My mother is 82 and has severe RA. The pain is so severe I don’t know what to do?

You need to see a pain management doctor.

There are some fairly large gel packs available that can be either cooled in the freezer or heated in the microwave. Some of them come in sleeves that allow you to wrap them around knees of your mid section to help hold them in place on your knee/shoulder/back. You need to be very careful not to get them too hot or cold; my mother likes at least one thickness of a towel between the pack and her skin whether hot or cold. We have found the use of the gel packs reduces inflammation and helps with the associated pain. We found taking a dose of pain medication and using the gel packs at the same time gave greater and longer relief than just pain medication or just gel packs. Because sometimes my parents got relief from just the gel packs, for episodes of pain, we usually start with the gel packs and add a dose of medication 30-60 minutes in as needed. Although my mother likes cold on her knees and heat on her back, I understand that either helps promote improved circulation and reduces inflammatory based chronic pain.

If the person is still mobile enough, a hot bath/shower or a hot whirlpool bath often helps too. Again not too hot, elderly skin is delicate and burns easily. My sister-in-law with RA recently got a walk in tub with a whirlpool and says it helps a lot. but she is in pain a lot these days because her medication has been cut by 75%. Gentle massages and range of motion flexion can help RA too.

My mother was screaming in pain due to vertebrae fractures of her thoracic spine. She had 5 of them over the course of 6 months due to osteoporosis. Kyphoplasty procedure saved the day, along with PT. She’s pain free today but has a very pronounced curvature of the spine. Severe groin pain can also be caused by a torn labrum of the hip.

No one should have to live in that kind of pain!

She needs to be on some serious pain meds, ASAP!

Is there Not any Meds to Relieve this Pain? It is hard to Fathom that No one, Hun, Gave her Anything...Look more into this, Mom cannot go on with this pain.

Every time I read a post about this kind of problem I wonder if this is something that may be helped by vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty - I can't forget how one poster's mother had her pain dismissed as psychological when it was actually due to crumbling spine, and how the procedure was a miraculous improvement.

I also have R.A. But I’m on Humira to stop the pain. My sister gave me a jar of cream with CB Oil in it and I applied it to my hand that was hurting and it did take the pain away. You would have to check with your Mom’s doctor to make sure it doesn’t interfere with any medications she is on before giving it to her. I hope you are taking your Mom to a Rheumatologist, if not then find one for her. Pain is not fun but Ice packs do help and so does a hot bath with Epsom Salts, soak for about 45 minutes.
Good Luck

She needs Palliative care at the least. Hospice if doctor will not do surgery.

We used Lidoderm patches on my mom’s back & they were amazing for pain without having to go thru the digestive system. Strongest ones are by prescription but you can get some nearly as strong over the counter now. Best of luck!

I have severe pain from rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic neuropathy, and nerve damage from being attacked by a dog. I cannot take opioid drugs for pain medications. And, I do not want the side effects from pain pills so I use ice at night so that I can sleep. I also work part-time at the hospital as a psychologist and I cannot work if I can’t pass random drug testing.