Hi, I am so sorry for what you are going through!
I have the rare one Palindromic Rheumatism!
Through the VA, after 10+ years of oxy and Vicodin, they started me on Suboxone. At first it worked great, until my flare ups started! After a long battle/argument, they finally put me back on oxy. Now, they want to restart me on a higher dose of Suboxone, but they claim that there is nothing that they can give me for the flare ups!
I call BS!
I'm very reluctant on this, until they find something for the flare ups, also!
Soooooo, while I'm still searching, I'd love to know if someone else has found the solution!
Thanks Bunches!
Terry
Please begin a new thread. You'll obtain better visibility and more responses. Unfortunately many ppl don't read these old posts.
If you need help posting a Question (Comment) please feel free to ask. You may also want to post in our Arthritis Forums. Ppl with Arthritis tend to be in the following two forums more than they are here. Here's the links:
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Arthritis
And ....
http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Rheumatoid-Arthritis-RA
Thank You,
~Tuck
I know this is really old but for people who are reading this now, I just want to say that suboxone is the only thing that really helps my RA pain. I have tried morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl and subutex (same as suboxone) and while the traditional opiates take the edge off (maybe a 20% reduction in pain with 100 mg morphine and 30 mg oxycodone) I experienced complete relief from crippled to fine with 2 mg of subutex. Narcotics are not indicated for RA at all, according to my rheumatologist and everything I see online. They are not very effective either. They couldn't get me up out of the wheelchair when it flared in my hip, they just barely made it where I could stand to exist. The best thing for RA, though there are side effects like any drug, are the DMARD's and Anti-TNF injections like Enbrel and Humira if the prior meds are not sufficient. Everyone is different and subutex may not help you more than opiates, but I say it's worth trying. If I had a choice between getting all opiates that exist or subutex for my pain, I would choose subutex, hands down. I also have ankylosing spondylitis and it helps my back better than anything else either. My AS and RA are quite severe so regular NSAID's did not help much but prednisone short term for flares is the next best thing to subutex. I'd rather have prednisone for my RA than opiates. I hope this helps some folks.
Sorry you're going threw so much pain and I don't have a lot of answers for you but I have recently been diagnosed with RA and am on Suboxone too. Today I have my first appointment with a Rheumatologist. I have no idea what to expect.
I think I may have had RA for some years now, but it took a big jump around Sept.2009. I don't have all the problems you seem to be having and mine didn't seem to come on so suddenly like yours. Mornings are the worst time for me. It takes me about an hour and 1/2 to be able to move around much. My ankles crunch when I walk and the fatigue is crazy. I feel like I could sleep all the time.
I'm a little nervous about the meds that may be prescribed for the RA and the Suboxone. I haven't told any doctors about my Sub use (except my Sub Dr. of course)
RA does tend to have flare-ups so your pain may subside for a while. I guess everyone is different with it. I'm just starting to learn about this RA thing myself.
Good luck to you and keep in touch. I'm curious to hear how you do with the Sub and RA meds.