flare ...part of uncontrolled RA??

[lulul]

Hi all..have just woken from a drug induced sleep..missed all weekend..and have been in so much pain I thought it would never end. Does this mean the drugs are not working?? Is this still ok to get this poorly?? Taking 20 mg mtx sub cut injections and waiting on anti TNF approval.

[Hidden]

When you are v bad a drug induced sleep is the only way forward !I was moderate last night so did it.. have been known to do it occasionally.. taking full advantage of my pharmacy training!!..its not ok to get poorly but it does happen sound like a flare.?

Check your available pain killers.. go to max dose but not above.. see gp re above advice.or speak to rheum nurse.. anti tnf could be the miracle that you need..maybe gp could prescribe short course of steroid tablets.. rest as much as possible

[lulul in reply to Hidden]

thank you..only on naproxen and 30/500 cocodamol at present

[helixhelix]

Can't remember how long you've been on the various drugs but that amount of pain doesn't sound right to me - if you feel that poorly then your GP needs to know about it (and consultant too). Don't suffer in silence but ask if they can do anything to help. And look after yourself too, as much pampering as you can manage.

[lulul in reply to helixhelix]

Only diagnosed last October and been on meds since then so early days they tell me. Feeling better today just wiped out now. x

[Hidden]

cant believe that your only medication no wonder your so bad. go to Gp for some tramadol or oramorph instead.. I find a tens machine quite beneficial.. when pain is widespread

[lulul in reply to Hidden]

should I need pain relief though when the RA is controlled or will I always be on something??

[Gina_K in reply to lulul]

In my opinion, when you are on correct meds to control r a, you should only need occasional anti inflamm and paracetamol, depending on damage done to joints. It is early days for you, will take time, go for anti tnf, gives a great many people almost total relief. Good luck. Talk to a Ra consultant about pain.

[Hidden]

it will minimise on a good day I take less usually at breakfast and before bed.. with the right drugs it will/ would be better still( dmards!! or anti tnf )

[LavendarLady]

Drug induced sleep? would love to have one after the 5 days I have just had. One of the GPs wanted me to take co-codomol but as I am allergic to morphine (codeine is a derivative of morphine) I cannot take it so rely on nurofen and paracetomol. One of which upsets stomachs and the other has no effect! It sounds to me Lulul as if you need to go back to your GP and/or Rheumy consultant. MTX on its own does not work so well as when combined with pain killers. MTX is not a painkiller, it is supposed to reduce inflammation and prevent damage to joints. Anti TNF does the same by controlling the tumour necrotising factor which causes the problems in the first place. Again it is not a painkiller but combined with MTX it does seem to work but you will also need a powerful pain killer as well as flare ups do continue even when on a recognised drug regime, as I know to my cost. Spoke to my Rheumy on the phone yesterday who told me I was having a general flare up and needed a steroid injection which is being arranged for today. Short term painkiller until you can get more help from GP etc, try the Nurofen gel capsules 200mg. I find they work very well. Can go up to 400mg but I find that sends me to sleep. I was also told by GP and consultant, to take a combination of Nurofen 200 mg and 1000mg of paracetemol - it works but I then fall asleep! Hope this helps. LavendarLady

[Gina_K]

I agree, I can't take codeine or it's derivatives. Anyway, don't want a problem with codeine addiction as well as Ra , you can build up paracetamol or nurofen and less likely to cause further stomach problems in the future.