Rheumatoid Arthritis, Dealing With It.

[Xeronema]

Hey,

I don't really know where to put this. I'm busy and I'm worried about my partner. She's got Rheumatoid Arthritis and she's in so much pain. I'm concerned and I need help, advice, you name it.

If I can't get the pain levels down then I can see me taking her to hospital.

Any ideas anyone?

Thanks,
Dizmo.

[bednobs]

has she had it for a long time? What treatment is she having? what painkillers does she have?

[mazie]

Sorry to hear this Diz. Can't help but this link might be useful... Hope your partner manages to get the pain relief she needs xx

http://www.nras.org.uk/treatment

[Xeronema]

bednobs: She's only just been diagnosed. Her inflammation markers are at 20 when they should be 5.

Medication:

Oxycodone 40mg (20mg AM, 20mg PM)
Naproxen: 1000mg (500mg twice a day)
Pregablin: 300mg (150 AM, 150 PM)
Escitalopram
Paracetamol: usual dosage.
Tramadol: 400mg (8 * 50mg dailttye)

[Everhelpful]

I've been on Myocrisin (Gold Injections) for many years,I can't tell you how fantastic they have been for me,ask your Doctor about them.Good Luck.

[Xeronema]

Would taking a bath help?

She's in so much pain I' think I need to rake her ti a doctor.

[Mamyalynne]

It could help Diz but if she's on that mix of meds and the pain is worse than it has been , she may have an infection - seek some advice.

[anneasquith]

NHS 24.

[Xeronema]

I rang 111 whilst writing my previous message. They got a doctor to call me back. The doctor said "we can't do anything" and told me to wait till our doctors surgery is open. I've been sat up since, trying to help her. She's in absolute agony and no amount of pain medication is working,

Thanks for the advice and for the support. Looks like I'm going to have to wait till 9am. Her mental health has deteriorated so much that she doesn't even seem the same. I used to be able to make her laugh; not any more ........

[Mamyalynne]

I hope the poor lady got some help Diz.

[Eve]

How is she feeling now? Are there particular joints causing most of the problem?

Is there a plan in place for her to go on specialist meds for the RA? Does she have other conditions too, I wondered maybe fibromyalgia given the other meds she is on as a fibro flare can be horribly painful too.

I'm guessing she is under the care of a rheumatologist if she has been formally diagnosed. Worth checking if anyone from the rheumatology clinic can speak to her, there might be something like a specialist nurse helpline, although on mine it's a voicemail service and they can take a few working days to get back to you so best to get in early, especially with a weekend approaching.

Specialist nurses can often do things like give general steroid injections if deemed appropriate and speak to the rheumatology doctors around.

DIY therapy wise, if her joints are hot and swollen and painful then a bath might be uncomfortable, especially in this warm weather too. It's a personal thing though if she finds baths help.

Is she working with her GP and anyone else involved to help her with her mood, especially with the added pain and all that goes with RA on top?

[bednobs]

i also wondered why she is not on any DMARDS?

[Xeronema]

Hey, just a update.

The doctor prescribed her amitriptyline. Originally the doctor wanted to give her 20mg of oxycodone in the morning and 20 at night. I told the GP that said method wouldn't work.

She's a little bit better however she still has a week to wait now for bloods to come baclk.

[Mamyalynne]

I'm sure they'll get her into a better regime soon Diz.

[bednobs]

is she on any dmards. Someone with this much pain should be on something! All tht pain is inflammation, which will be slowly destroying her joints. Why wouldn't increasing rhe oxycodone work?

[Buenchico]

Just a few links which might help:

https://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/managing-arthritis

http://www.arthritisresearchuk.org/arthritis-information/arthritis-and-daily-life.aspx

http://www.nras.org.uk/living-with-ra

[Xeronema]

Bednobs: She's not on them no. Even thought oxycodone is a powerful drug, he body is used to a lot of medication. 20mg wouldn't touch it.

[cupotee2]

I can't offer any real help but as an ex carer for a lady with RA she often suffered flare ups like your describing.

Hope she can rest up and get better advice once the blood results are back,

[bednobs]

she could have tried: its double her usul dose and much more immediate than amitripylene.
has she ever tried buprenorphine patches? or fentanyl patches?they can be quite good for constnt pain relief

[Eve]

Is there no plan in place with her rheumatology team? Amitriptyline can take a while to kick in so the Oxycodone might have helped, even a little, in the meantime.

[Eve]

Sorry, should have just said I agree with bednobs :)