Hi Everyone - I'm new here and was diagnosed with RA in January. I also have Chronic Kidney Disease.

[mmckd]

The CKD prevents me from taking NSAIDS. So I am on Plaquenil and can only use Tylenol for pain relief. The pain is worse at night and it severely impacts my sleep.

Anyone else have this scenario? Any suggestions?

Thank you!

[LizzieR]

Hi,

Sorry, I don't have any advice re CKD but I just wanted to say welcome! Someone on this site will be able to share their similar story I'm sure x

[mmckd in reply to LizzieR]

Thank you, Lizzie !

[nomoreheels]

Welcome. I'm sorry to hear you've renal problems as well as RD. Have you discussed meds with your GP, Consultant Hepatologist or Rheumy? I'm pretty sure, though you'll need to research before asking, that you can take tricyclics quite safely with CKD. I'm prescribed amitriptyline as a muscle relaxant with the benefit it relaxes me enough to sleep through. Also there are some short half life pain relief meds you could ask about. Paracetamol can be effective when taken at regular doses but I would imagine your Consultant Hepatologist won't want you on them long term or at higher doses. NSAIDs are out as you say but if you have pain from neuropathy due to your CKD Lyrica I believe is one option, as is gabapentin. Lyrica is working for me but gabapentin didn't help so it can be a case of try & see.

I know it's difficult trying to relax through pain but have you tried avoiding taking caffeine loaded drinks after 6pm & trying to avoid other stimulants, TV & dare I say it, your computer/laptop/iPad? Trying any of those at night all help towards preparing for sleep.

Just some ideas, take the or leave them! I hope you find it helpful being here, we've other members here with secondary issues so I'm sure if they can throw some more ideas into the pot they'll be along. 🙂

[mmckd in reply to nomoreheels]

Those are great ideas. I haven't actually done everything I can for improving my sleep habits. The screen time is the hardest. But thank you for the reminder to try a variety of things to help.

[nomoreheels in reply to mmckd]

It doesn't cost anything to try & you never know, one might just help you with restful sleep, because that's what we need! 😌

[Entero]

Hi, I feel your pain (pardon the pun) as due to Crohn's disease can't take NSAIDS either. VERY occasionally ( twice in six months) when I've really had enough I've take two and boy do they help. So as nomoreheels says we can only offer what helps us in the hope it might work for you....Food is a contentious subject on this site but I find my pain is significantly worsened by peppers, tomatoes and aubergines. I find a hot water bottle or wheatie helps me relax when I'm in pain which of course helps the pain. Meditation / mindfulness also helps a lot and if this is new to you I could recommend you google Tara Brach who has great online talks as well as guided meditations which are very relaxing. If you'd like to join a specialist group then Breathworks looks very good too. Despite all the above when I was first diagnosed and the pain was relentless I had one week on a transdermal patch (which was heaven!) before getting a steroid shot. We all have to find our own balance between pain and medication and only you can decide what's tolerable/ manageable and when you need something more. Wishing you the best of luck x

[mmckd]

Thank you - I so appreciate the support and suggestions. Did you use any kind of way to track your symptoms and what remedies you tried?

This walking the line between symptoms/ meds ain't for sissies and gets pretty tiring!