Back pain as a result of long term RA treatment

[Bernard1939]

Hello I write on behalf of my mother in law who has been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis for decades. This has resulted in lack of mobility and onset of excruciating back pain due, we understand, to a crumbling spine as a result of the treatments she has received over the years. She is on morphine twice a day but it is having little effect and the GP and pain clinic seem to be at the end of the road for pain relief. She is therefore feeling very low and somewhat abandoned and we would appreciate any advice anyone out there could give us.

[dbestdeb]

I wish I had some help to offer but I don’t. I’m just so sorry she is having to go through this kind of pain. As if the RA pain isn’t enough and to feel abandoned by her doctors on top of that is just so wrong! I’ve heard that steroids can cause bone problems but of course after the fact, knowing that is of no help. I pray you get some help as I know the helpless feeling you must have watching her suffer. So sad.

[Bernard1939]

Thank you so much for your kind response. We are going back to the pain clinic this week to see what else they can possibly do.

[kbspots]

I would have her get a very strong back brace. Not one of those big heavy old time things. One that holds everything together, something like a girdle that women used to wear only for the back.

[Hidden]

Hi Bernard - I would recommend that you ask the pain clinic or docs for something like a Fentanyl patch. It is high dosing for pain, but embedded in a patch to keep the medication constant. There has to be something they can do beside wash their hands of her...