Hi everyone
I hate to bug you guys but I am having a really hard time.
My RA is not under control....I am on avara x 2 daily and 50 mgs of enbreal. I hurt hurt hurt....now I think that they are also looking ag fibromyalgia and all the research I have done indicates they are right.
How do I handle this.....
I feel so bad....sometimes it even hurts to hug my husband !!!!!
For those of you who have both how do you do this ???
Hi Gram. I don't have both, but it does sound like RA and fibro are a cruel combo. No advice here, but a virtual hug--they don't hurt like the three dimensional ones, at least!
I have both. Yes, it sucks. The FM can be harder to deal with than the RA because they don't have many meds to throw at it.
Up to now, they haven't been doing a good job of treating it. They try pain relievers, antidepressants and muscle relaxants. Exercise is really important if you can do it. I'm having a hard time with that as my joints are damage from OA and RA. That makes exercise really hard. Massage therapy, biofeedback and diet modifications are supposedly being used. They may also use trigger point injections. If they use pain killers, they do in a controlled fashion.
My previous Rheumy didn't feel like he could do much for FM which he found frustrating. My new primary and new Rheumy both want me to go to a Pain Specilist Clinic to treat specifically the FM. I go on Wednesday. I will let you know what happens. But this does seem to be the new trend in treatment.
FM can be as debilitating as RA. But it doesn't destroy your body. And, yes, it hurts.
Getting deep, restless and regular sleep helps immensely. If you have problems sleeping, then they need to be addressed. I have sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome. So both of those have to be treated. Irritible Bowel Syndrome (had it for years before RA and FM) is also connected to FM.
How do I handle the combination? Sometimes, I just curl up and cry. Mostly I try not to stay in one position too long unless it is to sleep. If you can do some kind exercise on a regular basis, I think this is the best.
I have both. I was in denial a long time. I just hurt all over. I am trying to get back into swimming. They really stress low impact exercise with fibro. Problem is- it is very hard to get motivated when you hurt all the time I will let you know if I make it today. It does help. [QUOTE=Deanna]I have both. Yes, it sucks. The FM can be harder to deal with than the RA because they don't have many meds to throw at it.
Up to now, they haven't been doing a good job of treating it. They try pain relievers, antidepressants and muscle relaxants. Exercise is really important if you can do it. I'm having a hard time with that as my joints are damage from OA and RA. That makes exercise really hard. Massage therapy, biofeedback and diet modifications are supposedly being used. They may also use trigger point injections. If they use pain killers, they do in a controlled fashion.
My previous Rheumy didn't feel like he could do much for FM which he found frustrating. My new primary and new Rheumy both want me to go to a Pain Specilist Clinic to treat specifically the FM. I go on Wednesday. I will let you know what happens. But this does seem to be the new trend in treatment.
FM can be as debilitating as RA. But it doesn't destroy your body. And, yes, it hurts.
Getting deep, restless and regular sleep helps immensely. If you have problems sleeping, then they need to be addressed. I have sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome. So both of those have to be treated. Irritible Bowel Syndrome (had it for years before RA and FM) is also connected to FM.
How do I handle the combination? Sometimes, I just curl up and cry. Mostly I try not to stay in one position too long unless it is to sleep. If you can do some kind exercise on a regular basis, I think this is the best.
[/QUOTE]Thank you I know that I am not alone......sometimes this whole thing seems so endless..I guess I will know more when I see the Rheumy...or probably no nothing more than I do know and that is the pain is not good
Thanks again
Gram,
Don't give up on finding some relief. At times, it does hurt so bad. And, I hate the fatigue. But I am going to keep trying. We'll help each other here. This person will have found something that helps and offer it. Then another one will suggest something else Together, we will get through this.
As a minimum, as your doctor for an antidepressant and something to help you sleep. It might also help to get a sleep study done to see if you have any problems that are keeping you from going into REM sleep. A lack of sleep will make your pain much worse for both RA and FM. Get them to send you to some kind of physical or water therapy, whatever your insurance will allow.
You can build your body back up even if it seems right now that it can't be better.
I have real ups and downs with RA/FM. There have been times before when I couldn't work, walk, etc. and I was able to build myself back up with the help of doctors and therapists.
Set in your mind that you must rest when you must. Then you must change what you must. Get a doctor that believes that FM can be treated. I know that my new primary and my new Rheumy both believe that there is more treatment than what I have been receiving. I think that is encourgaging.