severe pain

Hi all,

My joints are not getting better it seems like they are worse and now more joints are inflamed.  My GI wants me to go back to a RA dr which I am.  I have not been to one in this state since 2001 so anywhere I go I have to start as a new patient (even if I return to my old RA dr).

I was not having luck finding an appt anywhere soon so I called my pcp office.  They called 5 drs and the soonest I can get in is sept 18th.  What can I do for pain until then?

I'm right there with you! My PCP gave me Medrol to see if that will help...otherwise, looks like I'll be on my honeymoon in Ireland in pain!

Best,
M.

I actually have pain meds, I have had 3 Crohns surgeries this year all with complications. I finally got off of fentanyl patches this past wednesday (I still had pain on the 50mcg and 25mcg patches). I also have oxycontin and dilaudid left over as well, none are helping. Last night I took the oxy, dilauded, benadryl, zanaflex (muscle relaxer), elavil (for migraines but they help you sleep too), and I had lidoderm patches on the joints and still had a tough time sleeping. The fact that my grandmother passed away yesterday doesnt help the sleep factor either. I do have entocort that my GI prescribed for me but they are a nonsystemic steroid. This is mainly for the gut though. I do have left over pred but fear if I take it I may run out before I can see a dr. I have my nan's wake monday and funeral tuesday so finding time will be hard I may have to see if my PCP has an appt wednesday or early in the day monday.

The combo I took is okay, my surgeoon ( the one that prescribed those for me) had me on all of those as well as the fentanyl pain patch. I had 3 surgeries ( 2 were emergency for my Crohns the other was to reverse my ostomy remove an abcess, remove strictures, more of both intestines removed and scrape my abdominal wall which was all inflamed and infected) and had complications with all 3 of the surgeries. I had asked him about the lidoderm he said it was okay to take it with the other meds and another dr knew of my meds and prescribed the ambien as needed (my surgeon mentioned the med too and had given it to me while I was in the hospital with those meds. I also was on a higher done of elavil amd I am cutting down on it again in a cpl days (I want kids in a yr or 2 and this med you cant be on and I have time now (at least 6 months) before I get the possible okay after more GI tests and I figure I would rather cut down slower than your avg patient due to every other thing I take and possible withdrawal type symptoms if I were to cut down faster). I am planing on calling my PCP inthe morning and see if they have a slot to fit me in early in the day, I have some pred but dont want to run out and I would rather have a Dr give me the doses. Hopefully after I get to seee the RA I will go back on remicade or start Humira. The remicade was started back in 01 since the RA I was seeing said that was the last resort dye to all the other meds causing flares of my abd issues.

My new GI would rather get a new report from an RA before starting me on either one of these. I am scared about HUmira only cuz I cannot give myself shots.

Dear Dragonfly

You are in my prayers. You are going through a very trying time, but things will get better. When things look like the sun won't shine anymore, it will turn around.

I hope all your pain medications will start to help you more. Has any cancellations came up yet at your docs? I was scared of Humira injections also, but now they have a pre-filled pen that you can just poke into your thigh or wherever you want the shot.

Gladys Ann