Help for pain

[Fze22]

My mother has RA and today she is in so much pain with her knee she can't stand or walk with it. She took her methotrexate today and refuses to take ibuprofen on the same day. She said she read it on the label not to. She tried ice and said it did not help and made it feel worse. Any idea what I can do to help her with her pain?? Please advise

[popsmith1874]

I would go to the go and get stronger pain relief, I take tramadol for my pain and sometimes that doesn't even control it

[Fze22 in reply to popsmith1874]

She only takes the 600 mg of ibuprofen. She does not take anything stronger. Thank you for responding

[Beaches2]

Has your mum tried heat.....worked better than ice for me for short term relief. If it lasts longer than a few days I would be contacting rheumy team for help.....steroid jab and think about adding in more drugs to get things under tighter control. Sometimes it's a case of weighing up the choices....drugs may have some negative side effects, but so does inflammation and being immobile!

I think the avoiding painkillers on mtx days must be to do with protecting the liver? I certainly took anti inflammatories on mtx day and every other day when things were bad.....my rheumy told me to, but that was relatively short term while we got things controlled. Does your mum have regular blood monitoring to keep an eye on the liver and kidneys?

[Fze22 in reply to Beaches2]

Hello, thank you for your advice. She does not want to try any of the biologic drugs because everything she tries she gets the severe side effects. I understand that and so does her Dr. She does not want the predison. I will talk to her about a cortisone shot. Thank you again. It rips my heart and dad's out to see my mom suffer in this pain.

[Beaches2 in reply to Fze22]

Yes it can be a horrible condition. Good that you are there to support your mum though......that will be a huge help. If it persists perhaps just a small amount of steroid into the joint may work well and calm things down?

[Croeso_y_Cymru]

Have you tried epsom salt baths (no more than three per week) followed by rubbing the knee with Arnica cream and keeping the joint warm? One pound epsom salts in a bath as hot as your mum can bear it. No additions, just the salts.

[Bahnmc]

I take epsom salt bath with lavender oil in it and find relief. When that doesn't work, I have a small dose of a pain pill. Good luck. Get the pain under control, it's hard on the heart.

[Debb721]

Her doctor may put her on a biologic drug which will help with the pain and slow down the progression of the RA. Ask her doctor!

[Cbrine23]

I do a simulator for pain I can't take pain meds I'm allergic to them can't do insaids do to ulcers it helps to keep pain down

[frankmoliverio]

It's weird but my pain lets me know when it's coming. I can feel where it is going to hit me bad. I have to work to survive so I'll take Whatever they give me. My pain starts mild and gets very severe. Excruciating paralyzing pain. Pain so bad you don't want to move at all. It usually lasts 3 days. 2nd day is the worse. Methotrex 8 tabs , folic acid1 per day. Tramadol 2 tabs a day when I need and if worse hydrocodone. Now there is talk about Humira. Hot water helps some for a few minutes. My pain moves around and sometimes I have no symptoms at all. If it hits hip I can't walk. Only had in both hands once. Swelled up and turned red. If I had a gun might have shot myself pain was so bad I was up pacing the floors for 3 days and nights. Worked out for 14 yrs prior to this. Strong pain killer is only way to get any comfort when it hits me hard. I'm still searching for the pill that ends this. Don't want to take drugs but it's better than suffering. I feel the pain of you who suffer like this. Hard to treat something you can't see. Hospitals treat you like a dope head and don't want to give you anything to alleviate the pain. I love to work and move around w/o pain.

[Fze22 in reply to frankmoliverio]

Thanks for your advice. She felt the same way she could not handle the pain. Prayers to you and all for painless days