Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain Relief

[fitzybelle]

I have been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis in my hands which comes and goes and can be very painful. I have been to and from the hospital/doctors many times and don't seem to get any relief. I have been prescribed Prednisone which does not help. I have considered visiting an osteopath but not sure if this would help. Could anybody give any advice please? Many thanks in advance

[beckersjay]

My husband has found homeopathy very helpful as an adjunct to conventional treatment. He also suffers with swollen painful hands and the Arnica/Rhus/Ruta cream recommended by the homeopath has in particular brought a lot of relief.

[fitzybelle]

Many thanks beckersjay. I shall try that

[beckersjay]

You're welcome, Fitzybelle - hope it helps as I know from my hubby how miserable it can be.

[fitzybelle]

It sounds promising. Thanks again

[askyourgran]

You have my sympathy fitzybelle, I have it too it comes and goes as you say. At the moment mine is just below my wrist joint but usually it's around my thumb and fingers. My main arthritis pain is in my left hip and lower back, I have a false right hip due to arthritis.I'm perservering with paracetamol two each morning and two each night I try not to build up the dose too much. When the pain is bad I can take up to eight a day. Exercise is the only thing I know to keep my joints moving, I have some cream to rub on to my wrist and fingers which helps. Osteopathy or a chiropractor may help, but could work out expensive. I have bought a wrist support which helps and try to keep my hands warm and takes the swelling down a bit.

[fitzybelle]

Thanks askyourgran - I shall take beckersjays advice and let you know how I get on

[Sqad]

I am a little confused was why you cannot get pain relief.
What drugs have you been given and what dosage?

[Eve]

I was going to say similar to sqad. When were you diagnosed?

I seems strange to me that you would only be prescribed prednisolone unless for a major flare prior to getting you on other medication to handle it if it warranted that (if a flare warranted prednisolone though I'd have thought so). Or is it at an early stage of diagnosis and they are trying to work out whether it responds to anti-inflammatory treatment like steroids or you are awaiting clearance like blood screening so on pred to bridge the gap? Bednobs, No Mercy etc... might be more knowledgable on this.

What dose of pred are you on and are you taking any other pain relief of anti-inflammatories, including over the counter ones?

I know you said you have been to the hospital but are you seeing a rhumatologist? If so, does the department have rhumatology nurses you can speak to in the interim? They are usually very specialised and can be a fantastic help or liaise with rhumatologists as appropriate.

Sometimes you have to be patient and it can be a bit trial and error as to meds and getting things to improve and although I've managed to get some relief with various treatments, I'm never pain free.

I saw an osteopath years ago for other issues though would be wary of it now as I'd be worried of the manipulation aggravating the joint swelling or joint damage etc... though I'd be interested to hear if it's helped others.

I have physio but it seems limited for general rhumo pain save exercises and ideas to relieve stiffness (for my hips and shoulders more than my hands) and assist with mobility issues (I have a stick) etc...

Swimming seems to be the most recommended activity but more to assist larger joint stiffness I think.

Joint rest can help and I have wrist splints to help rest them and with some activities and some special support gloves to help with things like typing (I find the supports too restrictive for that) and I wear tubigribs on my wrists for extra support - these kind of things I went through with my Occupational Therapist.

I think experience helps you find a bit of a balance between rest and movement to stop you stiffening up though you'll always get spanners in the works with flares but you can try and prevent them and head them off.

I find wearing gloves helps when it's cold/raining helps too. I have fingerless gloves which I canleave on for a bit once in while getting my fingers back to normal a bit to use them.

[fitzybelle]

have seen rheumatologist at hospital but not happy with tablets she recommended as too many side affects one was a tablet for cancer methotextrate the veins in my hands swelled up i thought they would explode but iam going to trya cream that was recommended by beckersjay
at least there are no nasty sde effects thanks too beckers and others for advice

[Sqad]

Well, let us start in a simple way........have you tried Nsaids, if so which one and what dose?

[NoMercy]

Would Arthrotec be any good, Sqad?

[Eve]

I'm on methotrexate, it is used for cancer though the dose used for RA is dramatically different, a miniscule dose in comparison and it's a very widely used treatment for RA and, as far as I know, one of the most effective.

The side effects can be unpleasant, it's a matter of getting some kind of a balance between what you can cope with and trying to get the disease under control (as it's not a disease you want running out of control and wreaking havoc). I had problems tolerating sulfasalazine and was taken off hydroxychloroquine too. It's been a long road and methotrexate isn't without its issues but no so bad so far. It can take some trial and error.

It's not easy, the stuff you can't take with it and I've got another groin abscess and the antibiotics my GP wanted to use can increase methotrexate toxicity so am on a lesser strength of those, extra cream to help balance it out, having to put my methotrexate dose down for a week after getting up to the dose my rhumo wants me on, bring blood screening forward etc...

My point is, yes, it can be a faff but the meds (I am just using methotrexate as an example) can be worth it to try and get the condition under control.

Steroids aren't ideal as a long term treatment option.

Can you make an appointment with one of the rhumatology nurses to talk things through with them and maybe come up with some new ideas to speak to the consultant about, other tips for dealing, other experts who might be able to help and details of any local support groups you may also get advice and support from?

[Sqad]

NoM...can't think of a better start.

[Eve]

Sorry, another question out of interest, how old are you if you don't mind me asking?

[nannybooby]

Change your rhuemi ,I was bedridden and couldnt stop being sick with pa a year ago. Change of consultant has been wonderful a fresh eye and approach has made life a lot more bearable. Remember the old aying doctors differ patents die. Watch the long term steriod use ,you might need to take D3 and Calcium to protect your bones. Good luck.

[bednobs]

i find it a little hard to understand why you would reject the tried and trusted gold standard treatment of methotrexate. even if you can get rid of the pain by painkillers, the disease will still be active, eroding your joints giving you deformities, making you much more likely to get extra-articular problems such as iritis, trouble with kidneys, heart, lungs, bowel and so on

[nannybooby]

methatrexate isnt the only remedy for ra and it isnt for everyone the side effects can be nearly as bad as the problem they are solving ! Equa;;y long term steriod use is not great for you either.

[annieigma]

Hi Fitzybelle,
don't want to break into your question thing, but this may help both of us.
My o.h. has RA in the hands, says its like someone breaking a bone.
Can i just ask if any one knows what steroids actually do? i know they make me feel a 110% if i have to take them, but everyone warns of side effects?
is prednisolone risky? and, if you have a heart problem and taking warfarin, are these RA drugs more of a risk? I seem to remember a few years ago that a drug for RA was causing heart attacks or strokes and was withdrawn.

[shaneystar2]

That was Vioxx (rofecoxib) annieigma .I took this for a while after being diagnosed with RA.
I've had various drugs for it and the associated OA.
All they do is bugger you up further imho. Too many side effects .I tend to grit my teeth and take an Nsaid when I can't stand it any more .

[nannybooby]

Annie , steriods take over the production of adrenaline and thus help with the pain , long term use is bad for your organs and bones. They are usually assisted with the use of pain killers (non nsaids)like paracetomol ,codine and stronger drugs. Rhumis dont usually prescribe painkillers you have to see your gp.
It is real cra* when the athritus is active and very depressing ,I wouldnt dis alternative medicine used along with what your specialist recommends I'd try anything when its bad.