Hi all,
I am new here and do not have a dx but I am scheduled to see a rheumatologist in Sept for a 5 yr problem the family doc blamed on everything else.I hope to get some answers.I have both joint & muscle pain with spasms & cramps and weakness also.Also facial edema.Lately the joint pain has increased & I have been dropping things more frequently.Any way,my question is I get stabbing pains and it seems pretty normal for someone in chronic pain, but lately I have this weird pain that feels like I have been stung by a bee.It makes me look at the spot cuz I think I will see a bee there stinging me.It seems weird.Does anyone else have this? If so, what causes this?
Also my primary doc prescribed nortripyline for pain because I can not tolerate pain meds(tried vicodin,darvocet-cause terrible nausea,and ultram-it felt like poison in my body I was bedridden for 2 days & thought I was dying)
Does anyone else take this for pain?
What does anyone recommend for over the counter pain relief?None have ever helped before but now that I am on nortriptyline it may help boost OTC meds. Thanks for any answers
Christi

Hi LostDog,

I do not have the stabbing pain, except in my head and stomach. Maybe someone else will give you more info on that. I also do not take the med for pain that you do. I take tramadol/ultram and skelaxin (a muscle relaxer). They do work, but I have a lot of breakthrough pain - in different places. The only over the counter pain med I can take is tylenol (it helps a little). You need to ask your dr. (or pharmacist) what you can take with the nortriptyline. Some meds do not go together. Also depends on if you have stomach problems!

I hope you find some breakthrough meds - over the counter or from the dr. I am sure someone else will write in with more info.

Take care. Wannabe

:wave: [EMAIL=radarbugs@crpud.net] hi, it sounds to me like ra. 16 months ago i didnt know what it was and then i started hurting and swelling up all the time. it would go away then come back. i got to where i couldnt hold a fork to eat and couldnt walk for the pain.first they tried all the regular stuff,(sulfasalizine, tramdall, ultram, skelaxin. prednisone, celebrex, voltarin, bextra and vioxx) lots of meds and all it did was make me feel like hell.
now i take 5 mg prednisone daily, 1000mg vitamin b, centrum silver vitamin, to keep me from getting so tired , 2 to 3 5mg percocet a day and a shot of enbrel every thursday morning. 150% turnaround from a year ago.the pain meds are the thing that you have to get used to.the feeling you get like a bee is more than likely immflamatiomn fron the ra. does it feel hot? that is your immune system attacking your joints. i feel for you.
i live in oregon and we have a medical marijuana law here. it helps with my pain. i would smoke it if it was illegal because it works for me . with ra i automatically qualified for the program. :D

good luck, let me hear from you

radar