Pain relief and fatigue....

[girli1111]

I don’t take much pain relief on a regular basis. I use ibuprofen gel on my thumb joint, which has osteo problems, and I take amitriptyline at night (rheumatologist has diagnosed fibromyalgia on top of rheumatoid arthritis). My major issue is the fatigue, which has been getting to unmanageable levels lately. My question is... do you think I’d have less fatigue if I took more regular pain relief? I AM constantly ‘achey’, which I suppose is tiring me, but I distinguish that from full on ‘pain’ and I don’t want to damage my guts with unnecessary meds if I can help it, or become ever more reliant on increasing levels of pain killers. What are people’s thoughts on this, thank you. I know we are all different, but value the experience of others x

[Ruth12345]

Well I cant say what is the best for you, but if I dont take pain relief my fatigue is debilitating. Pain relief I take is paracetamol and dihydrocodeine, maximum daily dose. When i talked to my rheumy about how much medication I took and specifically pain relief he said what was my problem as it helped me function.....which it does. Im also on methx, folic, sulph, hydrochx, lansoprozole, losartin, and steroids as and when and still no remission since Nov 2016, but on my way.

If you talk to your medics they could help you in your decision. I was anti medication untill I had RD & probable Fibro and realised if I wanted a life I could function in I needed to pop the pills. Its a trade off for me.

So all I can say to answer your question is that for me pain relief helps. I hope you find what helps for you. Others might well be able to give you a better answer.

[girli1111 in reply to Ruth12345]

Thank you. I think maybe I need to trial taking over the counter relief for a week or two on a regular basis, and see what happens fatigue wise.

[Ruth12345]

Sounds like a plan. All the best.

[helixhelix]

Do you know what the achy pain is from? Is it from joint damage or inflammation. Because is you have active inflammation you will get more fatigue - so sometimes the fatigue is a symptom that things are not as controlled as they should be?

But in general yes, pain is dreadfully tiring - morally and physically. When I'm having a bad period I ration myself so take max relief for a week, and then stop for a week. No point in taking pain relief for the odd day here and there as works much better if at constant levels.

[girli1111 in reply to helixhelix]

Pain in my thumb joint, which is quite severe, is actually osteo.... other than that I have general discomfort all over.... but my inflammation levels blood-wise look good, so unlikely that it’s active inflammation. Apparently synovitis is evident on scans, but as far as I know I don’t have significant joint damage .. yet. I think this is why they say I have fibromyalgia as well as RA. I guess what I’m trying to unravel is whether I have pain because I’m fatigued, or fatigue because I’m pained! I’ve also today emailed the menopause clinic who saw me last year as another angle is that my hormone levels are possibly out of balance. (I’m on hrt and seen by specialist clinic because I’m in early menopause because of ovary removal). Something is really weighing me down... and despite my best attempts at pacing myself (have reduced working hours, got a supportive partner etc) it’s really quite overwhelming. I’ve ruled out thyroid or anaemia problems, and am addressing a slightly low vitamin D level. I’d find the money to arrange some private testing if I knew where to even start with that! Thanks for your reply.

[Hidden]

That is a really interesting question. I do similar to you, as little as possible pain relief: feel sick enough on other drugs an starting to feel like walking pharmacy; i took little more than aspirin before this. I spend most nights with microwave bags on hands and splints in bed. Wrists, fingers thumbs ache all the time. I suppose if inflammation causes fatigue then anti inflammatories should help? I find unpredictable nature of it difficult to manage; do try to pace but comes out of nowhere sometimes. Good luck x

[girli1111 in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Kerena. Whilst I regularly splint my thumb, I don’t feel the need for the other measures you mention, so you have my sympathy there! I totally relate to it ‘coming out of nowhere’. Sometimes I feel like I’ve walked into a wall fatigue wise! I’m actually off work for two weeks now as I work in a school.... but I know it (probably) won’t rejuvenate me in any way.... still, at least I can sleep some more 😂

[Hidden]

I sympathise, worked in school too, stressful places. I ve asked about fatigue in past at rheumatology: no one seems to know why definitely: cld be meds, disease itself, cytokines etc. stops you planning things

[Magymay]

Hello girls,if I were you I'd take them,it should be fine if you stick to the allocated daily amount .I take two Co cod amok effervescent tabs in morning just so I can function ,if I'm sore as I get pains in wrists and ankles like electric shocks,I take them during the day and as doc will only give me codeine and paracetamol which make me quite light headed ,I take them at night ,or I would be up after a few hours .Obviously if I'm good I don't need to take them ,Try it out and see what a difference intakes 😊all the best 😉

[Lizzy-m]

I do feel for you and totally understand your frustration. My rheumatologist seems to think I just have to accept that fatigue goes hand in hand with RA & Fibromyalgia. I, like you, have tried all ways to try to feel less tired and nothing works. It is so draining, and yes a vicious circle, pain meds although a necessary evil, do add to fatigue. At times it just makes me cry, that deep all encompassing exhaustion is very difficult for those lucky enough not to have experienced it, to understand. I get the answer "I'm tired too". It's so not a case of just being tired. I wish you luck, I really do, and if you do find the answer, please share it. Sending love x

[girli1111 in reply to Lizzy-m]

Good luck to you too x

[Kalimers65]

I feel the same as you about meds. When I get really tired and weary I buy a bottle of Floradix from Boots. It makes me feel so much better. It's the best £10 I've ever spent!