More than one chart may contain the information you need about all your treatments. You may need more than one type of medication, or you may have several conditions. Below are some of the many forms of arthritis along with the types of drugs most often used to treat them.
ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS
analgesics, biologics, corticosteroids, DMARDs, NSAIDs
FIBROMYALGIA
analgesics, also see Fibromyalgia chart
GIANT CELL ARTERITIS
corticosteroids
GOUT
analgesics, corticosteroids, NSAIDs also see Gout chart
JUVENILE RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (JRA)
analgesics, biologics, corticosteroids, DMARDs, NSAIDs
LUPUS
analgesics, corticosteroids, DMARDs, NSAIDs
OSTEOPOROSIS
See Osteoporosis chart
OSTEOARTHRITIS (OA)
analgesics, corticosteroids (joint injections only), NSAIDs
POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA
corticosteroids
PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS
biologics, corticosteroids, DMARDs, NSAIDs
REACTIVE ARTHRITIS
biologics, corticosteroids, DMARDs, NSAIDs
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS (RA)
analgesics, biologics, corticosteroids, DMARDs, NSAIDs
SCLERODERMA
analgesics, corticosteroids, DMARDs, NSAIDs
SJÖGREN'S SYNDROME
corticosteroids, DMARDs, NSAIDs, also see Sjögren’s Syndrome chart
WEGENER'S GRANULOMATOSIS
corticosteroids, DMARDs
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Norco and Tramadol are the only things so far that I can take.. and while they don't get rid of the pain, they at least numb it enough for me to function in what is now my "normal"! I'd love to know what an alternative is to the narcotics that won't effect my INR levels!!! This is not the life I wanted after I retired!!!
i suffer with pain all the time also from arthritis, i get my meds from the walmart 4 dollar prescriptions, i take vicoden, 4 times a day, and is only 10 dollars a month for that. and another one called gabapentin, which is also 10 dollars a month, when i go to my doctor i take the walmart drug list with me and tell them to work from that as much as they can, these 2 drugs work very well for me.
Linda
I'm so tired of hurting all the time. Ick!!
Thank you!
Currently both my knees are in pain and I have been seen by specialist of the bone.
I am too young to have knee surgery, which I would love to have though I know it can be a painful recovery.
I just happen to find this forum on line and I think it is good that different ones can voice their opinions no matter how large or small they maybe.
Still searching for an answer as to what to do next!
I WOULD APPRECIATE ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE.
Charles R. DeStefano
252-726-3378 or 866-539-7385 cell
I have OA and just discovered that ALEVE which I've been taking since a week ago Saturday, the 5th. as an inflammatory for strained quadricp/s muscle/ss on my upper left thigh, works for OA too. I take CYMBALTA for fibro pain as well. So far, so good, no side effects.
I am English,but living in Turkey with my Turkish husband,and therefore have very little access to support groups ect.as my Turkish isnt as good as it should be!
I was diagnosed with lupus and RA 2 years ago,and take the usual meds,Plaq. injectable methetroxate,and the corresponding ones to lessen the side effects of the ones i take.
I am never sure if the pain and especially the "odd" feelings i experience are part of the desease or the side effects of the drugs, even with the medication i take i know i am getting progressivly worse and at times find everyday life a struggle. Hope some of my comments ring a bell with some of you,I would be grateful for any feedback!
I just found this site and have read all your stories. I am 52 years old. I have Fibromyalgia, Hypothyroid, IBS,Hypoglycemia,bulged and degenerated disks and other back issues. I was just diagnosed with RA yesterday. I also am in constant pain although most people who know me who attest that they find it hard to believe. I am a christian , trust in the Lord for everything. Don't get me wrong I am in PAIN! every day, can't sleep well and have my good and bad days as well. But the one thing I know for sure is that without the Lords word that feeds me and encourages me and without a possative attitude i would never be able to get out of bed and do all I do. I am not thrilled with taking the meds that the dr. will probably want to put me on so I am trying to seek out a natural way to help myself. I know you have to careful of that as well. has anyone used anything natural that has helped with the pain? I figure the side effects still have to be better. May the Lord bless all who are in pain and may He heal all your diseases.Pray, Pray, Pray. He does hear your prayers, but remember that every trial is not to harm you it's to increase your dependency on God and increase your trust in him. God Bless
bulging disks which I have been diagnosed
with. It seems, of course, that everything
is a coverup
Annie Adams
phelps358991@bellsouth.net
Has anyone heard of this treatment before.I have more pain now than before I started the treatment.
Thanks Liz
Lois
Hoping all have a pain free holiday
Cheers John
God Bless all of you and i hope things get better for each of you in your pain and fight with the arthritus and other medical issues in your life.
Terry Lynn
I have had cervical surgery (ACDF) due to deterioration of my spine and at this point I was told by both my PCP, Rheumatologist and Ortho Surgeon that there is nothing left to do but pain meds, surgeries as needed and injections. Since I have at least (and hopefully) another 30 years or so to deal w/OA I have selected my course of treatment to continue w/ current pain meds (Ibuprophen, Vicodin and Percocet)until no longer effective, then injections, then surgery.
On any given day I could either feel like I could run a marathon or I can't get out of bed at all. My PCP hopes that this accelerated progression of OA will at some point stop but until that time I hope I can continue to endure this chronic pain.
I can't remember a day in the last 7 years that I haven't been in pain. I wouldn't know how to live without it.
And they wonder why we get so depressed?!
You should probably see a rheumatologist. I have spinal stenosis, degenerative disk disease, and some trapped spinal nerves. Some of my symptoms sound similar to yours. You might get an evaluation from a neurologist. If you have any of the conditions that are described as "spinal arthritis", there are surgery treatments for many of those, but be very careful of who does it. You could end up in worse shape than you are now. (That is advice I got from a neurosurgeon.
I found an OTC pill that I had used after a major operation gives just as much relief as the prescription type.
Percogesic is a non aspirirn for enhanced pain. I take 1 or 2 and can go for 2 to 4 days without taking another one. I tolerate as much pain as possible before I take them as I do not want to become and addict of any kind. My friends ask me what I take and they look at me like I have 3 heads. You can find it on the bottom shelf at most drug stores. My friends with minot arthritic problems and other ackes and pains now all swear by the little orange pill.
Good luck all and remember do not become a slave to the meds. God will help!
I can't use antinflamtories as I take both Plavix and coumadin. My doctor prescribed Lortab for the pain and the relief provied in minamal at best.I am presently doing some PT and will continue for six weeks unless I am not showing inprovement.
Is their help for me????
Freddie
Yes, I do take other medications when I need them. I have other medical conditions that lead up to the diagnosis of FMS. Keep a positive outlook and don't let the condition own you. And Ladies, get your hormones checked. I found that going on HRT help a lot! Hey, look at the bright side ladies, FMS has some possitive effects - NO HOT FLASHES or NIGHT SWEATS - we are always hot! facility
Hi People. You are all so well-informed. I was
diagnosed with degeneraive disk disease in my back and I had been seeing a chiropractor with
my insurance monies covering most of it. My primary care Dr. pooh poohs everything. By that I mean my questions about treatment and pain. He says there is nothing I can do but to lose weight to improve matters.
Right now I weigh upwards of 350 lbs. And I am only 40. And a Type II Diabetic, which I manage to control. I also take various types of psychiatric meds for bipolar disorder.
So I don't know what to take that will help.
For now I'm staying with otc products from the drugstore. But I'd be interested in hearing from the person withthe long laundry list of supplements which ones were successful! Thank you for this site.
Algophytum,
Arthrosetten H,
Arthrotabsm,
Artigel,
artiglio del diavolo,
, Devil's Claw Capsule,
Devil's Claw Secondary Root,
Devil's Claw Vegicaps,
Fitokey Harpagophytum,
Harpadol, HarpagoMega,
Harpagon, Harpagophyti radix (Latin ) ,
Harpagophytum procumbens ,
Harpagophytum zeyheri,
harpagoquinone, harpagoside,
, Rheuma-Sern,
Rheuma-Tee, Salus
We're waiting for your reply with a bless of cure..... Thanking U........!!!
I have had great relief from pro lo therapy shots. A very natural thing injected into joints. Only problem is it is pricey and insurance does not cover it yet. Hoping it will as I had no relief with cortizone shots. Tried accupuncture, was skeptical, but it works! yeh! almost as good as the pro lo therapy , less money and insurance DOES cover some of it. Thought I'd be grossed out by the needles but they were so tiny and you dont feel a thing. AND I have the BEST naps while on table with them in. Everyone says that. It is amazing. Try being open to other cultures/ways of healing. There is so much out there. Our medicine is not always the only way to go. Accupuncturist is also an 'herbalist' recommended to me by my gynocologist believe it or not. She said so many of our illnesses these days are due to inflammatory things. So she recommends him to patients with any kind of inflammatory illness. He put together anti inflammatory herbs in capsules and they help so much, and also give me energy, etc. Oh, by the way, I have found the best solution, for me, if I am 'fatigued', and it is EXERCISE through it rather than lie down. Get the heart pumping even though it is hard dragging myself to the gym. But then I fell better than ever. I got through the fatigue exercising rather than sleeping through it.
My rheumi is great in that he is very open to any alternative things so I always bring him things I find in health food stores, etc. I take many of the holistic anti inflammatory things. I am on Plaquenil and so far have not had to go on anything stronger, the drugs frighten me, so I thank God for that. He thinks I am doing well due to all I am doing in addition to his prescription. I read about the antibiotic treatment and talked to him about it and he put me on minocycline and my numbers went down. I went off as I was worried about my stomach but he was happy with the results so told me to let him know when I want to go on it again. We are a good 'team' kind of trying things and I feel lucky have such a great, open doctor who does not want to rely on the stronger drugs if he does not have to. He is not thriled about having to prescribe them and has seen some bad side effects in his practice. The antiobiotic treatment was info. from The Road Back Foundation, and the book, you can go to their website, based on the research by a doctor and Thomas Scammel. There are doctors who treat RA just that way and they will give you info. if there is one near you.
About a year ago I thought I might be getting it in my knees, for a brief time I had little pouches along my knee caps. Dr. did not know what was going on either. Honestly, I got right on the treadmill every day and it went away! Never came back. My heart goes out to anyone who has gotten hit in legs or feet or knees. Although I have lost some use of my hands I am praying and doing all I can to prevent it from hitting my legs, my strongest part. All the talk about exercise is TRUE. It is like a miracle. It is saving my life. My hands even feel so much better after about 20minutes on treadmill. They start to feel nearly normal again. Is it the oxigenation? I dont know. I do an hour, sometimes more, and the eliptical. And I do weights to strengthen the rest of me. And I am actually going back to dance classes at 58! Ballet to start for the stretching, bar and floor work. I take two two hour workout classes a week that have some yoga, tae chi, light aerobics with light weights, lots of deep breathing, stretching on mats with thera bands for resistance. I get out of bed a heck of alot easier days after those classes. I think even if it is hard to move, just move. Push through it. We have a woman in a wheel chair in our classes, an amputee. She is such an inspiration to me! You will find it really will help you move and make you feel so much better and help you deal with all of this better in a more relaxed more positive way. It will make you happier and believe me, happiness and feeling of well being helps. It is also empowering. To be able to do all that, it makes me cope better with the things I struggle with (buttons, things in kitchen, etc.) and my joints actually are not as inflamed or in pain if I keep exercising.
I helped with a neighborhood garage sale sunday and worked hard and I also notice when I work outdoors I am not in as much discomfort as when I work in the house. I think the air and sun really are the reason. So I try not to sit here at computer too much or in the house. Maybe the joints/ cells etc. being oxygenated as when we exercise are the reason. I was amazed at what I could do outside with all the items, moving things, some heavy moving, etc. and although I ws not perfect, I was not in major pain. AND I felt better the next day too.
I have been in and out of physical therapy as neck was getting hit and I have had back disc problems on and off for years in back. Which the exercise also helps. Physical therapist taught me how to do things without having to engage my thumbs as much. I hold things differently, lift things differently, and do not pull things as I used to with my thumbs. You dont realize how much you use your thumbs until you cant, due to those lower thumb joints being bad.
Heating pad is a Godsend, for neck, back etc. That helps me tremendously. I wont even travel without it.
And massage, but try to get a medical masseuse, who understands joint pain. I have one from the physical therpists group.
I am a vegetarian(just no meat), very low fat diet for years. I eat more salmon. lots of fruits and vegetables, and I am at a good weight, but sort of lost weight and muscle mass from this (not unhappy about not having to watch my weight anymore!) but work out to keep the muscle mass and be stronger. And thank God I was healthy as a horse when this hit (heart, no cholesterol, I was the 'health nut" in the family..ugh!)so that has helped. My rheumi assures me due to my diet, my health, and all the exercise (I tell him I am going to 'dance away the RA' He loves that)I should not worry about the darker possibilities of this, like inflammation of heart and other organs. SO I try to NOT even think about those things. A day at a time. Today is good, so I am happy. If anything this has made me take better care of myself. I take in addition to the Plaquenil, which even that I am not thrilled about as I never even took aspirin before this..
MSM, hyalonic acid, fish oil capsules, flax seed oil, strong multis, calcium, vitamin D, glucosomine condroitin, arthritis-eze i found on a website, also has alot of things so i dont have to take seperately, bromelain, boswellia, zyflameds (have a number of anti inflammatory things in them so I dont have to take them seperately) C's, E's, cucumin, tumeric (in capsule and on foods), the herbalists potion. Not every day, I play it by ear. My stomach can only take so much so I kind or alternate or rotate things. anything that is listed as natural antiinflammatories.
I am praying I will not have to go on the stronger drugs as I have cancers in my family(Mom, Dad, Grandmother, Niece, etc.) so my doctor has never pushed for me to take those. He is happy with how I am doing with what I am on now. So God bless and good luck to all. Please do take care of yourself, diet, weight, exercise, and I believe you will notice you are feeling better. The two people I know who are not doing well with it really have not changed their lifestyles at all. Bad diet (and admits it) no exercise. Overweight. I believe it really is our responsibility to take the reins in our own hands. It IS possible. Dont accept that you will never feel good again. Or be able to walk or be able to move well. In the beginning, I thought my life was over. After a few months I felt myself coming back again. Now it is my job to do all I can to ward off it spreading or getting worse, Oh, and avoid stressful situations, they are the enemy for inflammmatory conditions. I have a deeply spiritual friend who connected the word inflammation with any inflammatory situations and even 'anger'. DO all you can for YOU. Now is our time to care for us. After taking care of kids, husbands, wives, loved ones, now we have to take care of ourselves too, sometimes not the easiest thing for some of us. But we are all worth it. And to be good stewards of these bodies God blessed us with. Enjoy life, the sun, the air, the flowers, our pets, our families and friends and enjoy taking care of ourselves. And MOVE, even if is your shoulders and neck to the radio in the car. And DANCE...even if it is alone in your bedroom. And LAUGH, it will make you feel SO much better.God bless.
Megan
I have recently been told by my doctor
(a woman) :O) at the VA that I have arthritis in my back.
I have no idea what kind it is, and I understand there are over a hundered kinds it could be. In many cases of arthritis, they (doctors) don't have a clue as to what causes it.
About three months ago I began having severe back pain. It is now also in my left leg and foot and my right foot. It has began to affect my back and neck also.
One doctor said I had a "pinched nerve" and arthritis.
I have been given Ibuprofen and methocarbamol and a heating pad. It helps some, but not much. I am to see my doctor this June 22nd for futher evaluation. Any suggestions? :O)
Peace to all... Jack
in my legs at night, also neck pain. It does
wake me during the night.
I am taking Diclofenac 100 mg twice a day.
Perhaps you should see a Pain Management Physician. He could evaluate you and recommend either pain meds and/or an epidural for pain or other treatment for your lower back.
Also, I would recommend acupuncture for pain. I have acupuncture every two weeks for pain and to improve my immune system as I have RA. I truly believe it is worthwhile looking in to. I also have a Pain Management Physician. I get a lumbar epidural periodically as well as other treatments for spine pain and sciatica, for spinal stenosis due to OA.
You need a pain specialist. Or a physiatrist. Does your area have either of those? Though you can't live pain free, you should @ least be able to function in a manner that is not crippling to you. God Bless & best of luck to you. To all of you...for chronic pain is indeed hard to live w/so I find laughter to be the best medicine.
Good Luck to you and every else who suffers with the pain everyday. Keep the Faith and Pray that God will help you heal. :)
God Bless you all.
Much Aloha,
Luka
While the Podiatrist is great for assessing the immediate foot pain, I encourage you to see a rhematologist. My RA symptoms started in my feet when I was 19 and I spent 2 years going back and forth with podiatrists, orthodics, cortisone shots, advil, tylenol...you name it, I tried it. Finally I vistited a rheumatologist and my life was changed. I'm now a 12 year vetran of RA and have my rhematologists to thank for living a pretty normal life.
Good luck to you!
J
Bruce Tippie
Thanks,
Valerie
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