Just DX'ed with RA...21 yr old male...Need advice for pain management please! :(

Hello and welcome fellow cheesehead/packers fan!!!! im looking forward to the game tonight!  Im newly dx also and from what ive learned so far from the "veterans" on this forum is that what works for one person may not for the next. ive noticed also that alot who are taking mtx are taking like humira or something else with it.  Im sure they will give you some great advice soon. they have helped me learn so much.  hang in there you'll find what works best for you soon.               Gypsy

Hi GBPackersFan

 well you are a new member to our RA club get ready for a long ride of ups and downs and as gypsy said what works for one may not for another,

i'm one of those Veterans she spoke of Diagnosed some 20yrs ago and had aprox 5yrs of mucking around before they diagnosed me anyway and have tried Many diffrent drugs along the way,

 on the up side being diagnosed young they can hit it with treatments early you will possibly be offered the TNF Blockers or Biologics(another name) these seem to help especilly with early treatment,

 as for Pain Ha yes opiods seem to be where you'll end up, i tried for a long time to keep my pain meds Down as i was told i didn't want to be 10yrs into RA and facing higher doses till Nothing worked anymore

 so do Try to remember if you can hold off it will benifit you in latter times and i know 10-20 yrs seems too far to contemplate but you will get ther and look back and either wish you'd held off or be glad you did.

 with the prednisone try and get that lower soon as being on high doses for long time will cause you more grief

 i was on 40-60mg for at least 10yrs now down to 5-10mg but have been on it so long Cant stop it now.

i take 200mg Tramadol twice a day also oxycodine.

 there are patches norspan i think it also is an opiod but a slow release and that comes in lower doses

 also as for non medical i know being a guy this may not apeal but i swear by it for the hands even feet it is parifin wax you heat it and soak till coated like a candle then wrap in bandage & plastic leave for aprox 20mins you feel it penitrate then unwrap and peel off-you reuse the wax this helps So much

 if you have a partner im sure they would help with it and seriously you will notice the benifit i find it can ease for a few days.

 and take your pain med Befor you need it rather than letting pain build and trying to fix it latter eg if you know you have a busy day take pain med before you start and try to stop at first pain don't push thru remember what you can save now you will need latter its a marathon not a sprint.Good Luck Take Care

 

Hey, GBPackersFan...first...let me say that I am so sorry to hear of your diagnosis...however, let me follow that by telling you that your life is certainly not over.

I am 44 and have had Rheumatoid Arthritis since I was two; initially I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis...when I was sixteen, I remember a podiatrist communicating to my mother that I would be in a wheelchair by the time I was 35...while I have had several surgeries and do have some deformed joints, I am nowhere near a wheelchair...so do not let your imagination scare the hell out of you..

Methods of coping, pain management and dealing with the disease in general is different for everyone and what works for one will not work for another...I would encourage you to find a pain management physician, if your insurance allows and you have the means...managing pain, especially from a chronic condition, is a specialty in and of itself...a pain management physician may have ideas that a rheumatologist will not...

As BadDay mentioned, there are biologics (drugs) that may prevent or slow down the disease as well as joint deformity; typically anti-TNF (tumor necrosis factor) or IL-6 cytokine targeting...typically, those are standard fare these days and are used in conjunction with DMARDS (Disease Modifying Anti Rheumatic Drug); I am currently on Arava 20mg (Leflunomide)...i have been through a few anti-TNFs and will now be trying my first IL-6 cytokine biologic...methotrexate is a common drug and Prednisone can be effective...albeit, there are several side effects to each of these drugs so you will have to see what works for you..

Hydrotherapy can be useful as well as the paraffin treatments for the hands that was mentioned above; when I was a child, I experienced the paraffin treatments quite a bit.

For me, honestly, managing my thought process has been key...as in, fighting the disease and doing my best not to let it define who I am or my life...I am quite stubborn to begin with so that definitely comes in handy...i do not do well around people who bemoan every ache and pain and who complain daily; so I do my best to surround myself with positive people...

For me, staying active has been key...my last rheumatologist said that, on paper, I should not be as active as I am...she also said that my staying active has most likely prevented me from being in a wheelchair...currently, I work out with strength-training and cardio at least four days per week...some years, i add in swimming, rollerblading, biking or mud runs (my latest interest..LOL!)...it is not always easy and pain-free...but the benefits far outweigh the discomfort...I also was able to become a certified personal trainer in 2009; I work with people like you and I - people with chronic conditions who absolutely need to work out and might be a bit hesitant...

For breakthrough pain or during a flare, I always have Oxycodone 15mg with me...it is the difference between lying on the sofa and being able to be active a lot of days.

I also take Omega 3, biotin, Vitamin B12, C, D2, E, potassium and iron.

I hope that helps...good luck and please do keep us posted!