Arthritis / Opiates for pain.

I have rheumatoid arthritis. The side effects from the modern medicines to treat RA have become so severe I can't take them. I am now faced with controlling the pain. For some reason the opiates (oxicontin for example) make me become a totally different person.

I am usually an amiable, tolerant, and friendly type. The opiates, even in very low doses of 5 milligrams, make me someone even I dont recognize. I become vindictive, revengeful, intolerant, and very outspoken. Unfortunately I seem to direct my outbursts towards people I really care about and love.

Any other arthritis victims on the forum? If so how do you combat the pain ? Any suggestions or solutions will be appreciated and read with great interest.

I am not an arthritis sufferer, at least not yet, but I would urge you in the strongest possible terms to begin taking, if you have not already done so, a pharmaceutical-grade fish oil supplement. I cannot guarantee just how much relief you will receive and it is important THAT YOU EXPECT PAIN RELIEF FROM FISH OIL TO BE A GRADUAL PROCESS; the essential fatty acids in fish oil will, over time, literally become an integral part of the membranes of every cell in your body. Fish oil is a natural anti-inflammatory par excellence. (Please refrigerate fish oil after you open the container; the EFAs in fish oil are very sensitive to light, heat and oxygen.)

Take a look at the following articles with respect to the use of fish oil for treating arthritis pain:

http://search.lef.org/cgi-src-bin/Ms...%20treating%20

http://search.lef.org/cgi-src-bin/Ms...%20treating%20

Naturally we are talking about prescription medication here. Lets make sure we focus in that direction.

I've heard a lot about the fish oil thing, but as with any supplement it is deemed by the FDA to be a "dietary supplement" that means the FDA only regulates it if people start coming down with mercury poison or some such from them... So be cautions, if you have a doctor ask them which supplements they think are safe, do your own research and be careful. Also make sure you only take supplements that contain only one active ingredient, they don't always take into account any adverse reactions two ingredients together might have...

As far as prescription meds go, there are several options, but again talk to your doctor. There are some non-steroidal anti inflamitories (think prescription strength tylanol) but theyer mostly short term use. Can use some of them them intermittently though. There's also some steroidal therapies such as cortisone shots, but among the drawbacks to those is they can decrease your immune system over time. Talk to your doctor though, might be able to find a good mix that balances the benefits and minimizes the side effects. Might also be able to control the personality changes opioids do to you with some types of anti-depressants but idk so much about that so again talk to your physician.

Another non-prescription (depending on what state you live in) is pot, works for some people might work for you.

Naturally we are talking about prescription medication here. Lets make sure we focus in that direction. Originally Posted by Chica Chaser

I can understand a healthy dose of skepticism when it comes to nutritional supplements, but the health benefits associated with fish oil supplementation are exceedingly well documented. Feel free to read, in their entirety, the articles for which I posted links or take your pick of the 432 articles posted on WebMD (http://www.webmd.com/search/search_results/default.aspx?query=omega%203%2 0fish%20oil&sourceType=undefin ed ), 15 of which are specific to rheumatoid arthritis, the poster's condition.

It may be worth emphasizing a couple of additional points with respect to fish oil supplements. The cardiovascular benefits of fish oil consumption are particularly well chronicled, including their ability to drastically slash triglycerides and forestall the fatal arrthymias that often occur in the course of heart attacks. Although it is certainly beneficial to ingest omega-3s by actually eating fish, "pharmaceutial-grade" fish oil supplements concentrate EPA and DHA, the essential fatty acids contained therein, at levels significantly higher than they naturally occur in fish, while eliminating the impurities found in mercury and other toxins, through a process known as molecular distillation. Be sure to refrigerate fish oil supplements after opening them; omega-3 fatty acids are extremely sensitive to heat, light and oxygen.

I have the same experience with opiates I turn into a Mr Hyde type of character I don't like. Thus I tend to stay away from them except for an extreme sore throat
.

. For some reason the opiates (oxicontin for example) make me become a totally different person.

I am usually an amiable, tolerant, and friendly type. The opiates, even in very low doses of 5 milligrams, make me someone even I dont recognize. I become vindictive, revengeful, intolerant, and very outspoken. . Originally Posted by rednecksatyr

Talk to your rheumatologist and, if necessasary, ask him (or her) to set up a consult with a pain doc.

I can understand a healthy dose of skepticism when it comes to nutritional supplements, Originally Posted by BreastLuvr

No, thats not what I meant, LOL! I was referring to sticking to the guidelines here regarding illicit substances since the first post referred to oxy. I think there are many herbal/nutritional supplements out there that are quite beneficial for many things.

Fish oil, can't hurt and might help butso can placebo, that is why you run clinical trials. It depends on what you mean by "modern medicines" for RA treatment. Methotrexate is an old but tried and true agent, Arava (leflunomide) if you are not of child bearing potential, Enbrel and Rituxan are also available and big guns. All these are not risk free (what is, look at the board you are posting on) and require careful monitoring. There are a lot more RA agents now than 15 years ago. See your doc. Also, effects of opiates can be idiosyncratic. Try another one if necessary. Good luck.

BTW, are you sure that you're Rheumatologist has tried all the RA drugs? Azulfidine is one that is not frequently used as a first line drug, but can be very effective if you don't have any side effects. I assume you've tried the injectable gold compounds like Auronopin. Get a second opinion from a Rheumatologist, too.