Pain

magenta

Hello,
I'm beginning to think that this pain is going to get the better of me-what can I do? You all know my story is a long one so I'll not bore you again with all my details-I'll cut this short!
For 2wks I've been waking up with swollen hands, wrists, elbows, ankles and feet. I never really got this before-it used to happen to me as the day wore on. It's all symmetrical which again never really happened to me. The pain is getting unbearable cos it's there all the b****y time :x It feels like someone has hit me hard on every single bone in these areas-my wrists, hands and ankles in particular. Co-dydramol isn't helping. Any ideas?
Magenta x

eckstardeluxe

Hi Magenta

I know how you feel, you think everything is getting ok and you start a little system that works for you then bam, a bad day just knocks you for six. At my meeting with the Consultant he said my pain will not get worse as it's as bad as it can get but the stiffness will get worse. I have days where I wake up and am so stiff I can't move for hours, I get upset and say to my hubby "how on earth will I cope if this gets worse?" I try not to think about the future too much as it upsets me when I think of all the things I'll never be able to do with my kids. I saw my friend running after her toddler today and she was getting stressed at having to chase him, what I'd give now to be able to chase my kids. I'm just so glad we can come here and share as I still can't talk to friends and family, they just know me as independent and it's hard to start asking for help. Take care, Alex xxxx

lindalegs

Hi Magenta,

Are you only on Co-drydamol? It's obviously not enough although I do know your frustrations with things not showing up in your bloods. What I can't understand is, why, when your joints are obviously swollen your Rheumy/GP doesn't give you any anti-inflammatories :? - sorry if you've explained in a previous post and I've missed it.

Do ice packs help? Any chance of resting during the day, and yes, I do know what a busy life you have. My old fall back paracetamol 2 tablets every six hours to keep the levels up and help combat the pain. A nice hot bath when the kids are in bed? Any chance at all of reducing your stress levels (although I think some of those begin and end with your frustration with the medical profession :roll: ), stress is so bad for our condition? Apologies if you've tried all these but at a bit of a loss of what to suggest I just want you to feel better than you do right now.

Here's a cyber hug anyway ((( ))) and sincerely hope you turn a corner very soon

Luv Legs

colinone

Hi Magenta sorry to hear your in so much pain i know it can get hard to cope. for some of us the arthritis is ever changing and moving about. It seems i have problems with most stuff i take and stick with paracetomol 500caps x 2 they do help but the other day i got Codeine phosphate from the GP to take with the paracetamol and they do the trick great i even got 5 hours sleep last night.
Take Care
Colin

suncatcher

have you tried co codamol or solpdol? ask your doctor if you can try them. the co codamol i have normally and when i had back shoulder pain with my posture problems my pain intenified and dragged me down and the doctor gave me solpaldol which is even stronger than co codamol and it soon sorted the pain out it relaxes you also it soon sorted me out. ask your doctor. i am sorry you are in a bad way but it is good to see you on site again but i wish it was in better circumatances. hope you get some anwers soon joanne

woodbon

Hi Magenta,
Its really awful to have so much pain as well as the frustration you feel. My hands, today, feel as if a hammer has hit the backs of them and my feet are playing up a bit. I find, like the others that hot baths or showers, whichever you prefer, help a lot, at least for a while.

Have you discussed stronger pain mediction with your doctor? Codydromol is strong, I know, but their are stronger. I think you may have mentioned you're already taking them, but amatriptayle has helped me at night. I know you've had a bad time with diagnosis, but as a personal opinion, and I'm no medic, I cann't see why they can't at least try an RA drug on you to see if it helps.

I wish that I could say more positive things, the only thing I can say is that one day last week I felt I couldn't carry on because of the worry and upset my visit to the neuro is giving me. The next day, after talking to my husband, and a medic friend, I felt stronger and more able to cope whatever the out-come. I know you are in a different position, but, maybe you've got better days to come and reserves of strength you didn't know you had. Talk to anyone, GP, Rhuemy or even a counsellor of some sort, or of course, family and frientds. It may help.

Sorry to go on, I'll be thinking of you, Love Sue xxx

skezier

Hi Magenta,
I'm so sorry you have that pain, I think most of us know it quite well but it ususlly backs off and a solid 2 weeks would have me climbing the walls. A ((((((()))))) for you which wont help I know.

I find Co-dydramol ineffective, I haven't read all your posts, please forgive me, but enough to know they haven't exactly sorted you out very well. I don't know if this will help as I have oa and it is a different thing but I take 2 slow release Diclo's and tramadol 4 x a day. When it stopped working they added in a drug called Prealbalin, I fairly sure its the same drug as Gra something or another but though it does nothing for you swelling it blocks the nerve receptors (Toni that's why I am sure it's the same drug). It is good stuff and though In the same bracket/family to morphine and opium in it's pain relief it doesn't have the same side effects. In fact it is an E.P. drug but ell does it take out pain.

I don't think they have treated you right, I honestly think you need to see a rumo and really pin them down. It's horrible to have endless pain and the swelling really can't help. Hang in there, kick up and make them take you seriously. I don't know how you can do that but if it gets too bad and your dr wont do more for you go to A&E and they will have to help you. I hope so much you get some relief.
Take care, x

averyniceman

Hi Magenta -- sorry to hear that you're suffering like this.

You probably know this stuff already, but Rheumy told me that analgesics like paracetamol/codien work well -- but you have to take them round the clock to let the drug build up in your body. He said taking two 500mg paracetamol or paracetomol/codien 4 times a day like clockwork was pretty good, and should help through the night .

I seem to remember you weren;t taking them like that -- maybe that's something to try.

I also know that NSAIDS help with pain relief aswell as reducing swelling. But it may be as long as three weeks before you get the full anti-inflammatory effect.

These medics have got loads of stronger pain relief drugs -- I bet they can help.

Best of luck

magenta

Hi All,
Thanks for your replies. I am unfortunately already on an anti-inflammatory (Etodolac), Amitryptilline and take paracetamol in morning and afternoon then go onto co-dydramol evening and bed-time. I can't take co-dydramol 4 times a day cos I'm driving. It says on the label 'ONE or TWO to be taken upto 3 times a day'? My GP won't prescribe me stronger pain-killers cos I'm attending a rhuemy. I've tried co-codamol and Kapake (30/500) but they weren't great.
It's my wrists that are the worst just now. Tried for a wee nap today-can't I was getting pain travelling from my left shoulder down into my hands :shock:
I like heat better than cold so I'll go and do the dishes now and give my hands a good soak!
Thanks again,
Magenta x