Hello to all. I just joined the forum

[ILoveLukey]

Hi everyone. I just found out I have arthritis in ALL of my joints, and alot in my neck. I had a bone scan for pain in my shoulder. I do have a torn rotator cuff but my orthopedic surgeon said he does not think the pain is from that. He thinks I have a pinched nerve. Nevertheless, I was very upset after my appointment yesterday when he showed me the bone scan results showing all of the arthritis. Of course that explains all of my constant achiness and pain. Especially in my hips. I loose alot of sleep do to the hip pain. I also am a member of the addiction forum. All of this pain for the last 2 years and taking pain killers to live a normal pain free life........well, guess what. I became addicted. I am seeing an addiction psychologist and am on Suboxone now. It is working great but most of the pain is back now. I am so tired of being in pain and achy all of the time. I wanted to join here to get help and suggestions for my disease. My doctor put me on diclofenac but I have only taken two in the past month. I worry about side effects, plus it didn't really seem to help. Does anyone know if you have to be on it for awhile before it starts working? I am looking for som suggestions as to what else I can to or take to hel relieve the pain. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

[kevieb]

I had a neurologist tell me i was addicted to pain meds, (he did not even know how much i was taking).  it irks me to no end when people do not distinguish between addiction and dependency.  He said some people try to wean off, but that it usually doesn't work, and that some people go cold turkey.  I was mortified that he said i was addicted, so i went home and didn't take any medication.  I had one of the worst night sof my life!!  By 11pm my husband told me i should probably take something.

My pain had gotten out of control so far that when i took my medication it didn't even touch it.  I was hurting in places tht didn't even normally hurt.  i had to take more medication than i normally would need and it took hours to get my pain under control.  i finally fell asleep around 3:30 am.

I called the pharmacist the next day , who informed that you are not supposed to go off of it that way.  she also told me that they know who has the drug problems---and that i wasn't one of them.

I went to my doc's office, and he assured me they knew how much i was taking.

I am given a certain amount that has to last me a certain number of days, and i always fill my Rx at the same pharmacy.

If you don't mind me asking, what was the determining factor that labeled you as "addicted" as compared to dependent?  

[jaxie228]

How are you? Read post for 2008. H
I have AS and RA and wondering about meds. On indocin but it's giving me GERD now. Don't want to add methotrexate to the mix.
Jaxie228

[smittygirl]

Hi,

Thanks so much, unless a person has these diseases no one can understand what we go thru.  I didnt even mention the pain meds, but you are 100% correct, I have been on Vicodin for 4 years and take only what is prescribed, I work 7 days a week and could not function without the pain meds.  My doc also just gave me Valium to use as a muscle relaxer at night to sleep.  I have bad muscle spasms and pain in my legs that wake me up at night, so far it is working for me.  What is zanaflex, is that a pain med?   Do you have the HLA B27 gene?   Glad you wrote me!  Lets stay in touch, I'll send u a note with my  e mail address.

Sue

[txsilver]

I have AS and RA.  I agree with Sue, you need to know which type of arthritis you have as it does make a difference.
About pain management and addiction, where I live the approach is to teach you adherence to the prescriptions, in other words, to only take them as directed.  Chronic pain sufferers need their pain meds!  Currently I am on Plaquenil, methotrexate and mya be adding humira or enbrel soon.  I am also taking Darvocet as needed, zanaflex during the day, flexeril at night and I take naproxen too.  I won't even list the rest of the meds because the list is LONG.  Thank goodness for pill organizers!  

[smittygirl]

I have 2 types of arthritis, Ankoylosing Spondylitis and Reactive Arthritis. Pain never goes away.  My rheumatologist put me on Enbrel 4 weeks ago, today I had a severe flare up and the pain and stiffness is the worst it's been in 4 years.  He wants to keep me on it one more month and if there is no change we will try Remicade or Humeria.  Has anyone told you what type of arthritis you have, there are over 100 different kinds.  I would suggest finding a rheumatologist.  When I first got sick I went to an orthopedic too and he sent me the rheumy right away.  I wish you much luck and if you have any questions I would be happy to help you through this.

Sue