I've always taken short-term pain meds for my RA. I usually take a 5mg Vicodin after work to relieve the pain and stiffness. I've used this for over two years. Now I'm going thru a difficult flare and I started dropping more of these, usually 1/2 tab every 2-3 hours. I got concerned and called RD - He didn't want me "chasing" the pain and gave me a rx for long-term (12hr) meds - oxy 20 mg. These work very well and I don't need to take tabs every 2-4 hours. They work well, but they do worry me a bit! Anybody have experience with these. I hope to be off them soon and back to my regular schedule as soon as the flare passes.Randy, I have recently changed from darvocett to percocett. It was a scary change but it is such a relief to finally have pain relief. I have the same concerns as you. I still take darvocett if I have to function better but only the percocett truly relieves the pain. I just keep telling myself, the thing that makes me think to take a pill is not I want to get high but I hurt and I am sick of hurting. I hope that will mean that if my ra gets better, I will easily get off the pain meds. As it is, I am choosing to take the chance as it is such a relief to escape from the pain. So sorry that you are flaring and in pain. As long as you take the meds as prescribed there should be no problem. I take Morphine ER (extended release lasts 12 hours). I don't always take it twice a day and I have never experienced a "craving" for it. It is never wrong, no one is ever a failure, and it is never your fault that you are in pain and everyone deserves to manage their pain to a tolerable level. We didn't ask for this icky disease and we have the right to manage it.
Hope you feel better soon!
my doctor had prescribed me vicodin 5mg for my arm which is awful and in need of an elbow replacement. (I am too young,s o i have to live like this for a long time).
I take about 4 a day sometimes. Since on prednisone, I have been able to back off of it.