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NEED HELP for my boyfriend

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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 5/14/2008 7:36 PM (GMT 0)
Hello everyone. My boyfriend has had rheumatoid arthritis for 8 months. The wrists, sholders, hands, feet ...well just about everything is effected. His pain in his shoulders and wrists have gotten soo much worse in the last 3 weeks. He hardly sleeps and is in pain all day, everyday. He is on Prednizone, plaquinel and a metha? something I forget it is DMARD. nI need to know how I can help him? I don't know what to do. The pain is bad and he doesn't feel well. Please give me any advice you have. I made an appointment for him with a new Rheumy but it's going to be 6 weeks before he can get in. Thank you all.
Posted 5/15/2008 2:27 AM (GMT 0)
Methotrexate is the name of the DMARD. It sounds like he is on the typical started kit of meds. It takes between two and six months for them to start working then if their isn't enough relief they may move on to the biologics-you can get lots of info about them from existing threads (Enbrel is often used with methotrexate). I did not see a reference to what dose he is on of any of these but mtx is often started at half a dose and built up to the full dose then the time until it works is really calculated from when they get to the whole dose, Pred usually will relief pain and inflamation but he may not be on enough.
With that combo of drugs (by the way it is the exact same combo I am on) I can't recommend taking any additional pain meds-he should avoid advil, aleve etc.
The things that sometimes help are things that can be hard to do. Rest-ten hours of good sleep each night, light physical activity but only exersize joints that aren't actively hot, bracing for joints such as wrists and ankles-but don't use a shoulder sling unless ordered by a doc or pt.
I have success with ice on hot joints and moist heat on swollen but no longer hot joints.
Others will come along with more. You might try going to the drug store and reading the labels on the arthritis patches and cremes and find one with no salycilites (asprin related drugs). He might be able to use those-he probably should not use the ones with salycilites due to the possibility of interactions with the mtx.
Is someone monitoring him right now-he should still be having blood tests every 4 weeks.
Let us know if you have additional questions we can try to answer for you
Sj
Posted 5/15/2008 3:14 AM (GMT 0)
oh my!  what a heartbreak...but at least he has YOU!  and believe me, you have no idea (well yeah maybe you do) what a difference just YOU being there makes.

it sounds as though he's going through some intense & acute pain right now; so the 1st thing would be to get the pain & inflammation under control.

the prednisone should help the pain & swelling & inflammation rather quickly; can he use Tylenol?

unmanageable intolerable pain should be treated, can he see a family practice MD? maybe a little stronger pain med like a Tylenol 3 or something until the RA meds start to kick in?

i swear by ice packs too, & a heating pad for pain like sjkly explained.

you really have to do ANYTHING & EVERYTHING you can to get to a comfort level, i know crazy intense joint pain, and have been to the ER for that many of times...

there's only so much you can do over the counter & at home.

i know i respond very well to TOUCH! all my honey has to do is lay a hand over my knee & i swear it gets better (ok a little bit).

but i think your honey needs some pain management.  whether it be oral pain meds or patches (LidoDerm works well) and even steroid injections (he may benefit greatly from that).

how is he tonight?

take god care,

erin 

Posted 5/15/2008 2:16 PM (GMT 0)
Hi

I'm so sorry you b/f is in this much pain and as someone said he is already on the typical plan for RA..and this is going to sound like a really silly question but how much water is he drinking with his MTX? Over the past few days I had a really awful stomach bug and I became dehydrated and I have found more than once that when I don't drink enough water, my joint pain becomes WORSE with the MTX, and Enbrel.  The lack of fluids seems to intensify my joint pain and yesterday I also took prednisone (20mg) and the pain in my hips was still present.  So I just thought I would throw this out to you as a thought.

Posted 5/15/2008 5:45 PM (GMT 0)

Hi there,

Just wanted to welcome you to the forum here, you've already gotten some great advice from some of the best people you'd ever "meet".  Glad you found us, and feel free to ask any question you want....everyone here will do their best to help.

Like Erin said, you b/f is blessed to have you!! Your support will be invaluable to him while he tries to wait out the med treatments.  I used to be on the methotrexate, but now I take plaquenil, celebrex, and enbrel injections.  Sj was right, he needs to stay away from any of the over the counter anti-inflammatories....but he should be ok with Tylenol.  There is an arthritis-strength type that lasts 8 hours...I use that when I need something extra for pain.  However, if is pain is real intense...you might want to consider a walk-in clinic or the ER if he doesn't have a primary doc. Like Erin said you have to be able to get the pain under control, I can't even imagine waiting six weeks to get relief from the new rheumy.

Bless you both, and let us know how things are going.


Posted 5/16/2008 5:10 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you everyone for your replies. Now he and I understand everything a little more. One thing he had been doing wrong was taking Ibuprophin and Advil, which the dumb doctor here told him to take. The doctor didn't tell him anything about the folic acid either. The ice and heat has helped him a lot today. I wish I could take his pain away. I told him he should see some kind of doctor to help with the pain until he can get to the new rheumy but he won't go now. He is fed up with the docs around here. I will keep up on everything and try to help him as much as I can. I thank you all so very very much for helping. Luvs to you all and I hope you all are feeling well today
Posted 5/16/2008 7:35 AM (GMT 0)
Hey there Crystal,
Is your hunny not supposed to use Advil? Why was it "wrong"? It is an OK nsaid, and it could help the joint pain; is there something wrong with his stomach that is why he can't take ibuprofin?
Talk about silly, but...now I might get the whip for this, but how about some spirits? Or is that a complete no-no when using MTX? Some people swear by a small glass of brandy.
OK I'll shut up now because I don't want to get in trouble, me here advocating boozin' it up.
Desperate times calls for desperate measures?

Fish oil can be a potent antiinflammatory as well as tumeric & curcumin! They're spices & are very potent!

I guess we're all just scrambling for ideas.
Do take care of yourself too! Don't forget that.
peace
erin
Posted 5/16/2008 12:22 PM (GMT 0)

Hi again,

Must really ask you to forgive me!!  I thought your boyfriend was already on a anti-inflammatory, that's why I said to steer clear of the advil, motrin, etc. I must have read your post too quickly...sorry.. I can't use them because I take Celebrex.  However, Erin is absolutley right...ibuprophen or advil, etc those type of meds are great IF he isn't already using something like that.  best bet is to listen to Erin, and not to me...., she is our resident rheumy/on-call ask-a-nurse, and she has the med education to back her up....I'm just a dumb patient, learning as I go!!   So sorry...BUT...as far as the brandy goes...I will differ with her on that haha!!   I was on methotrexate, and the doc said no alcohol becuse of stress to the liver...  you could always check with a doc as to how much of the advil is ok for him to take, and a pharmacist will become your best friend in guiding you through what meds are ok to mix with what...

Take care...

Posted 5/16/2008 1:11 PM (GMT 0)
Do not use NSAIDS with Methotrexate-not even advil unless you are under the supervision of a doctor and having blood tests frequently-If he cant get into see a rhuemy for six weeks that is too long for him to be on NSAIDS this can cause a potentially fatal reaction.
Posted 5/16/2008 1:28 PM (GMT 0)

Wow sj..never heard that...thanks!  See Crystal?  One more proof that I should not be listened to!  I think I will stay away from anything medical..I'm just here for moral support....Too many people here that really do know what they are talking about, and I am not one of them lol.

Hugs to you all..and I pray your boyfriend gets feeling better fast.

Posted 5/16/2008 9:13 PM (GMT 0)
I don't know about the drinks along with the MTX, one is okay but don't have him do it on the day OF his dose.  It can potentially make him really sick sad If he is in a great deal of pain, maybe call his doctor and see if you can get a pain med prescription, just explain what he is already on and that his pain level is still a 10, and that should prompt his doctor to take action.  If not he needs to go somewhere else or to the ER.
Posted 5/20/2008 4:36 PM (GMT 0)
Lol. I think I got it now. Thank you all for your help. He wants me to ask you all if you guys ever get real grumpy and snappy when you haven't been feeling well? He has only been sleeping 1-4 hours a night now from the pain and discomfort. I do not blame him one bit for being a little edgy. Poor babes. We were also wondering how long you all have had this and a bit about what you all have been through? I think it has been helpful for him to be learning through you all. Thanks so much... Luvs n hugs
Posted 5/20/2008 10:53 PM (GMT 0)
Chrystal-check out our good moaning thread-we talk about our day to day lives and some of the trials of having RA and a LIFE. We all get a little edgy when in pain or when the disease is keeping us from sleeping. The prednisone we are sometimes forced to take also causes us to be moody and edgy.
Sj
Posted 5/21/2008 11:43 PM (GMT 0)
hi crystal - looks like all has been said just wanted to pop in and send a hi and say how great it is that you are doing this all for your boy friend. he is lucky to have a gal like you! keep us posted on his progress
hugs yally
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