Hello
I know I dont post much but i do read alot of the posts and gain much comfort and strength through this board. Thank you.
I have RA and we are still trying to find a combination of meds that will help.. tried many enbrel for 5 months no relief so now and on humeria only for a month or so,,,and arava no relief... cant take mtx it raises heck with my liver.....
I am writing about hip pain....i get very little sleep because of joint pain especially in my hips it hurts to even lay there...I toss and turn bvirtually all night...can someone please help me here
I bought on of those thick memory foam mattress toppers. That has helped me out. Also, I have so many of those microwave heated pads that I go to bed with and put on whichever joints are hurting. I also like to take a hot shower before bed to relax my muscles. There are also those topical arthritis joint pain creams. I guess it's trial and error. Sorry you're in so much pain.
Thank you Debrakay
Can your rheumy give you a nighttime pain med? Something a little stronger than a NSAID?
Not sleeping effects your immune system and can make your RA worse. You really do need your sleep!
1. Get a leg pillow to put between your knees. It helps tremendously. I got one on ebay for .
2. Keep your legs warm, even before you go to bed. Cold seems to set in an ache that is hard to reverse once it gets going.
3. Sleep in a soft bed. Forget what you were told about firm mattresses being good for you. I use a Select Comfort "Sleep Number" air mattress bed, but others like the foam mattress. Toppers help, as was already suggested.
4. Use warm down type covers, or an electric blanket (if you can stand the heat - I in pre-menopause, so I can't stand to get too hot)
5. Take calcium/magnesium supplements right before you go to bed. It helps prevent some types of leg cramps, plus it has a natural sedative effect and helps you fall asleep. I also use fish oil, which helps reduce inflammation (you can read up on it elsewhere on this board.)
6. Try out different topical creams - for me the Blue Emu stuff sold at Walmart seems to work the best. I rub it all over the length of my leg, because the pain doesn't stop at the hip, does it?
7. I take my 800mg. Ibuprofen about half an hour before I go to bed, and also have some next to my bed with a drink, so if it wears off during the night.
Hope this helps you a bit. Good luck to you!
Karen
Gramma2,
I've always hated and avoided drugs. Even after becoming sick with severe ra, I tried to be my own doctor but I have grown to realize that I have been sent to a whole different world, a different world that I just can't control on my own so it's 50mg enbrel, 25mg mtx, 15mgs prednisone, codiene as needed or wanted and a brand new outlook on life. Hey, with the meds I can function, find joy in almost everything and I can sleep all night. Function not addiction. "Conjunction junction, what's your function?" Remember that. Good luck and good dreams to you.
LEV
Hi
I'm beginning to wonder if those of us who have RA are naturally opposed to taking drugs? Almost every posting I read 'I hate to take drugs", but ......! So there we are with this terrible disease, not wanting to load up on drugs, but it is our only hope. Try to find the right combination that works for you and TAKE THEM! I'm on 3 kinds now, trying Remicade (one treatment) MTX for 10 years current dose 4X2.5 per week, add folic acid 800mgs, PLUS Prednisone 15mgs. until the Remicade works. All working now for a whole week! It is such work to keep this immune problem in check. Do keep trying. Hurting less....