! Thanks for the welcome.

momof3

Momof3 Have you thought of going to a different rd? It seems if you are still having trouble and the dr is not concerned that you are not feeling any better then it is time to see another rd. Right now, I am off my cocktail because of an infection, but I usually am on arava and enbrel. I take naxporin for pain when needed. I have ra, oa and pa. I am functioning very well, especially if you had seen me last year you wouldn't believe I was the same person. I work as a receiver for a big company store, I work a forklift, heavy shipments and etc. I am doing very well and even back to gardening!!! Sometimes it takes awhile to find the right formula for you to be able to function, but if your dr is not seeming to be concerned about how you are doing then find another dr, you deserve to be able to have a good life with your family and to be able to function day to day. Another thing have your thyroid tested, it seems alot of us not only have the ra problems, but we also seem to have problems with our thyroid. Oh and by the way:

WELCOME TO THE BOARD!!!!

When i get up in the mornings, i have about 3-5hrs before i feel good enough to go anywhere, that's when my pills really kick in.

I do this all the time and that's on good days.

Im wondering if my Dr. should put me back on MTX Ive been off of it for over a year now. I dont think the Arava is doing anything for me. Im just so tired of taking pain pills. They help but I just dont want to have to depend on them. My Dr. says if im in pain take the pills to stop the pain. Whenever it starts that's what I do. I would rather her put me on some good medicine to stop the pain. She just tells me to keep taking the pain pills. I dont think that is normal. I used to take 3 a day now it's up to six.

I also wanted to ask where exactly is everyones pain? Mine is all over my body. I dont really notice specific joints aching. It's from my head to my feet. The flu-like symptoms. Someone told me it sounds like fibromyalgia. Does that sound right? That's all I need is Ra and Fibro. Mine has always been very specific, knees, wrist, ankle or wherever. All of my joints are affected and I can identify which one are are hurting at any given time. been on Arava for a while now, it doesn't work for me as good as the methx. did. I need something else to but haven't found anything else I can take except Pred. Just waiting for something new to come out. I used to work with pain managment dr's and I agree it does'nt sound like you're responding to the arava after a year. Usually dr's try to lower your dosage of pain killer. I'd probley want to talk to her about your concerns. Hang in there.

yep, you are normal. When I get up I hurt. I'm stiff. I take my meds, and slowly loosen up. I take 2 ultram in the morning and 2 at bedtime, and occasionally vicoden.

I manage pretty well til about 5 pm, then I notice my legs just give out. I can hardly get up the stairs, and pretty much shut down for the rest of the night.