Joint Pain Management – Arthritis
One of the biggest challenges with any chronic medical condition is the issue of managing pain. For people with any type of arthritis this is especially important.
The objective of this arthritis blog is to encourage our readers to share their experiences of pain management. What works? What doesn’t?
Indeed the blog is part of an on-going series of blogs on pain management. To check out the previous blog posts please go to https://patienttalk.org/?tag=pain-management. There are some fantastic tips and ideas from our readers in the previous posts.
It is worth mentioning that arthritis is a term used to cover a wide range of different conditions. These can include osteoarthritis, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis and gout among around 100 different illnesses.
A very basic definition of arthritis would be that it is a joint disorder which involves inflammation of the joints. This causes both pain and in some cases physical disability.
Typical treatments come in three main types:-
a) Physical and occupational therapy
b) Medications such as pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs
c) Join replacement surgery.
As we said the objective of this blog is to find out a bit more about how you have treated your arthritic pain. It would be great if you could share your experiences with other readers of this arthritis blog. You may find the following questions useful in framing your response:-
a) What kind of arthritis do you have? How long ago were you diagnosed?
b) How would you describe the pain from your arthritis? How does the pain affect your lifestyle?
c) What treatments for your pain did you receiver? How effective have these arthritis treatment been?
d) Do you have any advice for other people with arthritis?
e) Have you ever used alternative medicine to treat you arthritic pain?
Please use the comments box below to tell your story. Feel free to add any links you think may be on interest to other readers.
Thanks in advance
Really very much informative post on <a href=”http://www.campanellahealthcenter.com/”>arthritis pain relief</a>.Thanks for sharing it.
I have the cousin of Crohn’s Disease (Chronic Ulcerated Colon for 38yrs) it’s an Auto-Immune Disorder. I’m one of the 20% that the entire body gets severe Rheumatoid Arthritis from the out-breaks. I just took myself off a very poplar, heavily advertised drug called Humira……because it disables my immune system and makes me sick more often. I now take a plant-tree based supplement that has more 30 anti-inflammatories and 4 COX-2 pain enzyme blockers. It’s working and I move like a young man again. I can sent you research, I found at NIH and other places. AL allieoooopz@aol.com
Allieoooopz What is that plant -tree based supplement called if you don’t mind me asking. Thanks
IssyBurns Allieoooopz Hi and Thx, Ms. Issy. This is AL. I have just become a dealer/distributor for this company. I’m sure that Patient-Talk will not allow promotion/advertising of products here. Besides it looks like I am stalking sick people. I can send you the research and let you decide. I’m allieoooopz at AOL. Thank you, AL.
I have osteoarthritis in my cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine; my hands, my knees and hips; my left knee; and my ankles and feet. I am a Certified Surgical Technologist so I am on my feet for a living…bent over patients…lifting a lot, and use my hands. It’s become difficult to perform my job lately. I’m 46 years old.
I can’t take narcotics due to my profession. I’ve not tried injections. Where would I begin? I’ve just been suffering in silence, really.
I’m extremely stiff upon waking, and by the time I’m off work I’m hobbling and just want to get off my feet. That has lead to weight gain (among other things like having Hashimoto’s Disease) which exacerbates the arthritis, of course!
Healthcare professionals are usually the worst patients! I’m proof of that.
a) I have osteoarthritis in my left hip and left knee. This was due to a childhood condition called Leggs-Calves Perthes. The arthritis was diagnosed when I was 15 yrs old (I am now 47). A side affect is Lumbar Stenosis because of my irregular gait. I have 2% mobility in my hip and 5% in my lower back. I have since developed bone spurs on the head of my femur. It means that my leg can no longer lay flat.
b) The pain varies from day to day. When its cold or damp outside, I am lucky to be able to get out of bed. On my good days, I manage to get around with either a cane or a walker, depending on the severity. When I was in my early 20s (before the pain set in too badly) I taught horseback riding to underprivileged inner-city kids. Then I could manage with a small handful of ibuprofen. Now, I am no longer able to drive, to go to the grocery store without help (my knee and hip have the tendency to “give out”).
c) I have had steroid regimens (step down doses) where the pain wasn’t too bad, but wore off within a few months. I have been on various pain meds which left me lethargic and darn near comatose. I had received chiropractic care and acupuncture until the stat took those options away. Now I just suffer through the pain. Once you get used to it, it just becomes a part of you.
d) Find a good doctor who has dealt with and understands what you are going through. I can’t tell you how many doctors have told me “it’s all in my head…mind over matter…etc”. My orthopedic surgeon was a lifeline to my sanity. He was amazed that I could still stand on my own.
e) chiropractic and acupunture. If your inssurance covers them….DO IT!
a) I have osteoarthritis and I was diagnosed when I was 20. I am now 22. I felt like if my head was on fire, I couldn’t move at all, I couldn’t even hold my head straight. I couldn’t walk anywhere with the pain in my neck, I kept going to the doctor and he said its just a trapped nerve. He had finally sent me for an xray.
b) Sharp, burning, stabbing,stiff pain
c) The doctor had giving me medication, which did work/ But I ended up putting on weight so I had to come of it. I now do walking every day. If I didn’t go on my regular walks I’d be in so much pain. It effects my arms and my back to and my back would even go into spasms.
d) I would say, don’t do things that cause you pain. Only the things that help you with the pain, I find walking helps a lot.
e) I don’t use any other medication.
a) I have rheumatoid arthritis. I was diagnosed at the age of 21 and I will be 45 in Oct. Approx.17 years ago I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, migraines, osteopenia, migraines, and depression.
b) Throbbing, pulsating, stabbing, shooting, burning, dull aching pain with sporadic painful twitches and sudden pain surges in joints are just a few descriptions of pain I experience.
Your lifestyle will change drastically. I can no longer do daily simple activities in most cases. Getting dressed or even holding a drink becomes very challenging. Running errands and doing chores become harder to do. I cannot stand for long periods of time, do a lot of walking, sit in one position for long lengths of time, carry or lift items I used to be able to, and open cans or jars, etc. Forget about kneeling, crouching, squatting, lifting, reaching over head, and bending over.
I find a good description to be when you wake up in the morning with a list of things to do that you have planned for your day in your mind and your body says “no you won’t.” It is very difficult emotionally to adjust to your body and mind constantly battling over what you can no longer do.
c) I have took many medications that have not worked such as; Naproxen, Aleve, Enbrel, Humira, Arava, Celebrex, Plaquinel, Remicade, Gold injections, Methotrexate, cyclosporine,Sulfasalazine, Lidoderm patch, Tramadol, Daypro, Dexamethasone, Vicodin, Fiorcet, Percocet, Feldene, Volteran and many, many more. I have had some satisfaction with steroid shots for temporary relief. Prednisone has been the only medication that helps but it causes so many problems. My rheumatologist once said that I had to choose between quantity or quality of life. My choice is quality.
I have tried various exercises, braces and supportive devices that only give mild temporary relief. Heating pads and blankets, ice packs, and lots of topical ointments seem to help lots of people. You will have to experiment to see what best suits your needs.
I have not tried acupuncture or massage therapy yet.
d) Keep a daily log of symptoms and descriptions for the doctor. I wish I had done this because I feel it would’ve been beneficial when dealing with doctors in the beginning. Please keep a list or document all medications you take along go your journey. I wish I had done this so that when you dealing with various doctors or specialists I wouldn’t have to try to explain everything I have tried or what reactions I had to each medicine. This would’ve been so helpful to me. Don’t forget to make a list of tests, procedures and special lab work you have done and note the locations and dates too. Please, please, please do these lists/logs and document it all for your sake.
Be prepared for drastic changes in your life. I have found that I can no longer do simple things that we all take for granted. Plan and buy accessories that help you open cans, jars, boxes, gripping tools, grab bars in bathrooms, change door knobs to lever-type handles, adaptive equipment, orthotics/braces, and experiment with topical ointments so you can get some temporary relief – even if it barely helps. Use walkers, wheelchairs, or canes when you are weak or in pain. Preventing falls is of great importance with your illness. Be sure to get a handicap placard or license plates.
You will need to learn to pace yourself and control your stress levels. Prioritize things and do only what you can. If you push yourself you will pay the price in pain. Stress, including the sadness you feel yourself or the emotions people may cause you to experience will greatly effect your condition. Try to think positive and remind yourself of your own worth.
Prepare yourself for a rough emotional and painful journey. You will find that loved ones do not understand and can say things that hurt you. Most mean no harm, however, because they don’t comprehend what you are experiencing they don’t think before they speak or react. Because people assume and are ignorant they can be cruel. We call RA, Immune Diseases, etc. an “Invisible Illness.” You wil hear all kinds of things such as: you can’t be in that much pain, you don’t look sick, you just want attention, your illness is caused by stress, you need to exercise more, you’re lazy, you’re a drama queen, you’re crazy or it’s all in your head, you need to get out of the house, you’re feeling sorry for yourself, I have aches and pains too and I don’t act like you, you need to pray harder, only older people get arthritis, and many other things. Try not to let others actions get or keep you down. There will be tough times, but there are good times too. Don’t give up and remember you are valuable.
Please find someone you can talk to like a counselor, true friend, relative, etc. so you will have support for the rough road ahead of you. I found out who I thought were my friends were not so friendly when once I got sick. You will become disappointed with people and shocked how some will turn on you or simply disappear from your life altogether. There will be really tough times and you’ll need someone there for you. I have found that some of the online forms have been a great deal of comfort because the people on them can relate. Some even have people from the medical field who can assist you, advise you whereto go, and give you support.
e) I have not tried any alternative therapy with the exception of vitamins and supplements. Just be sure to tell your doctor of every pill or therapy you are using so they can make sure you don’t take something that could hurt you by having bad reactions. I’ve found that some of the supplements and/or vitamins cause stomach upset or other health problems.
I am interested in trying acupuncture. I am concerned that massage therapy will be painful.
That was a very good description of life after rheumatic arthritis anx fibromyalgia. Thank you.
klamach Thank-you.
a) Rheumatoid and Osteo (Knees and R Elbow)
b) Moderate Osteo pain (with weather changes/injuries), minimal RA pain (daily).
c) Physical Therapy, OT, NSAIDs, Cortisone, narcotic pain relievers, biologics. PT/OT have been moderately effective. Cortisone HIGHLY effective. Biologic- Highly effective. NSAID’s moderately effective.
d) Patience and SLOW DOWN! (Prevents injury and further pain)
e) Yes- Massage, Acupuncture work ok (mostly aids in relaxation for me). Vitamins/Minerals/Herbs- Not sure how effective but I feel better generally speaking when I take them.
Thanks for reply, l had not thought of Acupuncture sound good idea
I was recommended to try green lipped mussel from deep blue health (available at amazon.com) by a fellow dance teacher who said she’d had improvement in her knee joint mobility after taking it for 3 months. I’m quite open to helping my body remain mobile so gave it a go. I think it’s made a difference to my joints, mobility and flexibility. I will certainly carry on taking it for now, it can’t do any harm and can only boost nutrients in my body. After a whole lifetime of dance, I have many aches and pains in my joints and I do think green lipped mussel is helping.
Mernst sorry didn’t help me at all
littleme Mernst
Did you try “cold extracted” green lipped mussel or “steamed opened” ones? The harvest makes the different! Cheaper products steam the mussel to get the flesh out, which breaks down all the active ingredients. I recommended the product to a couple of my friend and they all have great results.