Feeling down

[yousra-f]

Hello , I am new to this website

I have diagnosis RA two years ago I am taking salfalazin 3 tablet daily and had Astorid enjaction before now I am a new mam I am straggling to co up with my baby at night time coz of pain in my hands and shoulders and knees i feel pain in all my budy any advice to help me how to reduce the pain ?

[Hidden]

Hi yousra,

glad you found the site. I have just sent you an email as well with some information that you might find useful. Hope you get some helpful replies from the other Mums on this site.

I have put some links below that you may also find useful with regards to pain relief:

britishpainsociety.org/

painconcern.org.uk/

escape-pain.org/

arthritisresearchuk.org/sho...

More effective pain relief may also be something that you can discuss with your GP. Hope this helps yousra.

Regards

Beverley (NRAS Helpline)

[yousra-f in reply to Hidden]

Thanks honye I am so blessed for your help

[Beckywood89]

Be pushy. I'm not a mum but I am a nanny and I know how irritating it is not to be able to pick up children up or play properly. I would suggest that you're not on medication that's strong enough. I don't know whether you're breast feeding but most RA medications are unsuitable for nursing mothers. I was prescribed the pain killer Naproxen which is a really strong inbuprofen and is pretty effective. I would make an appointment to see your rheumatologist and say you're in pain. Sometimes you have to push but it's worth it. Good luck!

[yousra-f in reply to Beckywood89]

Thanks for your advise I really had bad nights when I was brestfeeding but I stope now coz the pain relief that I take same that you mention ,today I call the nurses and she will but me soon in storied tablet rather than injection that I had after delivery my baby

[Ali_H]

Hi YoursRA-f,

Sorry to here that things are difficult for you at present. I can't give you any advice from a parent perspective but I would say that going to your GP is good advice as you should not have to be in such discomfort/pain - did you have so much pain before having your child (boy or girl?) or have the hormones shifted the dynamics of your condition -if so an early review of your meds might be in order. Being up front and proactive about getting the right med regime will undoubted take some of your depleted energy but in the long run it will be energy well spent. Also look at ways you can use your personal support network (family, friends etc) to relieve you of some of the workload of being a new mum - some people do not offer help as they don't want to be seen as interfering but ask for the little things and you will, hopefully, find you can cope with the bigger things more easily and so long as you do not over use the network those who matter will gladly help out.

I hope things ease up for you soon

Ali

[yousra-f in reply to Ali_H]

Thanks Ali for your replay

I am traying my best to do my work as a new mum felling pain evey morning and night but unfortunately the RA was worse than I thought

Befor I was pregnant the pain was managble but now it is to much for me

I am now on storied and sulfasalazine and codin and naproxen hope it work soon

[Sangeetasaran]

I had RA when my little one was born . Post pregnancy all the joints do grumble and I was in a state with flaring of joints and pain . I ended up being put on methotrexate and am now in biologics. You must tell the rheumatologist and the gp as between them they need to give you enough to cope.

Having lighter pushchair helps. Avoid carrying baby in a carrycot as jointly is really heavy and my shoulders used to be in agony

[yousra-f in reply to Sangeetasaran]

Thanks sangeetasaran for your advice I rellly Stargell when I carring my baby using the carseat it is to heavy and to painful to my joint

Ill tray to discuss with my rheumatology to give my the right medication coz the storied enjaction did no thing to me , I need to go higher level

[Hidden]

Tens machines - look at guide or online google it *image to

find out where to apply the leads...

The tennis ball between you and the wall - roll it around with your hips, back.

Creams that are menthol based or have pain properties - I love bio freeze

Heat - if you have a crock pot, make it a paraffin treatment with wax..

Wraps for your hands, wrists... maybe even the gloves..

Use ice, heat - no more than 15 mins at a time - it works against if longer.

A hot bath can do wonders and then apply lotion for massage effect

Sleep when baby does if you can.. you get a new schedule too. Disconnect

from technology completely if possible when you are napping...

Sex - endorphins

Distraction - that's not so simple when you are a newer mommy..

Call someone and talk to them about some stresses or pain if they

are good enough friend to listen or come over to keep you company.

Company is the best distraction.. always.

Try using an eye mask to black out light if you sleep in the daytime..

for some reason sleep relieves pain.. my back hurts (lower) but I don't

think that's RA related..

I put dry uncooked rice in a sock and put it in the microwave to apply

to painful area - it works pretty good.. yes, clean new sock.. lol. =)

[wiliby]

Sorry this is so late but my gp sent the health visitor up to see me when baby was around 12 weeks to see if they could support, she arranged someone to come I first thing in the morning when husband wasn't around to help me out of bed, she'd change and feed baby, made sure I had enough bottles and breakfast for myself. Thankfully I only needed her for a few days because I was given a steroid injection but knowing someone was coming really helped.I think it was through a child protection charity although they did dress that my baby was NOT in need of protection just mum needing support.

Doesn't help through night though, I feel for you, it's so scary. X