Pain...

davidzzz · 09-09-2007, 07:10 PM

Hi everyone... This is my frist post and probly not my last. 49 yr old male here. July 18th I was pre diagnosised with RA by my primary Dr. ( it was in my blood work) and he refered me to a rheumatologist - which I can't get into till October 22. Some of my symptoms are stiff neck, exstrem pain in shoulders, hands and feet and also both wrists. I'm very stiff in the morning and it takes awhile to get moving. I'm having all kinds of trouble getting dressed to go to work each day... pulling pants on, putting socks on tying shoes etc. I'm sure you all can relate. I also noticed I now have a bump- growth on top of my left hand, just above my wrist. Plus some of my fingers are starting to stiffen up. I wasn't like this 6 months ago... Can RA progress this fast ? And the pain... it's unbearable at times. And I have a very high thresshold for pain. My primary Dr. wouldn't give me anything for pain. He said the rheumy would do that. Now to my main question... What can I take other than ibuprofen and aleve - which I've been taking.And I've also been doing the creams. I can't take anything with acetamidophen in it due to liver issues. The nights are the worst. When I go to bed I can expect to wake up within 2 hours in extrem pain in my shoulders and hands. So I get up for awhile till it lessens some and try sleep again. And again the pain within 2hr's. Most days I've been going to work with only 2-4 hours of sleep. Which I know is very bad for me. I know this is just the start of my journey and I'm thinking it's going to be a very long and bumpy road too. I'm so glad I found this board ! Anyway... back to my questions... Does this sound like RA to you all ? Is there anything I can do for the pain until I get in to see my rheumy ? What drugs can I expect he will give me.
Please respond if only to say hi and I relate.
Bye for now... Davidzzz

ToBeFreeToRoam · 09-10-2007, 12:53 AM

Hi,

I do sympathise with you on your pain. I was first sent to my rheumatologist by my family dr. also. She diagnosed me with osteo arthr. She gave me light meds for pain, and for muscle relaxers, probably others too.

That was about 3 years ago. Now she diagnosed me with RA and I cannot take most of the RA meds, because I almost always have open sores. So, I just take stronger pain meds, more muscle relaxers, prednisone, and a very light RA med, that even pregnant ladies can have.

I know it is a long time to wait for a rheumy dr., but your 1st visit is your longest and there are not a lot of RA drs. - at least in my area.

I would think that your dr/family would give you something mild. The cold weather is the worse time. Of course, you should have some by then...

Good Luck to you, and more people, who are more informed will surely talk tomorrow.

Wannabe

Ronnied · 09-10-2007, 06:09 AM

Hi David,

Sorry to hear about your pain, and your wait to see the rheumatologist. I have psoriatic arthritis and it affects my neck, elbows, wrists, fingers, knees, ankles and toes. Every day is different, every day something hurts but not all of the joints at the same time. I have been on dmards (leflunomide, methtrexate etc and I am currently on steroids. I am 49 also.

It certainly sounds awful for you, and hopefully you will get something from your visit, but in the meantime can you get diclofenac? Can you take that? Some people cant, but I have it for pain and it is very good. The Dmards help to alleviate the arthritis getting worse but are not painkillers, you also need something to help the pain. Other people may have other ideas, everyones arthritis affects them in different ways and the drugs affect people in different ways.

The damp weather makes my arthritis worse, dont get cold, for example I sat in a friends garden on Friday night with others and didnt have the nerve to say can we go in, so I got frozen. Saturday and Sunday have been awful, all my joints are swollen and burning and I ache badly. I should have spoken up and asked everyone to go in, but I didnt want to be a nuisance.

Do not over do it, I have had to give up work as it was all (after 4 years of struggling) too much for me. I have children and grandchildren and sick mum and sick father in law, so working as well was just wearing me out.

If you have any other questions, this forum is excellent. Thinking of you. Hope you get sorted in October.

Ronnie

davidzzz · 09-10-2007, 09:56 AM

Thanks for the replies and support.

I'm also worried about looseing my job. I work in a large retail store were it requires me to sometimes climb ladders and move product around. Luckly I'm in managment and can have others do this, but there are times I have to help. And it's getting harder to hide. No one at my work knows yet... I want to wait untill my official diagnosis and how much the meds were going to help me.

jane71 · 09-12-2007, 11:27 AM

I went through the same thing...took 6 weeks to get an appt with the Rheum. Seemed like an eternity. I took every pain killer known to man. Nothing worked. The Rheum prescribed me prednisone. I was a different person that afternoon.
Hang in there...