@suz55 Welcome to this discussion. If you have had problems for three years now it might be time for a full evaluation, by a rheumatologist or internist, to determine the exact cause if possible. Bloodwork, a complete physical exam and medical history and possibly imaging can help determine whether you have rheumatoid and/or osteo arthritis, another illness, and the extent of possible damage. Once that is known, you can work with either of them, and a pain doc as well as a physical therapist who specializes in dealing with chronic pain.
After a winter where we both had a lot of pain, my husband and I both were rescreened, years after our original diagnoses, he is trying a new medication for rheumatoid arthritis and I am being treated with non-opiod meds and therapy for my pain.
The message is that everyone is different and will respond to the appropriate treatment, so I am not sharing medication names - this needs to be determined for each individual based on the specific diagnosis.
We may never be pain free but we can feel better.
Have you ever had a full workup for the pain? Do you have access to a facility where you can do it?
Sue

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