need to know if this is normal for RA/fibro

[Guest guest]

I am having a horrendous time with my RA/fibromyalgia lately. It's

acting very screwy, and the pain is not like it was before. I had such

a bad pain in my leg-- like a muscle cramp ache, but without the

actual cramp-- that kept getting worse all day that my primary (RA doc

was out of the office) sent me to the ER in case it was a clot. Of

course it wasn't.

I am also having a great deal of spasms, icy-hot shooting pains, and

deep muscle aches/tightness on the left side of my body. It used to

affect both sides, and just my feet and hands. Now it goes from my

shoulder blade to my foot, and pretty much only that side. Not to

mention the constant fatigue and absent mindedness, which I never

thought could get worse.

My doctor is trying me out on meds, then taking me off when they don't

work well or I have side effects. I can't handle Methotrexate; had a

reaction to Remicade; got an ulcer from Voltaron; Humira hurt too much

and didn't help enough to make the pain worth it; Enbril stopped doing

much. I am also on Lexapro for anxiety, which was switched to a higher

dose of Citalopram to help with the Fibro and then switched back

because I started having anxiety attacks again. I was taking

Carisoprodol for the spasms, at night, but it made me too foggy; now I

am taking a much lower dose of Tizanidine, and it isn't doing

anything. I also developed high blood pressure from the Voltaren and

my allergy meds; I also have asthma and sleep apnea.

I guess I'm trying to find out if this weird pain is normal, and what

I can do to control the pain. It has brought me to tears at least

twice a week for a month now. I can't take it. I had to call out of

work for the first time in four years due to my RA/fibro last week. I

am really bummed. Does anyone have any advice?