Re: RA getting worse..seek advice

[Guest guest]

Icing helps. I buy the gel packs that go in the freezer. You could take

one to work. Taking a close look at diet has helped me a lot. There are

definitely foods that cause me joint pain. Don't hesitate to give your

rheumatologist a call in between visits. I'm guessing

the " hydrosomething " you mentioned is the generic plaquenil. You may

need a stronger DMARD.

Sierra

>

> I was diagnosed about 5 months ago with RA and it is significantly

> getting worse - increase in pain - and constant pain areas with

> wrists, elbow, knee and fingers. The pain is as such that it impacts

> my work - i work in technology - so even with a ergo modified mouse,

> the movement with the wrists can be unbearable. Since my joints -

> thankfully -are not detoriating, I'm not sure what else can be done.

> Can anyone recommend some things I could do to reduce the pain when it

> happens or occurs? I am on Vicodin when needed, but i try to limit it

> when doable, plus I am taking Predisone and hydrosomething or another.

>

[Guest guest]

Hello and welcome!

We truly do understand what you are going through - we

have all been there - and you will find this group to

be very friendly, caring and supportive.

I believe that the medication you are referring to is

Plaquenil which has a generic name of

hydrochloroquine. I was on this for over two years

when I was first diagnosed and had good benefit from

it. It sounds like your RA is pretty aggressive. How

long have you been on the Plaq? It could be that you

need to have another medication added to it, and this

could do the trick. I am on Mtx and Enbrel currently,

and it is a very good combo for many people, myself

included. I have also tried many other meds,

combination of meds, in the past, and sometimes it

just takes a while for the medications to start

working, and then to find the right combination of

meds to help. It's hard to be patient when you are in

pain, I know.

Have you tried using a brace on your wrists when you

are at work? There are some very small and less

obvious braces out now, and these might help you. I

would also suggest that you try heat and ice packs,

and see which help you. With me, it's heat. I use

rice socks constantly because they fit nicely to

whatever joint is painful. Icy-Hot is also a great

favorite of mine, and they have patches which might

help you too. You might also think about getting a

parafin wax treatment thingy (can't remember what it

is called, so my fibro brain just says " thingy " lol),

and some have found that to be very soothing to their

hands.

And when you can, rest and rest. Sleep and rest are

very important because then you are able to withstand

the pain better - without that, more stress is felt in

the body, and more pain follows. If you are having

sleep problems, discuss this with your doctor. I am

on Ambien CR and it really helps me to be able to

sleep through the pain. Prednisone is great for pain

and inflammation, but I try not to take it too much

because of the side effects - bone thinning, blood

pressure, sugar problems. Some people, however, need

to take it to have any quality of life, but try to

take as little a dosage as possible.

You need to perhaps exchange the Plaquenil for another

DMARD, or add another DMARD to the Plaquenil. There

are also biologics which have proven successful in

treatment. Call your doctor and let them know that

this treatment is not working, you are in severe pain

in your joints, and this is interferring with your

work. I hope that there is something that can be done

quickly to help you.

Take care and let us know how you are doing -

Kathe in CA

__________________________________________________