I have had ra for over 30 years. The last 12 years have proven to be very harsh. My joints are very mangled and disfigured me. I have taken many many different ra meds to get no relief. The last biological I was on was Arava infusions and it made some progress but very little if at all after 2 weeks from infusion. I need up getting pneumonia 4 times in 15 months 2 if which landed me in the hospital for over a week each. At this point I dropped all meds but mtx of which I take 25 mg each week. Pain is thru the roof for the last 10 years I fist was on hydrocodone then after 2years of that I progressed over to oxycodone. I got a lot of ups and downs so my Dr and I decided on fentynol patch. These have work very well and I have been on the same does for 4 years. My rhummy could not be bothered about treating me as I wouldn't take any more biological. Btw I had never had pneumonia before in my life and not had it again since I stopped all the biological and such. My pcp has been my Dr for 30 years And he is taking excellent care of me much better than my rhummy ever did. The rhummy never want me taking anything for pain. My pcp has said I have irretractable pain and otalky understands me. Not many caring Dr.s out there anymore.

I got so angry at your doctor when I read this. I have been in the same situation and it is so frustrating. They lump everyone into one category: Drug Seekers. I would love to not takes this or the Orencia, or the other multiple medications I have to take to just get out of bed. I would love to get through a day with zero pain.....most of all I would love to see RD an illness of the past. In the mean time I take a pretty largest dose, like you more than some less than other. I go to a wonderful Pain Mgmt program, the doctor understands what this illness does. He even let me start coming every other month instead of every month. That alone has been a huge help $ wise among other things. Yes i take them because I got tired of pain consuming my every waking moment. I know there are only a couple of Pain Mgmnt that are like this. The others want to work with you to help your pain without narcotics. They seem to be a bit self righteous. I too would find a new doc. Her plan for you should include you.
K stepping off my soap box now just hope you get a doctor that listens to you rather than talks at you. ;)

@A myRAteam Member So 2 yrs ago when I lived in Tacoma, my Rheumy didn't give me anything for Fibro but I am not sure. All the meds I was on, I think were for RA. In the last 4 months, much trouble with hands and feet. Rheumy thinks its Fibro more than RA or with RA. I was also still crying quite a bit. Sometimes at the most inappropriate times. Any way along with Zoloft that I was already on for Depression, he m put me on Cymbalta. So far I love it. My hands and feet feel better and am crying less. I don't feel drugged either. 6 weeks since I started, hope it continues to be a good thing. It seems like my previous Rheumy encouraged me to go to my pcp for treatment. I am taking 30 mg. Yay. Good luck!! Prayers

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A myRAtea...

Peggy I am 65 and I have battled this disease since I was 14 yrs old. I take celebrex prednisone lyrica methatrexate and humira. Sleep meds and anti depressants. And I use norco 10/325 for the pain 3 times a day. I didnt want to but I had to. There is no cartilege in my left knee. Nerve damage in the bottoms of my feet. Right ankle collapsed. Had staph infection in left foot from Enbrel. Both my hands are very damaged. The fibro robs you of energy and hurts all over as if a dump truck mowed you down. I would not be here if I couldnt cope with the pain. I have 2 and 3 yr old granddaughters; 2 great grandsons 6 mo and 18 mo. And 2 more babies on the way. This disease isnt our fault but we have to deal with it. I am determined to be here for these babies. My ra was inherited from grandparents. I love them to the moon and back still. Hope my grands will forgive and love me too. You and I are very important people. We are loved and special to our family. Pain makes me mad. We did not ask for it. So please take care of yourself. Listen to your body and your doctor. Do your best and leave the rest to God. Be praying for you!

Do you have a pain specialist in your area? When we were first sent to Colorado to work with our first Rhumitoligist, Dr. Weise, she recommended we see a pain specialist out there. The two of them collaborated and it was so helpful for Everett. After she was offered a wonderful job in Littleton, we were blessed to get a new pain specialist right in North Platte! He was a military pain doctor but wanted to come back home to this part of Nebraska. We have found that our GP and the Internist in his office are nervous prescribing these kind of powerful drugs, especially with law suits the way they are now a days. Make sure you are talking to your Rhumitoligist about your pain and if they have a pain specialist they collaborate with in the area. I haven't had the kind of pain that my Rhumitoligist and I can't work with, but my husband does with his pain syndrome. It may make all the difference in the world!