Rheumatoid arthritis.

Happy to help! I've had RA for 10+ years. Talk to you about what?

@jshaw1663 Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! I’m so glad you found this site. You do sound like you need help. You said that you’ve seen an arthritis doctor—was this a rheumatologist? They would be able to help with most all of your problems. When you go to Ochsner, do you know what you are being sent for?
When will you go and is it an easy trip?

Explain to me the way or what medication to take for this pain I'm having. Please...? I have used my hands all my life i like to build and make things as well as fix them too. For a woman ive always done the jobs myself really. But now I'm almost 52yrs I'm struggling at work, new job and mental ailments like severe manic depression (crying one min- laughing the next) and anxiety, panic attacks, night terrors. PTSD. But the last few months I feel like my health has dropped significantly I'm going to start with some vitamin D, naproxen and another one (can't remember it right now) also having difficulty to stay on task and remember stuff. But this pain, this awful, horrible, shooting pains thru ny arms and into my hands, plus the numbness and I can't lay on right shoulder due to damaged rotary cuff. I'm really loosing touch on reality because I was running circles around 20yr olds a few months back and now I feel like I need a caregiver to push me around in a wheelchair). Waiting to see what my next steps are but any and all suggestions or ideas would be so grateful. I'm dreading the work I haven't even done for next week. And I am the main supporter and stuff for my kid, who also has mental issues (another conversation). So I foot the bill on everything... thanks

Wow! You are really going through it. If the pain is the hurt all over even when you are laying still kind then I would roccogmend Low Dose Naltrexone. I deals well with that with few side effects. Read about it first. And it might help your immune system.

Did you check into foods you eat? See what is good for this like raw cherries, ginger etc. Drink the right amount of water for your weight makes a difference. I hope you find relief.

I am in my mid-60s and started this journey with a synovectomy of my right knee after my third child in 1998.

It’s a challenging Road!

I’ve been on a great deal of medications. Plaquinel first, then methotrexate. Nothing right now.

What I found to be helpful is compression gloves that you can order on Amazon as well as KT athletic tape. You can watch a YouTube on how to apply correctly or ask your Physical Therapist.

I also have lower arm compression sleeves.

At night I go to sleep with my arms in the soft hand to wrist holders that keep me from bending my wrists into weird positions that might hurt me in the morning.

I also love using ice. They have soft packs that conform to your body. The rule is to put it on for 10 minutes with cheese cloth or thin towel between the ice pack and your skin. 10 minutes off, then you can do another 10 minutes on.

So ice and compression! Compression gloves, compression sleeves, and KT athletic tape, which you may have seen the Olympians wearing at the Summer Olympics! KT athletic tape is similar to duct tape, but for the body.

Asked to go to Physical Therapy and occupational therapy because they have lots of tricks of the trade!

Swim! Keep walking! Movement is medicine to our joints! Hopefully, you’ll get out of this exacerbated state soon and into remission! Praying for you! Kay🌺

I’m so sorry you are going through this!! It’s a lot! Your story sounds VERY similar to mine. I’ve always been such a hard worker. Could work circles around most men, lift more than most men and all of the sudden…..now my joints, my knuckles, my feet, my toes, my shoulders…. I’m 53 and fear for my future. I’m gonna be in a wheelchair. My feet feel like they are breaking when I walk. Some days I can barely move. I have Fibromyalgia-autoimmune disease. Chronic inflammatory. I have Bladder Pain Syndrome (interstitial cystitis) and Lichen schlerosis and these joints and muscles!!! The absolute worst! And so scary! I have found that lidocaine patches work very well for me. Magnesium cream on my feet with socks, on my hands with compression gloves, Aleve, Tumeric with curcumin, following an anti inflammatory diet does help. Drink lots of water. Voltaren cream is VERY VERY helpful. Epsom salt baths, Omega 3, Quercetin, Magnesium Glycinate, Vitamin D, Matcha tea, Tumeric Tea, Ginger Tea, Chamomile tea.

I feel for you! I really do! Some days are better than others that is for sure. Please lmk if I can help in any way. I’ll pray for you. May God bless you and bring you comfort

And... to top it off, I'm pre-menopause too... ibwill look into that, thank you

If you dont mind the pain and how to comfort it as well as being able to be mobile and keep agile. ?

As I mentioned, I've had RA for 10 years and when I was first diagnosed, I was like you. The pain was out of control, and it scared me. What was I going to be like in 10 years?
The pain and deformity started in my feet with big bunions. I did my research and asked for a referral to a surgeon who told me that he wouldn't operate and that I needed to exhaust all other options: drugs, special footwear, a cane, physio, etc. I researched my Benefits plan in great detail and tried everything, even acupuncture. Some things helped and others didn't. Then my hands started to hurt. Compression gloves helped. Microwave heating pads are a life saver (and very portable). Through this time, I was also on Methotrexate, Plaquenil and a different Biologic every 6 months. I failed 5 Biologics until I tried a Jak Inhibitor (Rinvoq) which finally helped. By this time, my knees were involved. For a while I was still able to work but one night, when I had to crawl up the stairs (because I was unable to walk) I knew things were getting a lot worse. This was about 5 years in. The only thing that helped my pain was Prednisone and that was only a short-term fix. Even medical marijuana didn't help. In preparation for Bilateral Total Knee Replacements I was referred to Pain Management - a whole new world. My first pain clinic was scary. I'm a professional person and had never had a drug test in my life. Now I was treated like an addict and taking drugs like candy. One day Nucynta; the next day Gabapentin; the next day Amitriptyline. The one good thing that Pain Management did was prescribe Ozempic. I was overweight (partially because I was not exercizing because of the pain-bad excuse!) and partially because of the drugs I was on). I lost 50 pounds which made me feel better about myself and made the recovery from my TKRs much easier. Unfortunately, I'm one of the 15% who still have pain after TKR. The pain is from chronic tendonitis- common with RA. Back to Physio, Massage, and Osteo and drugs. Today, I have chronic tendonitis in both knees and my right shoulder. I get nerve ablation every three months for these. I also get trigger point injections every three weeks in my neck, shoulders, low back and hips. For pain, I am on a Butrans 10 patch, and I take Gabapentin, Nucynta, Plaquenil, Celebrex, Cymbalta, Zopiclone and a Prescription Pain Cream. On a side note, I've developed chronic (daily) migraines for which I take Botox, Topamax, Qulipta and Ubrelvy. Stress aggravates RA. We have to do everything we can not to stress. Are you familiar with Spoon Theory? I live by it. I also do Progressive Muscle Relaxation every day. I have also changed my diet. I'm gluten free, dairy free, alcohol-free, caffeine free and refined sugar free (yes, I cheat- a couple of times a year).
If you have questions, let me know. Be good to yourself!