Day three of a brutal flare in my right hip (buttock). I took a Tylenol three last night and managed to get a few hours sleep. This morning I took one 200mg celebrex and now the swelling has decreased and I am able to move with only slight pain. I'm feeling 80% better and that is with just one 200mg pill!
My Rheumatologist wanted me to avoid celerex and see how I progressed with the MTX and Sulfa. I'm finding that the MTX has helped manage the pain, however the MTX and Sulfa is not helping with the swelling.
In the past I have managed most flares with celebrex as soon as I felt any pain starting, however large joint flares (hips,shoulders) almost always needed more (prednisone, cortisone injections, Tylenol 3, sleeping pills). The difference with today and the past is now I have daily pain in my buttocks, lower back, hands, feet and shoulders, I have no idea what joint is going to flare because of this.
The past 7 months I have had dactylitis that has lasted days, weeks and sometimes more then a month in my fingers and toes. So my question is....why not add celebrex to my daily management...maybe not every day, but at least on the days there is noticeable swelling as it takes the swelling down fast?
I know that others take celebrex daily and I understand it is hard on the stomach but if it increases quality of life and makes this disease more manageable then why not?
Is anyone else taking this combination along with celebrex?
Feeling optimistic today....after a brutal few days...
My understanding is that to get the full anti-inflammatory effect NSAIDs need to be taken daily, at a relatively high dose. I'm not on Celebrex, but on diclofenac right now. I take it twice a day, and take prilosec daily to protect my stomach. I take breaks when I can, but really, it just adds up to a few months a year that I am NOT on NSAIDs. To me, this makes me wonder how good my disease control really is, if this is needed.
I'm impressed that you get such a quick response to Celebrex. You may want to make this clear to your doctor, that you are very responsive to it.
Thanks Stoney, I have always had a quick response with Celebrex. My sister also just started taking it and she also has a quick response. I have heard that some haven't, however I always have. The doctors(my GP and Rheumy) are aware, as they prescribe the Celebrex and it has been my main treatment over all these years, other then a brief trial of Plaqunil, steroids and pain meds for big flares.
Maybe they don't want me on it daily because the current treatment is suppose to be managing the pain and inflammation? To be honest I wouldn't want the Celebrex to stop working, another reason why I limit the use. It's not great for pain, however it certainly helps with inflammation every time I need it!
Stoney said:
My understanding is that to get the full anti-inflammatory effect NSAIDs need to be taken daily, at a relatively high dose. I'm not on Celebrex, but on diclofenac right now. I take it twice a day, and take prilosec daily to protect my stomach. I take breaks when I can, but really, it just adds up to a few months a year that I am NOT on NSAIDs. To me, this makes me wonder how good my disease control really is, if this is needed.
I'm impressed that you get such a quick response to Celebrex. You may want to make this clear to your doctor, that you are very responsive to it.
I take MTX .8 ml injected along with Celebrex 200 mg twice a day and Enbrel as well. I do take an omeprazole to help my stomach.
I have no idea why your doctors are allowing your inflammation to get out of control.
I have found it really good. I've been taking 200mg a day with my other medications for 20 years. I take another 200mg if I know I'm going to do something that will cause me a problem and that usually means minimal flaring.
Thanks Ircjvl. I believe they are trying to find the right combo to deal with both the inflammation and pain. I agree, at this point I am taking the celebrex daily. Hopefully I can talk my doctor into renewing my prescription tomorrow as I am running out. He tends to let my rheumy deal with the treatment and he monitors. I have a call into my rheumy, but it generally takes a week for her to get back to me....
lrcjvl said:
I take MTX .8 ml injected along with Celebrex 200 mg twice a day and Enbrel as well. I do take an omeprazole to help my stomach. I have no idea why your doctors are allowing your inflammation to get out of control.
Thanks Allan. That is how I have taken celebrex in the past. 200mg during painful times and if the pain starts to increase 200mg morning and night.
Allan said:
I have found it really good. I've been taking 200mg a day with my other medications for 20 years. I take another 200mg if I know I'm going to do something that will cause me a problem and that usually means minimal flaring.
I am still in the process of getting the right pain / swelling relief. Currently I am now on 10mg of MTX twice a week (just couldnt tolerate the once a week dose, I still have side effects that end up lasting all week, but its not as severe), Celebrex 200mg twice a day, and Tramadol 100 mg 2-3 times a day.
Celebrex has turned out to be a godsend when combined with the Tramadol. I am getting a decent level of pain control, and the last few days I have noticed my knees and ankles are less swollen and my hands are just a tiny bit less painful. I'm hoping this is a sign of good things to come.
That's positive news Nascarfilly! This is day two of the celebrex and although the inflammation is not completely gone I am able to get around with out crutches and it feels good to move. Unfortunately my lower back is now hurting pretty good, I'm worried I may flare there....have never had a flare of the lower back that I can remember, only the hips(buttocks on the right and left). I see the doctor tomorrow morning and my monthly blood work. I will be talking to him about adding celebrex daily. I must say, I'm feeling rather concerned at this point. I was believing I could manage going back to work with the help of celebrex....now I'm feeling like I may need it daily to control inflammation just to function. I may even have to go up to two a day...last night was another sleepless night. What is Tramadol?
Nascarfilly said:
I am still in the process of getting the right pain / swelling relief. Currently I am now on 10mg of MTX twice a week (just couldnt tolerate the once a week dose, I still have side effects that end up lasting all week, but its not as severe), Celebrex 200mg twice a day, and Tramadol 100 mg 2-3 times a day.
Celebrex has turned out to be a godsend when combined with the Tramadol. I am getting a decent level of pain control, and the last few days I have noticed my knees and ankles are less swollen and my hands are just a tiny bit less painful. I'm hoping this is a sign of good things to come.
Tramadol is considered a narcotic like pain pill (some drug handbooks actually classify it as a narcotic) for moderate to severe pain control (according to the books). I have been on 100mg at night for several years now and just in the last few weeks I have had to add the morning dose and now have a mid day dose if needed. Sometimes it works for me on its own, but I find it works MUCH better if I combine it with some type of NSAID or anti inflammatory. I am able to cope with the pain of the day much better. I'm definitely not 100% by any means, but it takes the hard edge off the pain.
Hopefully you will have good luck with your dr and he will give you the extra doses!
I take Piroxicam (NSAID) 20 mg daily and I cannot function without it. If I miss even a dose of two I am in the recliner all day. I also take Norco as needed, which ends up being twice a day lately to be able to do much at all. Neither takes the pain away completely but it dulls it enough that I can get up out of the chair. Even with both I can barely walk around my house or make it out to my car in the driveway.
Tramadol is considered a narcotic like pain pill (some drug handbooks actually classify it as a narcotic) for moderate to severe pain control (according to the books). I have been on 100mg at night for several years now and just in the last few weeks I have had to add the morning dose and now have a mid day dose if needed. Sometimes it works for me on its own, but I find it works MUCH better if I combine it with some type of NSAID or anti inflammatory. I am able to cope with the pain of the day much better. I'm definitely not 100% by any means, but it takes the hard edge off the pain.
Hopefully you will have good luck with your dr and he will give you the extra doses!
Thanks Dedecee. I have only ever used celebrex and am not familiar with other nsaids. I probably should look at them in case I may need something more down the road. Are you taking a Dmard too?
Dedecee said:
I take Piroxicam (NSAID) 20 mg daily and I cannot function without it. If I miss even a dose of two I am in the recliner all day. I also take Norco as needed, which ends up being twice a day lately to be able to do much at all. Neither takes the pain away completely but it dulls it enough that I can get up out of the chair. Even with both I can barely walk around my house or make it out to my car in the driveway.
They tried me on methotrexate but it made my liver readings off very soon after I started taking them. I have tried Humira but it didn't seem to do anything. I am considering trying Enbrel because I have heard of several people who have had good outcomes with it. My rheumy also was on board to try Cymbalta which is actually an anti-depressant that works to help with the pain in some people. Since I get Prozac already from my family dr. I have to have her switch it. I am going to have her do it next appointment.
I talked to my doctor today and will remain on the sulfa and mtx until the end of this month. If there is no improvement he feels a biologic would be best to try next. I agreed and said I'd like to try Enbrel. So, if no success by the end of this month then I hope to switch to Enbrel. I have heard of success with Enbrel and hope that if this mix isn't working by the end of the month, Enbrel will. The journey of finding the right med's can be a long one. I've been on MTX since late April and Sulfa since September. I wish you success with Cymbalta Dedecee.
Dedecee said:
They tried me on methotrexate but it made my liver readings off very soon after I started taking them. I have tried Humira but it didn't seem to do anything. I am considering trying Enbrel because I have heard of several people who have had good outcomes with it. My rheumy also was on board to try Cymbalta which is actually an anti-depressant that works to help with the pain in some people. Since I get Prozac already from my family dr. I have to have her switch it. I am going to have her do it next appointment.
Be careful with the cymbalta. It can be very difficult to discontinue. It requires a taper to stop it, and even then it is pretty common to experience withdrawal symptoms. There are some good articles on this if you want to google for some reading.
Dedecee said:
They tried me on methotrexate but it made my liver readings off very soon after I started taking them. I have tried Humira but it didn’t seem to do anything. I am considering trying Enbrel because I have heard of several people who have had good outcomes with it. My rheumy also was on board to try Cymbalta which is actually an anti-depressant that works to help with the pain in some people. Since I get Prozac already from my family dr. I have to have her switch it. I am going to have her do it next appointment.