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Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Posted 12/10/2012 7:03 PM (GMT 0)
Has anyone else been diagnosed with both fibromyalgia and RA? If so what meds are you taking and how do you handle the illnesses?
Posted 12/11/2012 4:16 PM (GMT 0)
I have not been diagnosed with fibro, but do have an RA diagnosis.  My doctor's thought was that if you have RA, it can also tend to inflame your muscles a bit (from overcompensating for the sore joints) so it can feel like fibro too.  I'm sure, though, that you can certainly have both.  I understand that fibro is very difficult to treat; maybe others on this board can help you more.
Posted 12/14/2012 3:34 AM (GMT 0)
I had a severe sero negative onset of RA in 2007.
At my last RD appt. he said he thinks I have fibro-
I didn't believe him at first- thought what I was feeling was RA
Then I started having really tender non joint places that were hurting...not sure if it was the power of suggestion or for real.
Very tiresome
Posted 12/14/2012 4:35 AM (GMT 0)

please bare with me Im knew here but I have been fighting RA since 1996 and fybro since 2001 I am taking Enbrel injection for the RA and Cymbalta along with Norco for the Fybro pain the Norco is a narcotic I use only 1 in the am and 1 in the pm just to help with the stiffness and soreness that usually accompanies it and then the pm to help get to sleep after the days activities. Hope this helps. The Combo as with any is not a magic bullet but it works best so far it does take a few weeks for full affect like 4-6 or so. turn   

Posted 12/24/2012 2:52 PM (GMT 0)
THank you all... I am currently taking...cymbalta & neurotinin for fibro, methotrexate and folic acid for RA, with tramadol used for pain. stiffness is horrible, so I have been trying to keep moving as much as I can, I'm crocheting and knitting to keep my hands supple, try to remember to get up and move every 1/2 hour so I don't take forever to get where I'm going. Unfortunately I cannot take anything with codeine base for pain...that said I'm doing. I have begun to develop nodules, have one on my thumb, only hurts if it is bumped a certain way, looks like I may have another forming on my knee.
The fibro flares really quickly with stress, extreme fatigue happens for both if I over do.
that seems to be my biggest problem...learning to pace myself!
Posted 12/24/2012 4:34 PM (GMT 0)
A good moist heating pad can help with the fibro, I was dx with fibro before getting the dx of RA,
I did try lyrica but that made me throw up every hour on the hour for over 12 hours and almost ended up in the ER. I take norco for my pain medication, plus a muscle relaxer, mtx folic acid for RA, plus other meds for other dx's...I did try cymbalta but it woke me up with night sweats every night at 3 am drove me crazy that way, I think basically is you try things and if it helps it's good. I'm sorry to hear you have fibro, but sounds like you got a medicine working for you which is always a plus...maybe for better RA relief your doctor could try you on another medicine, also pt can help with fibro especially the ultra sound treatments as those would help...I also have serious back issues with nerve impingement, but I think some times it just helps to stay positive. I do cross-stitch by the way and love it, sure wish we had a post your hobbies forum here as I did get a lot of projects finished this year, bet you could do those ripple afghans for Christmas presents and boy those would be great....gosh your family must love that, how cool...
Posted 12/27/2012 3:58 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Henry787, nice to meet you, could you start a new posts and introduce yourself, and its great your on a pain medication that helps, thats always wonderful to hear, many well wishes and will look forward to your posts.
Posted 12/27/2012 4:35 AM (GMT 0)
I was dx with RA in 1976 when I was 22. I have been on too many scripts to even remember them all. I went into (unrelated) renal failure in 2004 and as I have heart issues there are a lot I can not take. I was dx with fibro in 2010. I am currently taking methotrexate and folic acid and infusions every 4 weeks. It seems to be working good.

Not every med works for everyone the same but hopefully you'll find a good combo. Good Luck.
Posted 12/28/2012 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
Yep I have both and I don't respond well to medication so I take hydrocodone as needed but I am at the point where that doesn't really work and I take gabapentin but this is only the second month i am on it and I don't feel any better. I tried methotrexate but that gave me the worst lingering awful cough ever. I am hoping that I can convince myself in the new year to start exercising more to loose weight and see if that alleviates any of the pain that i encounter daily. I like to say that i cant even tell what really hurts anymore because it all hurts all the time all over. I hope that you find some relief soon!!
Posted 12/28/2012 4:14 PM (GMT 0)
I've been onand off methotrexate many times as after I take it awhile it affects my liver...but it seems to work ok. My infusion this time is Orencia. I sleep with a heating pad and two rice bags every night...whatever works. I take hydro to but mainly at night to help get some sleep.

It seems to be a trial and error with these drugs. I hope you find something that works for you. I've tried physical therapy, ultrasound, tens, accupuncture and yes they work....for a time.

Good luck!
Posted 12/28/2012 4:18 PM (GMT 0)
denisemichelle, give the gabapentin another month to work, as some medications need a little time to build up in our bodies, however if its still not helping after that then get into your doctor there are other medicines that can be tried even for people that don't respond well to medicines...maybe try a heating pad and possible physical therapy for the ultra sound treatments...Hope you find something that can help...

Linnikay, how are you doing? what medicines do your doctors have you on? sorry my memory is not to good...many well wishes and keep us posted on how your doing
a good moist heating pad can help fibro.
Posted 1/8/2013 8:58 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks everyone. The doctor took me off gabepentin and wants me to try Lyrica but I see bad bad bad things about it so not sure if I even want to fill it :(
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