You know somedays i just couldn't live without painkillers, like today for example, but the completely knock me stupid! I've been on a few different ones and recently went on a new one that's a bit weaker than my last one, but taking two should work great. It does but i'm still getting knocked sensless lol (not always a bad thing)
It would be good though to have good pain management, but not be dopey and want to sleep all the time.
What are you guys on and can you think of anything i could maybe recommend to my doctor?
What are you taking? That would be the first thing we would need to know. That includes what RA meds you are on and how bad your symptoms are while on them.
I use a combination of Mobic, Extra Strength Tylenol and Vicodin.
Other people use Celebrex with great success. I can't take that one. Darn.
First, your RA treatment needs to be maximized. If you aren't on the right mix there, then I don't think you can really find enough pain relief.
Second, pain meds do need to be tailored to the individual. Collect as much experience as you can from here and your own research and then call back to the doctor to see what you can take that does not make you loopy.
I have no idea how high your level of pain is. For really bad pain, they have control release patches that still allow you to function, think, drive, etc. Those are often available through a pain clinic.
If it is one area that is causing you most of your pain, get it evaluated. For instance, if you have a lot of pain in a certain joint, there might need to be something done. They can do a cortisone shot, take xrays, MRIs, etc.
Many times, my pain comes from specific damage that I live with. Other times, it is the overall pain of RA inflammation.
Ultram works for minor pain without making me dopey. However, most days I have to resort to vicodin or percocet. The vicodin I'm used to taking and I can work and function on it just fine. The percocet is newer and I save that for crippling pain, I can take one and still somewhat function but anymore than that and I'm couch bound. There are lidocaine patches that help with isolated pain and aren't absorbed into the blood stream so don't make you loopy either!I'm lucky enough that advil takes away most everything. Do you take an NSAID? Sometimes they quit working, maybe you need to try a new one. They really help with pain and stiffness if you are on the right one! You might not even need a pain pill.Often if you are on something like MTX or one of the biologics an increase in that will make a huge difference. Even just one more pill of MTX can get you through for a while.
What DMARDs have you tired? And what are you on now and at what dose?
I'm a big fan of cortisone injections when I have a particular area that just keeps bothering me.
Painkillers may not relief pain. Usually one experiences much pain depending on the condition. Cortisone injections to the buttock may relief the for a few days, if the disease is very severe, it is not effective. These were my experiences.
I have been taking herbs and eat natural foods for last 15 years. Pain is no more a threat as the disease is reversing and weakening. NO DRUGS for the same period of time. Better quality of life and healthier.
The conclusion - herbs, natural food, healthy body to interact with the disease.
There are times when I need pain pills, but don'tRA is so different for each individual. For many, getting the RA under control is much easier said than done. Because my liver is highly sensitive to many of the meds like MTX and Arava, my ability to use all the DMARD options is limited. I'm on Enbrel, Celebrex, Minocyline and I still have to use pain meds. I try to use them prudently, but still I have to take them. Some people's RA are simply not that responsive to the drugs available. I know we have many more options than we did just ten years ago, but still its an imperfect world. I remind myself that pain meds are not a cure, they are only available to relieve the symptoms of RA. I think the key is balance. Try to find the lowest possible dosage you can take that takes the "edge" off the pain, but still leaves you with somewhat clear and energetic. Exercise, eating right, using the best possible meds available and prudent use of pain meds. Its all about balance. But don't be ashamed to use pain meds.
I have started to find that for me...I dont get complete pain relief from my RA from the pain meds. Or at least not when I am at a functional dose. After surgery I was on Darvocett and getting total pain relief...but I was taking one every 2 hours...I felt pretty lucid at the time but in retrospect..I was pretty gorked out. I just really have to say that at least in my case, I need the RA meds to do some of the work.I've been on methotrexate 12.5mg for about 3 months now and they are still trying to find the best dose. I take celebrex for anti inflamitaries and i'm also on sulphasalazine. The new painkillers are co-dydramol and they taste disgusting. The doctor said they are weaker than my last ones, but taking two should really kill the pain. It does but as i said i am dopey :)