Guest guest Posted February 24, 2004 Report Share Posted February 24, 2004 Hi all, I go to a R.A. doctor but she isn't good with doing anything about helping me with controlling my pain. I take Plaquanil and that's all. She has given me things that are about as useful as Darvosets and they stink! I was wondering what others do to help their pain? Does anyone know if a doctor can prescribe something like soaking, swimming, and other stuff related to a gym/spa? Also, I am on Medicaid so I don't know what they would cover? I was thinking of asking my regular doctor to try prescribing a vibrating recliner with heat and see what they would cover. I figure they pay for a hospital bed, they did for my sister who had collapsing disks in her back. So I may as well try? Anyway, I would appreciate any ideas/thoughts on these things. Take care all and may HP Bless! Becki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 24, 2004 Report Share Posted February 24, 2004 Becki, I would do some research on RA treatment. And go armed with examples of treatment protocols that work. Most people are on a DMARD(traditional, Biologic or both) a drug to control inflammation such as 2 inhibitor, Bextra, Celebrex or Vioxx and in many cases Predinisone. For many people once they find the med combination that works well for them the need for pain meds in minimal is any at all. As far as pain meds most docs like to start with Ultram, Ultracet advancing to Darvocet. I have been told that Plaquinil can take up to 4 months before you really see positive effects from it if its going to work. Most people while waiting for meds to kick in are on Prednisone to take down the imflammation which reduces the pain. Prednisone is usually pretty fast acting. I have gotten injections in docs office and felt much better with in a few hours. Then you continue with prednisone pills at home. Please make sure you are getting your eye exams every six months on Plaquinil. It has a serious eye complication that can occur to some taking this medication. Does your doctor monitor your blood work frequently? That can also tell her if you are responding to your meds. I get blood work done every 2-4 weeks. I use Enbrel, MTX, Bextra, Folic acid, calcium/vit D and prednisone as needed. I have Ultram(50mg) for pain and if worst than that I increase the Ultram to 100mg taken with 500mg Tylenol every 6hrs. I also have Darvocet N100 which I rarely use. I have a bottle I will probably throw away cause its almost a year old! As far as getting a recliner. It is hard to say since mediciad is controlled and administered by the individual states. A hospital bed is defined as durable medical equipment. I have no clue if you could get a massage heating recliner. I doubt it though. Its probably looked at as a luxury item. They might pay for scooter or wheelchair. But again its worth a try. The worst you could get is told no. I would first get doc to write a prescription and take to your local medical supply store that carries the recliners. I good start would be to call local medical supply store that carries the recliners and ask if they have ever gotten an approval to pay from mediciad. You may have to call around to numerous stores if you keep getting told no until you find one that has had sucess with medicaid. Budget cuts have gutted the medicaid system so bad that its not funny. It truly has become a program for the poor because its gotten so bad that it barely pays for basic needs and here in this state they have to beg doctors to accept medicaid cause it pays so poorly. I know that my daughter(10yo) needed to see a neurologist and the medical center clinic did not accept medicaid. So she did not get evaluated with the specialist until we could get our private pay insurance to cover the care. A doctor can also prescribe occupational therapy (OT) which may be massage or TENS treatments. There is also physical therapy(PT) exercises, working with therapist walking on treadmill and such. Again you have to find someone that accepts medicaid for these treatments and expect to find serious limitations on the number of treatments per year. I would check with your local Arthritis Foundation for Warm water exercise classes, PACE and Tai Chi classes. If you are a member of a gym they may offer some of these classes. The ones certified and usually sponsered by Arthritis Foundation are certified safe for people with joint diseases. Make sure you get your docs OK before starting any exercise program or therapy. Last if you are not happy with this doc and her treatment plan change docs. I know that is easier said than done with the limitations of insurance. She may need a stern talking to by you about your expectations of adequate treatment. I would talk about finding meds to control your pain before resorting to pain meds. You doc may have the attitude that all you want is pain meds...sad to say but may docs see patients as drug seekers. Good luck Toni In a message dated 2/24/04 5:55:53 AM Central Standard Time, writes: > Message: 10 > Date: Mon, 23 Feb 2004 16:31:48 -0800 (PST) > From: " \ " B\ " Becki " <howbeit@...> > Subject: Controlling Pain > > Hi all, > I go to a R.A. doctor but she isn't good with doing anything about helping > me with controlling my pain. I take Plaquanil and that's all. She has given me > things that are about as useful as Darvosets and they stink! I was wondering > what others do to help their pain? > Does anyone know if a doctor can prescribe something like soaking, swimming, > and other stuff related to a gym/spa? Also, I am on Medicaid so I don't know > what they would cover? I was thinking of asking my regular doctor to try > prescribing a vibrating recliner with heat and see what they would cover. I > figure they pay for a hospital bed, they did for my sister who had collapsing > disks in her back. So I may as well try? > Anyway, I would appreciate any ideas/thoughts on these things. > Take care all and may HP Bless! > > Becki > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 24, 2004 Report Share Posted February 24, 2004 \ Hi Becki, I know a lot of people on here are on pain medication. I am not, and I would think if the Planquanil is not cutting it, you should be on other medication in addition to or instead of that. It's not just the pain you have to be concerned about, you want to do everything you can to minimize is the swelling. Swelling can lead to joint damage and that is irreversible and can only lead to more pain. Getting on the right meds is the best thing you can do for your RA, and that might very well mean changing to a different rheumatologist. I started on Vioxx and Bextra, and when the pain came back we added Prednisone (I was not yet diagnosed, but we were pretty sure an RA diagnosis was coming). When things got worse and I did get diagnosed, we added Methotrexate. When Prednisone and Methotrexate together were no longer enough, we started Humira. Humira is a biological DMARD which has the best chance at preventing the progression of RA (it doesn't work for everyone, but it does work for most). Other biologicals are Enbrel and Remicade. Enbrel and Humira are considered prescriptions, Remicade is a " treatment " because of the way it is administered, so some Medicaid programs might cover that when they wouldn't cover a prescription. Anyway, talk to your rheumatologist and if she is not responsive to trying new drugs then get a second opinion! Jennie Hi all, > I go to a R.A. doctor but she isn't good with doing anything about helping me with controlling my pain. I take Plaquanil and that's all. She has given me things that are about as useful as Darvosets and they stink! I was wondering what others do to help their pain? > Does anyone know if a doctor can prescribe something like soaking, swimming, and other stuff related to a gym/spa? Also, I am on Medicaid so I don't know what they would cover? I was thinking of asking my regular doctor to try prescribing a vibrating recliner with heat and see what they would cover. I figure they pay for a hospital bed, they did for my sister who had collapsing disks in her back. So I may as well try? > Anyway, I would appreciate any ideas/thoughts on these things. > Take care all and may HP Bless! > > Becki > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 Becki, I use Ultracet for pain. I also have a spa which I soak in-I don't know if you could get a portion of something like that covered with a dr.'s script. but if there is any way to do it or have access to one, it really relieves the stiffness. " \ " B\ " Becki " <howbeit@...> wrote: Hi all, I go to a R.A. doctor but she isn't good with doing anything about helping me with controlling my pain. I take Plaquanil and that's all. She has given me things that are about as useful as Darvosets and they stink! I was wondering what others do to help their pain? Does anyone know if a doctor can prescribe something like soaking, swimming, and other stuff related to a gym/spa? Also, I am on Medicaid so I don't know what they would cover? I was thinking of asking my regular doctor to try prescribing a vibrating recliner with heat and see what they would cover. I figure they pay for a hospital bed, they did for my sister who had collapsing disks in her back. So I may as well try? Anyway, I would appreciate any ideas/thoughts on these things. Take care all and may HP Bless! Becki Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 25, 2004 Report Share Posted February 25, 2004 I also get a lot of relief from my hot tub. They are also great to do range of motion exercises. a > Becki, > I use Ultracet for pain. I also have a spa which I soak in-I don't know if you > could get a portion of something like that covered with a dr.'s script. but if > there is any way to do it or have access to one, it really relieves the > stiffness. > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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