Anyone use Capsaicin? Need help with pain

[Guest guest]

I was doing fine last year being on Arava, 10 mg., Plaquenil, 200 mg., and

Lortab 5/500 3x a day plus Voltaren creme for pain. I didn't need to use the

cream all the time but it certainly helped on days when I did. Flash forward

to this year-- I am on long term Coumadin treatment and can no longer use

Voltaren cream because it has never been tested to see if it is okay with blood

thinners. I went to see my rheumatologist yesterday and he really didn't have

anything to offer. I had already had steroid injection in December when my

thumbs weren't functioning correctly and they hurt so badly. That worked for a

while but in mid March, the pain came back. I had to have my teenage daughter

drive one day because my thumb was so bad. I asked him about pepper cremes and

he said he used to recommend those before the Voltaren creme. He says it can

irritate the skin though. My skin is very dry since I have Sjogren's along with

my RA so I am somewhat worried about that. Has anyone had any experience with

capsaicin or some other brand like that? Any other suggestions for pain?

in No VA, waiting to see where I'll move in June