Toes

[veggiemomma]

Hello to all. I have arthritis in my toes,especially my big toe. Lately finding the pain harder to cope with. To top it off I can't take ibuprofen. I really don't want to take strong painkillers as they zombie me out. So what are my optitions? Any advice or tips would be gratefully received,thank you.

[Crusee]

Hi veggie momma,

I too have arthritis in my toes.Mainly in my big toe and the others also but to a lesser degree.Hot throbbing inflamed toes and it hurts to even put them on the floor.My rheumy has told me that I have gouty arthritis.I was horrified at first as like other people I thought it was caused by overindulgence in alcohol and rich foods.Apparently not so which came as a huge relief to me.Although I enjoy a drink I do not drink to excess,and try to stick to a reasonably healthy diet.Gout is caused by an increased level of urea and that can be influenced by a number of factors.

I always thought gout and arthritis were separate ailments but My rheumy explained that they were related.

If it turns me out that you are the same as me I used to take a prescription drug called indomethacin.This was really effective and sometimes as quickly as the following day the symptoms would disappear.Due to problems with my kidneys I was not allowed to have this drug any longer.Fortunately,I do not get it so often now but when I feel an attack coming on I now have a drug called colchicine to take.Not as effective but as long as I can anticipate an attack in time then it certainly prevents a full blown episode happening.I also use painkillers with these as well.

Not sure if this will be any help to you but it may be worth asking your GP/rheumy if this is what you have and if either of these drugs could provide you with any relief for your symptoms.

Happy Easter.

Cruse.

[veggiemomma in reply to Crusee]

Thanks for your help Crude, my kidneys are the reason I can't take ibuprofen so pain killers are tricky for me,and mostly do not work. Have you found any alternatives that work? I do need to lose some weight but it's hard to exercise when in pain.

Thanks again.

Cid.

[veggiemomma in reply to veggiemomma]

Sorry Crusee, auto correct!

[Crusee]

No probs Cid.

Sounds like you have similar issues to me with regards your kidneys.Its a shame as we would have access to all sorts of other medications otherwise.

At the moment colchicine seems to be OK for me.Its not as effective as other drugs but it is safe for my kidneys.As long as I can get my timing right,it works well.I have now learned to recognise a sensation in my feet before I get an attack and at that point I take colchicine as prescribed and it seems to prevent a full on episode of the gouty arthritis.However there have been times when I have missed these signs and I have found that I cannot put my feet to the floor.This can sometimes last for days.I have to give in and take pain killers.I think as with most folks with RA that we have developed a very high pain threshold so when I reach gif the painkillers I really do need them.

I too have got to lose weight.7 years ago I was cycling between 80-100 Miles per week and maintained a reasonably good weight.Since my mobility has decreased by weight has ballooned which I find very depressing,and there is no way I am going to be able to do that level of exercise ever again.The steroids I take make me feel permanently hungry which is no help at all,but they do make me feel a lot better than the mtx jabs I was on.

I hope you can find something that is suitable for you that is effective and doesn't cause any other problems but it may be worth asking if it is gouty arthritis or the RA that is causing your problem.The conditions seem to be related but the treatments available are different so maybe there is something else available to you.

Good luck 

Crusee.

[CreakyBea in reply to Crusee]

Hi Crusee

Just wanted you to know that I too have weight problem since being immobile with OA in multiple joints and have never eaten junk food etc. so now have been prescribed Orlistat to help break down the fats that are hidden in so many foods that you don't realise their fat contents...so far have lost 7 and a half pounds in 7 weeks which is so motivating...there are side effects which I leave you to google about!

Happy Easter

Bea

[Crusee in reply to CreakyBea]

Thank you Bea.

This is new drug I have not heard of.

I will google it and ask my GP when I see him next week.

Sounds like a good weight loss that you have achieved.

Happy Easter to you too.

Crusee

[Hidden]

I've got it too and cannot walk much without liberal dollops of Voltarol 12 hour gel, which really helps as it gets through my skinny feet to my bad joints inside them!

[rosie-2015]

Hi im new to the group my husband has gout and uses colchicine for his toe and volterol on his knee hip and back.the colchicin was given for his back the volerol is mine lol he just helps himself..i have arthritis and fibro so my mobility is useless i can hardly walk never mind exercise, i use the myfitness app i found it on nhs12 week diet i don't copy the diet but i use it to check the calories. I'm 64 and all my life i vowed I'd never count calories, i wish I'd started sooner I've lost1st8lbs since october. I'm sorry for such a long post but i hope it helps😉