no medication

[Forrest12]

I have had RA since 1998. Been on many different medications. Had lots of bad side affects. No they can’t offer me anything else I was on steroids but advise not to use them as the long term effect. How am I going to cope without anything except paracetamol. The mornings are hell.

[Madlegs1]

I find the mornings are agony. Lower back has arthritis and bacteria.

Some relief from a hot pack (microwave) wrapped to the lower spine.

Also, I do find that if I go for a "silly walk " with exaggerated long strides, that helps stretch and loosen up those stiff muscles. I also do stretches and attempt my awkward impression of tai chi.

Good luck.

[Kjun54321]

I was advised by a retired physical therapist to lay flat on my back with my legs up on a bed or chair to decompress the lower back. Only problem I had with that was that I had a hard time getting up off the floor after, so use caution if you choose to try this.

[Kjun54321]

Can I ask where on your body do you have the pain or is it all over pain? Have you tried topical medications like medicated lotions? I go to the pool to exercise then to the sauna to sweat out inflammation in my body. I am on medications: Etodolac and Methocarbamol but when I can’t take them, I too rotate an ice pack and heat pack wrapped in a towel.

[Smilesalot]

I'm truly upset on you're behalf and shocked.I don't know you're situation. All I can offer are best wishes and hugs and hope you'll get a better gp soon.

Don't give up sweetie xxx Dawn

[cyberbarn]

I am in a similar position to you. I have psoriatic arthritis and after etoricoxib and sulphasalazine were tried (turns out I am allergic to sulpha drugs) they tried me on methotrexate. At first it seemed okay but after 6 months I was getting severe stomach pain four days after injection. I made the mistake of telling the rheumatologist in order to get through to her how bad teh stomach pain was, that I would rather have joint pain than stomach pain.

She twisted this to say in her letter that I didn't want to try any other drugs. Then added that I didn't have enough joints involved to qualify for the next level of drugs either.

So like you I am on paracetamol only, plus ibugel. Which I hardly use in the winter as I would have to take my jumpers or trousers off to use it!

I have no suggestions for you. Just know that there are others out there that have also had a bad experience with rheumatologists.

I watched my grandfather become more and more disabled by his RA as he aged. He was in the era of very few drugs available. I was hoping that medicine had moved on but it seems it hasn't really! So I am resigned to becoming my very disabled grandfather.

I keep moving as he did. He had trained after the first world war as a gardener at a stately home in Yorkshire. He eventually emigrated to Canada where his small back garden was like a miniature stately home garden. It was amazing. He continued to garden including cutting the grass until a year before he died.

He would have been so ashamed of my garden, but then I have 26 chickens, a goose and a disabled son that keeps me going!

Hang in there.

[anonymous123123123]

Are you seeing pain management in addition to your rheumatologist? I’m not sure where you’re located but in the US at least that’s the standard to get more medication than that. If not I would ask for a referral to a pain mgmt doctor asap since it can take time to be seen. I would also try to talk to a local group (Facebook is full of them) or a group of people with your condition(s) to see who they see that prescribes medication. Some are intervention only which is great if injections work for you but if you tried and failed those - or want to have additional options - you want to make sure the doctor you see is more than an interventional pain doctor. Mine does both so we tried all the other options before resorting to meds. I have CRPS/RSD aka the suicide disease so things are a little different but regardless of the root cause the pain management doctor focuses on improving your function.

[Batty1]

Do you see a Rheumatologist? If so ask for a biologic drug and explain you can’t live with this pain anymore…. Im on 2 biologics Cosentyx and Otezla without these drugs I wouldn’t be walking right now .

[PainConcernHelpline Moderator Community Champion Pain Concern]

Dear Forrest12

I am a forum moderator at Pain Concern and have been reading through your post. I am sorry to read that you are having a tough time.

I have put together some resources that have lots of helpful information on managing pain.

painconcern.org.uk/product/...

painconcern.org.uk/airing-p...

painconcern.org.uk/airing-p...

painconcern.org.uk/product/...

The following website - 10 Footsteps Live Well with Pain has some really useful pain management strategies.

livewellwithpain.co.uk/ten-...

Best wishes

Pain Concern