Re: Pain Management For RA

[Guest guest]

,

So sorry to hear about your ongoing pain and about your teeth, too.

Tapering prednisone can cause pain independent from disease flares. It's

very difficult to sort out the source of the pain in situations such as

yours.

I'm happy to hear that at least your GP is trying to help. Is there any

chance you could see a pain management specialist?

Not an MD

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

[ ] Pain Management For RA

> Hi All.

>

> I don't post as often as I used to, but I still try and get online to

> read the posts from time to time. I have RA, Sjogren's Syndrome, and

> was also diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis this past December.

>

> The issue I am having is with pain. I find that the more Prednisone

> I take, the less swelling/pain I feel in my joints. But the more

> Prednisone I take, the more weight I gain. It's this vicious cycle!

>

> I have had to slowly taper down my Prednisone over the past few weeks

> to prepare for some dental work that will be done next week. I will

> also skip my MTX for that week as well. My Doc just wants to make

> sure that everything heals up good and that I don't have any more

> problems. I find with the Sjogren's that my teeth are literally

> crumbling out of my mouth. This will be my second extraction in

> about 8 months.

>

> As my Prednisone is tapered down, I am noticing more and more of the

> RA pain. I take my Tylenol 4's with Codeine, but they do little to

> help with the pain. I have tried so many different pain meds, and I

> now feel as though nothing works. I have tried the pain patch,

> Oxycontin, Percocet, and even Morphine injections. I feel woozy or

> dizzy, but I still have the physcial pain. I think the longer I take

> pain meds, the less likely my body is to respond to them. Sometimes

> I just take them because it makes me feel like I am doing " something "

> to control the pain.

>

> Just needed to vent. I am in Canada, and have a Rheumy that refuses

> to prescribe pain meds. Fortunately, my GP is wonderful and has done

> what he can to find the right med for me. We'll keep on trying!

>

>

[Guest guest]

It's interesting you said that about the Sjogren's. I recently identified it

as one of my problems but had symptoms for a long time. I had to have 6

teeth pulled at one time early last year and now have 2 with cavities that

need to be pulled. I was flossing one day with the plastic pick and floss on

one end, and it got stuck. I really had to pull to get it out and with it,

out popped about half a jawtooth! In the past, I hadn't much trouble with my

teeth, maybe a cavity once every 10 years or so. I think I need to learn to

make false teeth. Washington used Oak, didn't he?

Dennis

[ ] Pain Management For RA

> Hi All.

>

> I don't post as often as I used to, but I still try and get online to

> read the posts from time to time. I have RA, Sjogren's Syndrome, and

> was also diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis this past December.

>

> The issue I am having is with pain. I find that the more Prednisone

> I take, the less swelling/pain I feel in my joints. But the more

> Prednisone I take, the more weight I gain. It's this vicious cycle!

>

> I have had to slowly taper down my Prednisone over the past few weeks

> to prepare for some dental work that will be done next week. I will

> also skip my MTX for that week as well. My Doc just wants to make

> sure that everything heals up good and that I don't have any more

> problems. I find with the Sjogren's that my teeth are literally

> crumbling out of my mouth. This will be my second extraction in

> about 8 months.

>

> As my Prednisone is tapered down, I am noticing more and more of the

> RA pain. I take my Tylenol 4's with Codeine, but they do little to

> help with the pain. I have tried so many different pain meds, and I

> now feel as though nothing works. I have tried the pain patch,

> Oxycontin, Percocet, and even Morphine injections. I feel woozy or

> dizzy, but I still have the physcial pain. I think the longer I take

> pain meds, the less likely my body is to respond to them. Sometimes

> I just take them because it makes me feel like I am doing " something "

> to control the pain.

>

> Just needed to vent. I am in Canada, and have a Rheumy that refuses

> to prescribe pain meds. Fortunately, my GP is wonderful and has done

> what he can to find the right med for me. We'll keep on trying!

>

>

[Guest guest]

:

That is definately an option and I have discussed it with my GP

before. He is trying his best to find a solution that works for me

without having to go that route. There is a HUGE wait to get into

the pain management clinic here and for a consult, I am looking at up

to a year or more. I might just have him refer me anyway, and I can

always cancel if needed.

I think part of the problem is that I have had a Gastric Bypass, and

I don't absorb all the meds I am given. My doc is aware of this, and

has prescribed me more - based on that. He says I take enough pain

meds to knock a 350 pound linebacker on his arse. Unfortunately, it

has little to no effect on me. Tried the patch....and it didn't

really help. Doubled up and tried two patches....and a bit of a

difference was noted. But I was also given pain meds to swallow as

well.

Once I have my dental work done next week, I will be back on the

Prednisone and hopefully the pain will be minimal.

Take care,