Question about the pain in knees and feet and hands?

Hi all~

I thought I would ask everyone here-how do you put up with it? I've had this off and on but mostly on from the time I had that flare three weeks ago-it won't go away. In my knees it's annoying, I walk around..that starts to hurt more so I sit.Up-down-up down..

I'm surprised that the Methadone I take for pain doesn't cover it, is it a different type of pain? (does that make sense?)

So what do you do to help it?

Aggie

Aggie,

Methodone is an analgesic (pain relieving) drug but I have never heard it used for arthritic knees of any kind...mainly to treat heroin addicts kick their habit. 

Knees are complicated structures and you could have some kind of structural problem, muscle imbalance, joint wear or damage that could be causing the pain.  Lupus can cause joint inflamation and it attacked ALL of my joints before getting it under control.  It is also not uncommon for those with lupus to have rheumatoid arthritis.  In short, treating the pain without knowing what is causing it is only a short term solution.  I suggest that you see your rheumy and possibly an orthopedic knee specialist.

The lupus induced pain and swelling disappeared after prednisone "tranquilized" my immune system.  It also helps with inflammed joints as a powerful anti inflammatory.  However, severely inflammed joints are usually treated with a cortisone injection which is a local rather than a systemic treatment like oral prednisone.

From your brief description it sounds like you have a lupus induced problem.  Usually, some NSAID is prescribed.  Fairly mild ones at first, then more powerful ones if necessary.

I have been on pred for 2 years and am close to being off it and some of my arthritic, pre lupus pains are coming back.  At some point I will probably have to take some type of NSAID for the problems.  Before I got sick I took celebrex which was deemed unsafe and then OK for some.

Bill

Aggie,
I was on heavy dose of pred for 3 weeks with my anti-inflammatory (Clinoril) and didn't have any problems. I made sure I ate with the pred though, I wasn't that adventurous. Maybe others have had different experiences they can post.

As for what I do to cope with the feet/knee/hand pain I have not found really any pain meds that help too much. Sometimes Loratab 10's work, sometimes Toradol, sometimes Oxycodone and sometimes nothing works. Whenever it's bad enough to take something I try not to use that part of my body too much. If it's my hands or fingers I use some type of a hand splint, if it's my feet I wrap them with an elastic wrap. It's all a guessing game.

Good luck!

Hi Aggie--
I'm with you, its a real drag. I'm allergic to methadone, so I don't take it. I also won't take it due to skeletal problems it causes and the fact that it is harder to kick than heroin and more life-threatening to kick. This is something you need to research and know about. I've been in several institutions and have seen several people nearly die from trying to quit methadone and the doctors told us that they would have rather have weaned them from heroin. I know many people who have had serious problems from it. It is a crime our narcophobic society is commiting against the ill and disabled.

That being said, I understand it greatly helps. I have a new respect for strong topical arthritis creams, and I use them liberally. They may burn, but they do take away the pain. There are some good topical patches with strong amounts of camphor and the like and they work great if you want longer relief. I use them liberally. Absorbine horse linamint and other horse linaments work even better than the stuff for humans and are made much better. Also, shots of cortisone into the joints help me. Glucosamine, chondroiton and especially MSM overthe counter supplements help pain, repair joints and add fluid. My horses used to get super shots of chondrointin in their stifles when they had probems there and with three big shots, the joints were repaired and cartilage rebuilt.

Then again, I feel if it hurts, don't do it. I know docs say that exercise improves it, but if you have bone spurs, the movement of the joint wears away the cartilage and really damages the joint. So resting up and taking supplements and topicals are good and shouldn't be too harmful, then wrapping the knees or wearing knee braces are good. You can use ace bandages or horse bandages, whatever is cheaper.

If its good enough for million dollar race horses, I say I'm worth it. I may not be running the triple crown, but I do like to try to maintain my joints as long as I can.

Do you get heat in your joints? Are they hot? Running them under cool water (we used the hose for horses but however you can do it, really takes the heat out. Then apply the liniment and bandage. Take the supplements, stay off it with mild movement until they start to work. That's the script we used for the horses.

Also, your shoes could be the real culprit. Good arch supports and well fitting shoes can definitely help, you can try a good pair of sneakers or running shoes for a while or put gel inserts or other types with good support and see if it helps.

And if all else fails, then you have the pain meds too. I worry about anyone on methadone. They give it to so many people who know nothing about it and treat it like any other type of pain killer. Several documentaries have been made about it and I just feel that drugs like ultram (another non-narcotic) taken regularly every day is very effective, and toradol is as strong as morphine. Then regular old narcotics are also appropriate. Maybe try a second opinioin if your pain management doc wants you to stay on methadone long term. Some docs just care more about their liability than they do about their patients longterm well-being. If you have a serious illness and are in pain, you have a right to safe, healthy medication.