Question by Just Me: Chronic Pain please help?
I am a sufferer of Rheumatoid Arthritis, it began in my feet, ankles, knees, hands and wrists, which caused a great deal of pain as it did. I now suffer pain in my elbows, muscles around my joints especially knees and ankles feels like they are on fire all the time. My back also, is hurting a great deal, my shoulders get on off pain and stiffness too.

My Dr has gone thru all the weak Opiates/ Opiods with me. None of these worked. I am now on Buprenorphine Transdermal Patch 20mg per week 20mcg per hour release with Co-Dydramol 10/500mg 8 per day. My pain is still chronic and severe.

I also, use DMARDS – Sulfasalazine 500mg 4 times daily, Prednisolone Steroids 10mg once daily, High Strength Folic Acid and Vitamin D and Calcium pills daily. Plus a few more pills to combat side affects from my Steroid use.

My Dr has told me and my mom today when she saw him, that I would just have to deal with the pain and exercise more even though I exercise twice daily but light exercise until my joints have had enough. He has said there is nothing he can do for me so I will just have to take the Chronically Severe pain.

Buprenorphine is the only strong Opiate he has tried me on, he once said he would give me Morphine tablets but has now back tracked on his idea.

I am in the UK, I know from research that Buprenorphine stops the analgesic effects of other Opiates from bein as affective. That there is also, other meds avaliable in England that are NOT Morphine but have less side effects and/or slightly weaker like Palladone (Hydromorphone) and Oxycontin/Oxynorm. Hydrocodone although legal in the UK, Dr\’s dont seem to know anything about it even in the brand name Vicodin, some even suggest i is Dihydrocodeine (DHC / Darvocet), even though it is not.

But he seems not interested in helping me saying im too young to become an addict. Like any age is good to become an addict, but I also know if used correctly at low doses addiction is not a real problem. Even the manufacturer leaflets on these drugs say it can be used by all people of any age just extra care is needed when under 18. I am 24 in 2 weeks BTW.

Is my Dr right to say these things? Or is it he is not interested much in helping me? I even had to fight for Dr\’s to recognize I had R.A because I broke the usual text book understandings of it just 2 appointments with a Rheumatologist said I had the disease a very aggressive Seronegative R.A. Even she told me not everyone plays by the rules with disease and most Dr\’s are ignorant of the problem.

My Rheumatologist also, wants me off the Steroids because they commonly cause Brittle Bone Disease (Osteoperosis) when used for long periods. Which I do as a blue steroid treatment card holder. But my Dr is refusing to wean me off the Steroids because the pain im in. I use steroids and still get swelling nearly everyday, only thing that helps my disease is illegal even Rheumatologist said it helps that is Cannabis it gets rid of my pain better then all pain meds so far and it gets rid of swelling and inflammation better than steroids.

My pain is so bad, I cant get more than 3 hours sleep without waking up from the pain, I have big black circled shadows around my eyes cos I cant sleep and the pain keeps me up. Half the time I cant walk or get ot of a chair without help or my Crutch.

Plus I have a huge phobia of needles so cant use Anti TNF drugs, its even hard for me to get my bloods done every 3 months.
Then dont come on answer website jayjay you fool and yes I use canabis too, but when it costs so much and yor Disabled and cant work and dont have a rich mom or pops to sponge off, hen you need medical help, cannabis is still illegal in UK cos politicians control the health care system, I am pro cannabis cos I use to live in California where it is legal medicine. But you are an idiot one of them who have no knowledge in cannabis no doubt.
Thanks for the comments people. To the nice lady who tried help, I exercise twice daily to the point my joints tell me enough is enough. Tramadol is crap I have used the strongest strength of it and Paracetamol on its own works better for me, plus im allergic to SSRI Tramadol is also an Anti Depressant but a mild one which is why I was tried on it. I cant take NSAIDS Non Steroid Anti Inflammatories because im allergic to them especially Naproxen and all Aspirin like drugs including Anadin (wish I could use), Ibuprofen, Nurofen and Aspirin off course. Im also, allergic fatally to Alcohol so cant use ethanol meds.

I see a Rheumatologist and a Occupational Therapist (both in the same rooms at my local Hospital).

Yes to the other comment there is no known cure for R.A infact it can kill people which is relatively unknown fact. It is also systemic diease meaning it dont just attack the joints and connecting muscles and tissue, but also, the sklin organs blood vessles.
Yes maybe it was overlooked I did write it but I will again I am under a Rheumatologist Consultant and same department has Occupational Therapists.

I use alot of meds which, I wrote in the main piece too.

All help and advice is greatly welcomed unless it like jay jay the ignorant one.

Best answer:

Answer by jandy
there are specific meds for RA, not narcotics. your doc is right. try physical therapy, swimming, hot tub, sorry you are hurting so much, there is non narcotics, tramadol, lyrica, celexa,,, steroids will damage your bones eventually, and you can get cataracts… chiropractor? looks like they’ve tried most everything. are you seeing a rheumatologist? have you had immune studies done? IgG and subclasses?

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