Can anyone help!

[Kate2628]

Having a major flare, ankles knees wrists arms! I’m in so much pain, having to come off medication, can anyone suggest pain killers lm on naproxen 500mg 2 times it’s not doing much at all,not wanting to go on oral steroids, took over 4 years toget

[Lolabridge]

Oh gosh I feel for you. Do ask you Rheumy team or GP for help as you are likely to need something strong prescribed.

[Madmusiclover]

If you can tolerate Codeine cocodamol is available over the counter. Can make you sleepy and constipated….Or speak to your doctor…

[vonniesims]

My anaesthetist told me when I had my knee replaced try 2 paracetamol and 2 hours later 2 codeine as you can take each 4 hourly . It works quite well

[MissMinto]

It might be worth asking your Rheumy team for a steroid shot in the bum - a one-off can really help keep things under control for a while (up to three months) and you don’t have to worry about tapering as it happens naturally as the jab wears off.I can’t take oral steroids as they tip me over the edge, but for about a year when I was changing biologics and struggling to get the RA under control I had 3 or 4 shots to tide me over. It may be the help you need in addition to painkillers others have suggested.

Good luck 💐

[Sheila_G]

So sorry. I think the strongest painkiller you can get over the counter is co-codomol. Ring your pharmacy for advice.

[stbernhard]

I had to come off my biologic for other medical treatments for 3 months. Got big flare up. My consultant said that short term steroids are much better than letting a flare start causing damage and vastly prolong the recovery period. I believe she is right. I hope you'll find a way to control the pain you're in. It's a horrible place to be. I am nearly back to "before" now. All the best.

[JenHasRA in reply to stbernhard]

I think this is important to keep in mind. I had to get back on prednisone with a med switch. Of course I didn’t want to do it. But keeping damage at bay is very important to me. So even if you are masking the pain with Lortab, the damage will still be occurring. It’s hard to think during the flare ups. I have to write down the “Remember!!” stuff.

[Shonkie]

I am worried that people are suggesting the use of cocodamol to you as I believe it is addictive and a drug that requires considerable care.

[KittyJ in reply to Shonkie]

You’re right Shonkie, caused me big problems and I was never warned 😔

[Vixen2]

Hi Kate. I really feel for you. I had the 2nd worst flare up of my life last yr. (I’ve had RA since i was 21). Because i have iritis too, my vision was getting really bad aswell. I had to have steroid implants INJECTED into my eyes. Plus i had RA in every single joint. The thought of having that much pain again? Makes me feel sick. I know we’re all pain ‘pros’. But you should be discussing this with your rheumy/gp. I was on co-codamol & co-dydramol, sulphsalazeine & indocide & steroids when i first got this awful disease. Horrible time. Felt like an old zombie at 21. Good luck with with easing your pain. People might be bored with me saying this. But nothing beats the right painkiller regime, with a cup of tea, chunk of cake & a goody comedy! Laughter can be the ‘bestish’ medicine! Good luck x