The Lack of Pain relief annoys me LOL

[EmmaDR]

Ahhhh guys I am in serious flare worst effected is my hands this time however because of all the other medication I am on for my epilepsy I can hardly take anything only ibuprofen for pain relief and only sulfasalazine for RA have an emergency appointment with Professor Arden on Monday thank goodness however after being Fairly controlled I am gutted that it seems I have had an horrendous flare out of the blue ! Feeling frustrated! How is everyone else ??

[wishbone]

I can empathise with you Emma. I also have another chronic health condition that can cause serious problems if I take immune suppressants. Hydroxychloroquine is the only med I can take for my RA, and tramadol & paracetomol for pain relief. On top of that I can only treat myself to the occasional anti-inflammatory because of stomach issues.

[EmmaDR in reply to wishbone]

Tramadol is quite good isn’t it for pain relief? and yes I shouldn’t take ibuprofen I have a stomach ulcer but it’s a case of having to as paracetamol does nothing at all x

[RA2002 in reply to EmmaDR]

When first diagnosed with RA, I took huge (GP prescribed) quantities of Tramadol to control the pain, it worked but it came with a price. Please be aware that this is an opiate based drug with very similar side-effects. When better RA meds started to work for me I weaned myself off Tramadol and it was quite unpleasant, didn't last long though so if it is needed then I suppose you should take it.

[wishbone in reply to EmmaDR]

I find it pretty good. It doesn't stop the pain but does make it tolerable. Paracetomol helps as well when taken together with tramadol. As pointed out, the downside is that some people can become addicted to tramadol. I probably am , but what else can I do as the pain is unbearable without strong pain relief. Anyway, at my age (66) addiction is of little concern to me.

I have a 21 year old autistic grandson so know how difficult things can be.

Hope you get some help and relief soon.

[rosie1928]

You poor darling. Looks so sore. I am not myself when I have pain. I do hope this clears up quickly for you.

Rosie

[EmmaDR in reply to rosie1928]

Neither am I, I get irritated much quicker lol xx

[Vonnie10]

Aww god Emma that’s looks so painful you need something for that pain I can feel it even looking at it. I do hope you can sleep. X

[EmmaDR in reply to Vonnie10]

It is sore and it’s been like it for two weeks so far xxx

[Jesnaskah]

Ouch!!! That is a flare indeed!! Have you been stressed out lately? My last flare was due to stress and some disturbing news from my parents... Took a good month for my body to calm the hell down...it really set me back.

Wishing you some sweet relief!

[EmmaDR in reply to Jesnaskah]

Thanks Hun my life is stressful to be honest I have three child with autism but that’s always been the case so I don’t think it can be that, I don’t no what has set me off I have been on the same level of meds for almost three years maybe it’s just not enough I am on 2000mg a day however xxx

[Lizbain1]

Hope they can help you at least get rid of some of the pain I have another autoimmune illness and and limited to what I can take for my RA... So annoying xx

[ATBr]

I went up to 3000mg a day sulfa at one point, maybe your dose could be increased ?

[EmmaDR in reply to ATBr]

Wow I hope it doesn’t go up to that ... do you get side effects from sulfasalazine lol funny thing is I never no whether the symptoms I feel are medication or RA related lol 😂😂😂

[ATBr in reply to EmmaDR]

Am off sulfasalazine now , just on 25mg mtrexate injection and humira injection. Was on sulfa before humira. Didn’t seem to cause much in way of side effects but as you say often difficult to tell 🤔Hope you get something sorted

[Hidden]

My hands look just like that Emma and I can't take Ibuprofen because of having asthma and a hiatus hernia, so I know what you are going through. I have found that getting a wax bath for my hands has helped me. You can google them and read all about them etc.

[Gnarli]

Flippin' heck but that looks painful! I wish you better health very soon. Like you don't have enough to cope with already. Hugs

J

[michaelaknight1]

Hi Emma, I am new to this, I have been on the internet trying to research RA and by chance came across your post, for almost 8 weeks my hands have been swollen and red, just like yours, but on both hands and it feels like its not getting any better, I do have an appointment with my GP on 1st March but could i ask how you were diagnosed with RA and you gave me some hope by saying its flared up so does it get better and come and go, I am also a type one diabetic which is a autoimmune condition same as RA, I am praying that its not this condition but looking at your hand I fear it may well be, I do hope you are feeling better x

[EmmaDR in reply to michaelaknight1]

Hiya, well I know from friends that having Type one diabetes can give you inflammation in the hands and feet due to circulation problems as well, the best thing to do is maybe ask your GP for a referral to rheumatology, yes I was well controlled for a while don’t get me wrong I still struggled daily getting up movement etc the usual but as for this kind of inflammation and swelling in the joints to the point were my hands look like this and in my other joints as well is definitely a flare up but not sure quite why I am like this at the moment ☹️ I have a rheumatology appointment Monday so hopefully I will have some answers, what I have done is taken daily pictures from the last three weeks of my swollen joints and have printed them all out and put together a daily symptom diary, half the time it takes such a long time to get an appointment that by the time you get there the flare has gone down so the rheumatologist never sees your joints at there worst so I am going armed this time. If I was you I would do the same take photos and write a daily diary of what symptoms you are suffering from etc because then you will never forget anything

I was diagnosed purely by chance tbh because my wrist surgeon had sent me because he thought I have Hypermobility Syndrome (which I also do have)

when they did ultra sounds etc they realised that even though inflammation makers didn’t show up in my blood (meaning I have seronegative RA) however the scans showed loads of it everywhere that’s why they don’t just go off bloods for RA anymore .

Hope that helps

Good luck

Emx

I have also popped my rib out at the back due to Hypermobility Syndrome but then that then also starts the inflammation in my chest/rib area not having a good time of it xx

[michaelaknight1]

Hi Em

Sorry for the delay getting back to you, thank you so much for the info and advice, I am at the doctors next Friday 1st March and will take photos and notes, for some strange reason the balls of both of my feet are painful now so I am wondering if it is the Diabetes although i am very well controlled but you never know.

its sounds like you are having a dreadful time you look a lot younger than me and to be suffering in this way is awful, i hope you got on well at the hospital and i will let you know how i get on.

Thanks again xx