Living with RA
Hi all
I am new to this group and after suffering severe pain in my joints for over 2 month I have been referred to the rheumatology department.. I am still awaiting the referral so is there any advice in the meantime to help ease my pain...
Every morning when I wake my neck shoulders wrists ant fingers are in so much pain I feel sick... I need to put on slides to walk to the bathroom because the thought of putting my feet down on the floor fills me with fear.
The medication I am currently taking ( tramadol and indometacin) don't seem to be touching the pain..
Hi
I am sorry you are having to wait so long to see a rheumatologist. I understand exactly how you're feeling. I have a couple of pairs of slippers I try to keep next to my bed at all times because a lot of mornings I wake up and can't put my feet on the floor because it feels like walking on rocks.
Have you tried using any heat / ice on your painful joints? There are also some nice over the counter gels you might find helpful. I find that the arthritis tylenol is the best over the counter pain reliever for me. I also sometimes use compression gloves to sleep in and it alleviates a lot of the swelling I have in my hands in the mornings. Learning to navigate and manage pain I think is mostly trial and error since everyone is different. I hope you are able to see the Rheum soon and I hope you are able to get some relief in the meantime.If it's your PCP who's referring you, and you know the name of the rheumatologist, call the rheumatologist's office and explain that you really need to get in. If you're persistent and call every other day right after the office opens, they might have just received a cancelation and will let you fill that spot.
I agree with my friend Drea. Call the PCP and ask them for a personal telephone referral. Doing that can unlock many doors. Thanks for your help
I'm in the early stages and will try anything to lift the pain
I played rugby for 26 years and never felt pain like this 😢
