Please help! 29 yr old mom with terrible joint pain including locking middle fingers.?
I recently had my 3rd child by c-section. One night, after a shower, I was in SEVERE JOINT pain (i was VERY cold). I was aching from head to toe & shaking in such pain.
For 2 months now… My symptoms have continued especially in the AM & PM or when I am cold.
I have locking in BOTH of my middle fingers (clicking like…where I have to PULL the fingers back open).
I have terrible head aches and very bad JOINT pain (NOT MUSCLE ONLY JOINT PAIN) (knees, hands, hip, elbow).
Ive seen 4 doctors, ruled out (through blood work) most all auto-immune diseases, lyme, etc. My bloodwork is perfect! No med has worked..(pain meds have to be VERY strong)
I had one doctor say its not uncommon to develope arthritis after childbirth but Im 29 and had NO prior symptoms.
I was put on a HUGE prednisone script – with no relief (only ugly side effects). Ive added HUGE doses of extra vitamins…and Im still MISERABLE In pain EACH day. Its near debilitating. Im begging for help & advice!
I have been VERY tired &stressed!
I also dont sleep much, Ive been losing weight & Ive been depressed (thought it was due to the new baby & my busy life)
I have discussed RA with the docs but assumed with my bloodwork being norm…that I didnt have it..am I wrong?
I did have a shot of cort (but the doc said it would be impossible to do all of the joints so we did the prednisone).
My fingers “lock” all day long.. it is very severe (vibrates down my arm).
The prednisone course was suggested to see if it relieved all of my pains & symptoms (I dont see any change..only ugly side effects)
What can I do for the pain? What do people with RA take for the severe pain? I cant function some days. I want to ask the doctor for pain assistance but I feel like they dont believe me when they look at my (normal) test results they say just give it time….I am HURTING, Time isnt helping!
Some pain meds work but the docs hesitate to write them.
I hope I am wrong but you have classic symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis. What your doctor should have told you is this. Rheumatoid Arthritis can strike anyone at any age. Women who have RA often experience no pain or even relief from their RA during pregnancy, but often experience severe pain and fatigue for the 3 months following birth.
If you do have RA this all makes sense. If Lyme disease has been ruled out as well as other auto-immune diseases, RA seems logical, but not absolute.
My fiance was diagnosed at age13, had a hip replacement at age 28 and battles the same problems you describe every day of her life.
Prednisone is blanket drug used by doctors for many,many different illnesses. It treats the effect but not the cause so don’t be fooled if you start to feel better and then have a relapse. Embril and Humara are the leading drugs used to combat RA. Methatrecsate? is also used but this is an abortive drug and should not be used if pregnant or trying to become pregnant.
Google RA and empower yourself. Good luck and God bless.
TMJ sufferers: pain relief remedies that work?
I have TMJ, and over the last few months the grinding sounds and pain have been getting worse. At this point no over-the-counter pain relievers have any effect whatsoever. I saw my doc who referred me to an ENT(ear/nose/throat), who referred me to a dentist. He told me to do excercises involving opening/closing the jaw. After 2 days that made it WORSE, and the pain was excruciating, and spread from the joint to all of the muscles in that side of my face and ear. When I went back he gave me a RX for Flexeril which is helping, but my dental insurance doesn’t cover TMJ, so he referred me to an orthopoedic specialist. I’m still waiting for my appt. with him. In the interim, however, I would really like to know if anyone has had success with any remedy that can be had from home.
I had my wisdom teeth removed in ’04, TMJ pain noticably worsened afterwards.
Have fibromyalgia, and have pain levels that exceed the medicine prescribed, & my doc says I need no stronger.?
I take 2-3 Tylenol 3 tablets per day, getting 75 per month, meaning on flare up days, I may have 3 over the course of the day (maximum 3 pill days/month being 15). I should also mention that I am a size 12 (US) and have 38H bra size, and there is tremendous pressure in my thoracic spine, as well as terrible pressure at my C6 vertebrae, as the weight of my breasts pulls my ribcage forward, tilting it, and is causing neck issues. We have tried various anti-inflammatory drugs, ibuprofen 800 mg 2x a day, which caused blood in stool and sour stomach, so he switched me to meloxicam, which after a few weeks made my stomach sour as well. I have recently had THE WORST pain flare ups and muscle spasms I have had ever before, having cramps, flu like symptoms at all time (been to gen. prac. and he has confirmed this being fibromyalgia related), and only 2-3 hours of sleep a night.
I went to my rheumatologist this week (who handles my fibromyalgia) and he simply said, while interrupting me to accept personal calls from his daughter and father, that he didn’t know what to do. I cannot take drugs such as Lyrica, Cymbalta, Prozac, or other anti depression-like medicines, due to ADVERSE side effects, and can’t take the anti-inflammatory drugs ibuprofen, naproxen, OR meloxicam. He said that he saw no reason to give me a higher opioid pain prescription and prescribed me this:
800 mg of ibuprofen THREE times daily
Prilosec (“To coat your stomach to protect it against the ibuprofen”, and when I asked about the blood in my stool, he said, “Does it really BOTHER you?”
I don’t want to argue with him, as he seems to be behaving as if I’m drug-seeking, which is funny, because in a way I am. I am seeking a medicine that relieves my pain. I do all the lifestyle things I should. I do fluid exercise on a regular basis, keep as regular a schedule from day to day that I can, eat right (all organic and gluten free), take supplements to aid pain relief and joint health (flax-seed oil, fish oil, CoQ10, Vitamin D), and stretch, albeit mildly as to not strain myself, twice daily. Yet I am constantly in pain!
My mother, who also had fibromyalgia, suggests that I see another doctor and DON’T fill the Prilosec prescription or take the ibuprofen in the meantime. But I don’t want my old doctor telling my new doctor when charts are transferred that I do not follow doctors orders. What should I do? I just made an appt with a new doctor on August 13 (Friday the 13th!!), and am wondering, do I do the bad doc’s bidding to keep things smooth, or do I do right by my body?
This will probably run you a little more than $30 a month, but Deramaxx has been great for my 13 year old arthritic dog. He had problems with Rimadyl but since he started on Deramaxx, his mobility and activity have improved tremendously without side effects. I pay around $45 a month for it giving him one pill a day.
Ok, look up NTI as a mouth guard. This specific mouth piece helps align TMJ to reduce pain and compression of the meniscus and the trigeminal nerve ganglion. It is helpful for those who grind ot grind at night. You can wear the guard at night and it will really help. be forewarned though there are only a few dentists who specialize in NTI. These tiny little braces can cost anywhere from $250 – $600. They are mainly used for migraine sufferes, however it is also advised to use for TMJ.
Below is a link to the NTI webpage, you can find a dentist there. This is the best option. My fiancee has TMJ and migraines and this is the only thing that worked. I also had some of my athletes with TMJ get the guard and it seemed to be the only thing that helped.
Another option is to see a physcial therapist who specializes in TMJ pain modification.
Anti-Inflamatory/Pain Relief Pills?
My Great Dane had 2 knee surgerys and I need to get him on some anti-inflamtory/painreliever like Rimadyl that don’t cost me a fortune every month with bad side effects. I only want pills also because my other dog got into the Rimadyl chewables on day and almost killed herself. He is very stiff and lacks muscle in that leg so he doesn’t always bear weight. I have him on 21st century pet health “Healthy Joints and Hip” with Glucosamine Hydrochloride. The ingredients are Glucosamine Hyrodchlorie, Vitamin C, Zinc, Manganese, Coppr, Cellulose, Geltain, Liver meal, Magnesium Sillicate, Magnesium Stearat and Stearic Acid. They don’t seem to be helping. He’s cost me over $3k this year so i’m very low on funds, so something thats not gonna cost me over $30 a month woul be nice. He had his second surgery about 4 months ago.
This is a difficult one and I am sorry. You are so young to have to put up with the pain and limitations of RA.
I would caution you against buying prescription drugs illegally as they are often inferior, can contain any old rubbish. Plus it would harm your bank balance and your body.
You are articulate enough to have researched your illness. It says on one site that the severity of the arthritis and the pain are sometimes difficult to assess.
I think your doctor is right in being cautious with drugs and dosage. The least you need to make life bearable the better because of what it can do to you – addiction, dependence. Your age again comes into it, dependence is not such a worry and responsibility when the person being treated is near the end of life. Even then doctors can be reluctant to prescribe.
Talk to your doctor, ask for a second opinion or another referral to the rheumatologist.
I am surprised cocaine was given as a premed before surgery.
I am sorry not to be of more help and can only mentally cheer you on. I hope the RA goes into remission, my mother’s did although she gave credit to a dreadful mixture of crushed garlic and honey. Was she right?
Constant severe pain from my RA?
I am a sufferer of Rheumatoid Arthritis, it began in my feet, ankles, knees, hands and wrists, which caused a great deal of pain as it did. I now suffer pain in my elbows, muscles around my joints especially knees and ankles feels like they are on fire all the time. My back also, is hurting a great deal, my shoulders get on off pain and stiffness too.
My Dr has gone thru all the weak Opiates/ Opiods with me. None of these worked. I am now on Buprenorphine Transdermal Patch 20mg per week 20mcg per hour release with Co-Dydramol 10/500mg 8 per day. My pain is still chronic and severe.
I also, use DMARDS – Sulfasalazine 500mg 4 times daily, Prednisolone Steroids 10mg once daily, High Strength Folic Acid and Vitamin D and Calcium pills daily. Plus a few more pills to combat side affects from my Steroid use.
My Dr has told me and my mom today when she saw him, that I would just have to deal with the pain and exercise more even though I exercise twice daily but light exercise until my joints have had enough. He has said there is nothing he can do for me so I will just have to take the Chronically Severe pain.
Buprenorphine is the only strong Opiate he has tried me on, he once said he would give me Morphine tablets but has now back tracked on his idea.
I am in the UK, I know from research that Buprenorphine stops the analgesic effects of other Opiates from bein as affective. That there is also, other meds avaliable in England that are NOT Morphine but have less side effects and/or slightly weaker like Palladone (Hydromorphone) and Oxycontin/Oxynorm.
But he seems not interested in helping me saying im too young to become an addict. Like any age is good to become an addict, but I also know if used correctly at low doses addiction is not a real problem. Even the manufacturer leaflets on these drugs say it can be used by all people of any age just extra care is needed when under 18. I am 24 in 2 weeks BTW.
Is my Dr right to say these things? Or is it he is not interested much in helping me? I even had to fight for Dr’s to recognize I had R.A because I broke the usual text book understandings of it just 2 appointments with a Rheumatologist said I had the disease a very aggressive Seronegative R.A. Even she told me not everyone plays by the rules with disease and most Dr’s are ignorant of the problem.
My Rheumatologist also, wants me off the Steroids because they commonly cause Brittle Bone Disease (Osteoperosis) when used for long periods. Which I do as a blue steroid treatment card holder. But my Dr is refusing to wean me off the Steroids because the pain im in. I use steroids and still get swelling nearly everyday, only thing that helps my disease is illegal even Rheumatologist said it helps that is Cannabis it gets rid of my pain better then all pain meds so far and it gets rid of swelling and inflammation better than steroids.
However, due to politicians controlling the health service in England it is still illegal. Plus im not wealthy so I cant afford to use this all the time.
My pain is so bad, I cant get more than 3 hours sleep without waking up from the pain, I have big black circled shadows around my eyes cos I cant sleep and the pain keeps me up. Half the time I cant walk or get ot of a chair without help or my Crutch.
I am so desperate for pain relief that I have even asked people to find me prescription medicines without going to the Dr because of their lack of interest. Only reason I got Buprenorphine was cause I told my Dr I was so close to getting Coke or Heroin to numb my pain. I have not used either ever except when I had coke injected into my for a Local Anesthetic pre surgery. I have no desire for thse illegal drugs but that is how bad my pain is daily, that I have been tempted by this but so far restrained from doing so.
Plus I have a huge phobia of needles so cant use Anti TNF drugs, its even hard for me to get my bloods done every 3 months.
Please help! 29 yr old mom with terrible joint pain including locking middle fingers.?
I recently had my 3rd child by c-section. One night, after a shower, I was in SEVERE JOINT pain (i was VERY cold). I was aching from head to toe & shaking in such pain.
For 2 months now… My symptoms have continued especially in the AM & PM or when I am cold.
I have locking in BOTH of my middle fingers (clicking like…where I have to PULL the fingers back open).
I have terrible head aches and very bad JOINT pain (NOT MUSCLE ONLY JOINT PAIN) (knees, hands, hip, elbow).
Ive seen 4 doctors, ruled out (through blood work) most all auto-immune diseases, lyme, etc. My bloodwork is perfect! No med has worked..(pain meds have to be VERY strong)
I had one doctor say its not uncommon to develope arthritis after childbirth but Im 29 and had NO prior symptoms.
I was put on a HUGE prednisone script – with no relief (only ugly side effects). Ive added HUGE doses of extra vitamins…and Im still MISERABLE In pain EACH day. Its near debilitating. Im begging for help & advice!
I have been VERY tired &stressed!
I also dont sleep much, Ive been losing weight & Ive been depressed (thought it was due to the new baby & my busy life)
I have discussed RA with the docs but assumed with my bloodwork being norm…that I didnt have it..am I wrong?
I did have a shot of cort (but the doc said it would be impossible to do all of the joints so we did the prednisone).
My fingers “lock” all day long.. it is very severe (vibrates down my arm).
The prednisone course was suggested to see if it relieved all of my pains & symptoms (I dont see any change..only ugly side effects)
What can I do for the pain? What do people with RA take for the severe pain? I cant function some days. I want to ask the doctor for pain assistance but I feel like they dont believe me when they look at my (normal) test results they say just give it time….I am HURTING, Time isnt helping!
Some pain meds work but the docs hesitate to write them.
Im so frustrated I could cry!
I hope I am wrong but you have classic symptoms of Rheumatoid Arthritis. What your doctor should have told you is this. Rheumatoid Arthritis can strike anyone at any age. Women who have RA often experience no pain or even relief from their RA during pregnancy, but often experience severe pain and fatigue for the 3 months following birth.
If you do have RA this all makes sense. If Lyme disease has been ruled out as well as other auto-immune diseases, RA seems logical, but not absolute.
My fiance was diagnosed at age13, had a hip replacement at age 28 and battles the same problems you describe every day of her life.
Prednisone is blanket drug used by doctors for many,many different illnesses. It treats the effect but not the cause so don’t be fooled if you start to feel better and then have a relapse. Embril and Humara are the leading drugs used to combat RA. Methatrecsate? is also used but this is an abortive drug and should not be used if pregnant or trying to become pregnant.
Google RA and empower yourself. Good luck and God bless.
TMJ sufferers: pain relief remedies that work?
I have TMJ, and over the last few months the grinding sounds and pain have been getting worse. At this point no over-the-counter pain relievers have any effect whatsoever. I saw my doc who referred me to an ENT(ear/nose/throat), who referred me to a dentist. He told me to do excercises involving opening/closing the jaw. After 2 days that made it WORSE, and the pain was excruciating, and spread from the joint to all of the muscles in that side of my face and ear. When I went back he gave me a RX for Flexeril which is helping, but my dental insurance doesn’t cover TMJ, so he referred me to an orthopoedic specialist. I’m still waiting for my appt. with him. In the interim, however, I would really like to know if anyone has had success with any remedy that can be had from home.
I had my wisdom teeth removed in ’04, TMJ pain noticably worsened afterwards.
Have fibromyalgia, and have pain levels that exceed the medicine prescribed, & my doc says I need no stronger.?
I take 2-3 Tylenol 3 tablets per day, getting 75 per month, meaning on flare up days, I may have 3 over the course of the day (maximum 3 pill days/month being 15). I should also mention that I am a size 12 (US) and have 38H bra size, and there is tremendous pressure in my thoracic spine, as well as terrible pressure at my C6 vertebrae, as the weight of my breasts pulls my ribcage forward, tilting it, and is causing neck issues. We have tried various anti-inflammatory drugs, ibuprofen 800 mg 2x a day, which caused blood in stool and sour stomach, so he switched me to meloxicam, which after a few weeks made my stomach sour as well. I have recently had THE WORST pain flare ups and muscle spasms I have had ever before, having cramps, flu like symptoms at all time (been to gen. prac. and he has confirmed this being fibromyalgia related), and only 2-3 hours of sleep a night.
I went to my rheumatologist this week (who handles my fibromyalgia) and he simply said, while interrupting me to accept personal calls from his daughter and father, that he didn’t know what to do. I cannot take drugs such as Lyrica, Cymbalta, Prozac, or other anti depression-like medicines, due to ADVERSE side effects, and can’t take the anti-inflammatory drugs ibuprofen, naproxen, OR meloxicam. He said that he saw no reason to give me a higher opioid pain prescription and prescribed me this:
800 mg of ibuprofen THREE times daily
Prilosec (“To coat your stomach to protect it against the ibuprofen”, and when I asked about the blood in my stool, he said, “Does it really BOTHER you?”
I don’t want to argue with him, as he seems to be behaving as if I’m drug-seeking, which is funny, because in a way I am. I am seeking a medicine that relieves my pain. I do all the lifestyle things I should. I do fluid exercise on a regular basis, keep as regular a schedule from day to day that I can, eat right (all organic and gluten free), take supplements to aid pain relief and joint health (flax-seed oil, fish oil, CoQ10, Vitamin D), and stretch, albeit mildly as to not strain myself, twice daily. Yet I am constantly in pain!
My mother, who also had fibromyalgia, suggests that I see another doctor and DON’T fill the Prilosec prescription or take the ibuprofen in the meantime. But I don’t want my old doctor telling my new doctor when charts are transferred that I do not follow doctors orders. What should I do? I just made an appt with a new doctor on August 13 (Friday the 13th!!), and am wondering, do I do the bad doc’s bidding to keep things smooth, or do I do right by my body?
This will probably run you a little more than $30 a month, but Deramaxx has been great for my 13 year old arthritic dog. He had problems with Rimadyl but since he started on Deramaxx, his mobility and activity have improved tremendously without side effects. I pay around $45 a month for it giving him one pill a day.
Ok, look up NTI as a mouth guard. This specific mouth piece helps align TMJ to reduce pain and compression of the meniscus and the trigeminal nerve ganglion. It is helpful for those who grind ot grind at night. You can wear the guard at night and it will really help. be forewarned though there are only a few dentists who specialize in NTI. These tiny little braces can cost anywhere from $250 – $600. They are mainly used for migraine sufferes, however it is also advised to use for TMJ.
Below is a link to the NTI webpage, you can find a dentist there. This is the best option. My fiancee has TMJ and migraines and this is the only thing that worked. I also had some of my athletes with TMJ get the guard and it seemed to be the only thing that helped.
Another option is to see a physcial therapist who specializes in TMJ pain modification.
Anti-Inflamatory/Pain Relief Pills?
My Great Dane had 2 knee surgerys and I need to get him on some anti-inflamtory/painreliever like Rimadyl that don’t cost me a fortune every month with bad side effects. I only want pills also because my other dog got into the Rimadyl chewables on day and almost killed herself. He is very stiff and lacks muscle in that leg so he doesn’t always bear weight. I have him on 21st century pet health “Healthy Joints and Hip” with Glucosamine Hydrochloride. The ingredients are Glucosamine Hyrodchlorie, Vitamin C, Zinc, Manganese, Coppr, Cellulose, Geltain, Liver meal, Magnesium Sillicate, Magnesium Stearat and Stearic Acid. They don’t seem to be helping. He’s cost me over $3k this year so i’m very low on funds, so something thats not gonna cost me over $30 a month woul be nice. He had his second surgery about 4 months ago.
This is a difficult one and I am sorry. You are so young to have to put up with the pain and limitations of RA.
I would caution you against buying prescription drugs illegally as they are often inferior, can contain any old rubbish. Plus it would harm your bank balance and your body.
You are articulate enough to have researched your illness. It says on one site that the severity of the arthritis and the pain are sometimes difficult to assess.
I think your doctor is right in being cautious with drugs and dosage. The least you need to make life bearable the better because of what it can do to you – addiction, dependence. Your age again comes into it, dependence is not such a worry and responsibility when the person being treated is near the end of life. Even then doctors can be reluctant to prescribe.
Talk to your doctor, ask for a second opinion or another referral to the rheumatologist.
I am surprised cocaine was given as a premed before surgery.
I am sorry not to be of more help and can only mentally cheer you on. I hope the RA goes into remission, my mother’s did although she gave credit to a dreadful mixture of crushed garlic and honey. Was she right?
Constant severe pain from my RA?
I am a sufferer of Rheumatoid Arthritis, it began in my feet, ankles, knees, hands and wrists, which caused a great deal of pain as it did. I now suffer pain in my elbows, muscles around my joints especially knees and ankles feels like they are on fire all the time. My back also, is hurting a great deal, my shoulders get on off pain and stiffness too.
My Dr has gone thru all the weak Opiates/ Opiods with me. None of these worked. I am now on Buprenorphine Transdermal Patch 20mg per week 20mcg per hour release with Co-Dydramol 10/500mg 8 per day. My pain is still chronic and severe.
I also, use DMARDS – Sulfasalazine 500mg 4 times daily, Prednisolone Steroids 10mg once daily, High Strength Folic Acid and Vitamin D and Calcium pills daily. Plus a few more pills to combat side affects from my Steroid use.
My Dr has told me and my mom today when she saw him, that I would just have to deal with the pain and exercise more even though I exercise twice daily but light exercise until my joints have had enough. He has said there is nothing he can do for me so I will just have to take the Chronically Severe pain.
Buprenorphine is the only strong Opiate he has tried me on, he once said he would give me Morphine tablets but has now back tracked on his idea.
I am in the UK, I know from research that Buprenorphine stops the analgesic effects of other Opiates from bein as affective. That there is also, other meds avaliable in England that are NOT Morphine but have less side effects and/or slightly weaker like Palladone (Hydromorphone) and Oxycontin/Oxynorm.
But he seems not interested in helping me saying im too young to become an addict. Like any age is good to become an addict, but I also know if used correctly at low doses addiction is not a real problem. Even the manufacturer leaflets on these drugs say it can be used by all people of any age just extra care is needed when under 18. I am 24 in 2 weeks BTW.
Is my Dr right to say these things? Or is it he is not interested much in helping me? I even had to fight for Dr’s to recognize I had R.A because I broke the usual text book understandings of it just 2 appointments with a Rheumatologist said I had the disease a very aggressive Seronegative R.A. Even she told me not everyone plays by the rules with disease and most Dr’s are ignorant of the problem.
My Rheumatologist also, wants me off the Steroids because they commonly cause Brittle Bone Disease (Osteoperosis) when used for long periods. Which I do as a blue steroid treatment card holder. But my Dr is refusing to wean me off the Steroids because the pain im in. I use steroids and still get swelling nearly everyday, only thing that helps my disease is illegal even Rheumatologist said it helps that is Cannabis it gets rid of my pain better then all pain meds so far and it gets rid of swelling and inflammation better than steroids.
However, due to politicians controlling the health service in England it is still illegal. Plus im not wealthy so I cant afford to use this all the time.
My pain is so bad, I cant get more than 3 hours sleep without waking up from the pain, I have big black circled shadows around my eyes cos I cant sleep and the pain keeps me up. Half the time I cant walk or get ot of a chair without help or my Crutch.
I am so desperate for pain relief that I have even asked people to find me prescription medicines without going to the Dr because of their lack of interest. Only reason I got Buprenorphine was cause I told my Dr I was so close to getting Coke or Heroin to numb my pain. I have not used either ever except when I had coke injected into my for a Local Anesthetic pre surgery. I have no desire for thse illegal drugs but that is how bad my pain is daily, that I have been tempted by this but so far restrained from doing so.
Plus I have a huge phobia of needles so cant use Anti TNF drugs, its even hard for me to get my bloods done every 3 months.