RE: confused about pain

December 2, 2009

Amtriptyline is an antidepressant, but it is good for helping you sleep and

pain. I took it while working by taking it about 12 hours before I needed to

get up. If I took it just before bedtime I had hard time getting up. Just

this last year my shoulder was hurting and my new rheumatoligist check my

Vitamin D levels and it was low. He prescribed 50,000 units once a week and he

also gave me Tramadol. I think the Vit D really helped, I have been taking it

for 8 months now. I hope this is helpful. You have a very stressful job, I

hope you feel better soon so you can continue to help others.

Confused About Pain

Posted by: " nancymillerellis " nancymillerellis@... nancymillerellis

Tue Dec 1, 2009 12:47 pm (PST)

Can some of you who have fought this disease longer than me help me understand

this pain a little better? I was diagnosed with RA in May, am now at 8

methotrexate/ wk, and started humira a couple months ago. My knees are a lot

better, but the swelling in my fingers hasn't gone down (rheumy said he may have

to give a cortisone shot to my finger in dec & he said that really hurts - is it

really necessary) and now my shoulders, neck & elbows are getting more and more

pain. I guess I figured all of your pain would go up or down at once - is is

normal to go up and down at the same time?

Ellis

December 2, 2009

In a message dated 12/1/2009 2:48:14 P.M. Central Standard Time,

nancymillerellis@... writes:

Can some of you who have fought this disease longer than me help me

understand this pain a little better? I was diagnosed with RA in May, am now at

8

methotrexate/Can some of you who have fought this disease longer than me

help me understand this pain a little better? I was diagnosed with RA in

May, am now at 8 methotrexate/<WBR>wk, and started h & he said that really

hurts - is it really necessary) and now my shoulders, neck & elbows are

getting more and more pain. I guess I figured all of your pain would go up or

down at once - is is normal to go up and down at the same time?

My pain went away with Prednisone and the RA meds keep it away. That's the

way I'm thinking of it. It takes about three months for Mtx to work, if I

remember correctly. I started with a high dose of Prednisone, and tapered

off that as we waited for the RA meds to work. At that time, i was taking

Methotrexate pills.

I still take 5 mg of Prednisone daily.

My knee was getting painful last week before I got my Remicade infusion. I

think we are going to raise that dose the next time. I have also had

cortisone shots in my knees and shoulders. They do hurt when the needle goes

in,

but the relief from pain is worth it to me. I was unable to sleep when my

shoulders were in pain and unable to get out of a chair when it was my

knees.

Once I was getting a cortisone shot in my foot for a neuroma. He hit a

nerve and I involuntarily kicked him. He seemed a little mad.

dd

December 3, 2009

i dont even know if i have RA yet, wasnt even on my list when i went to my

doctor---- went to rheumy this week after being in ER last week. they drew

another pint of blood for even more tests. I dont know what to think, hopeful

its a virus but local md think RA rrrr. Ive had 4 weeks of horrible pain, and

im a RN. Having a very hard time at work, I cant take vicodin or any other

narcotic while at work. just takin naproxen and just finished medrol/steroid

dose pack a few days ago, and now the pain is getting worse again uuughh. I

cant be too dosed up while at work, need a clear head, and now im finding it

hard to do my usual duties with pt's. shawna

May all your ups and downs in life be with a needle and thread.

http://sewshawna.blogspot.com

From: jvanvelsor@...

Date: Thu, 3 Dec 2009 22:57:29 +0000

Subject: [ ] confused about pain

I never thought I would think I was lucky re: RA, but after reading some

responses about pain control, I realize I am fortunate in my doctors, even

though it takes more than a week to get a call back from my rheumetologist. I

take 8 MTX weekly, 0.5 prednisone, Celebrex, Vitamin D, 2 hydroxycholorcline,

and am about to start Humira. For pain I take two Norco (stronger Vicodin with

less acetaminephren) every six hours and some Alka Seltzer. I also have

diasepham available and I get monthly prednisone and pain shots. Sadly, I still

do not have good pain control, but at least my doctors are not balking at trying

additional medications and most importantly are willing to prescribe real pain

medications. I can't imagine what it would be like to try to make it with just

ibuprophen or other over the counter medications. Can you try another Doctor?

You should not have to live that way.

Best wishes

Joan in Fair Oaks

December 4, 2009

Hi a,

I just wanted to tell you that hopefully this is not RA but if it is, when it

first hit me I could not get off my sofa without help, I couldn't open a jar or

a car door, pain and fever all the time. BUT, once I was diagnosed by my rheumy

and once the methotrexate (my choice drug as I was too scared at that time to do

the biologic route, now I would if my mtx failed me) started to work, you would

never know that I have RA. I have some thinning of the hair on the top of my

head, some days I maybe could use a nap (but I am 53 and could lose some weight

which I'm sure doesn't help), some days I have a little soreness in a joint or

two but I don't even reach for the tylenol, maybe I've just gotten used to it.

I just wanted you to know that it won't be like this, if it's RA and you find

the " coctail " that works for you.

Oh, and I quilt too!

in PA

[ ] confused about pain