Hello rosie
The ra sounds active, you need to be requesting urgent drug reviews
There are things that can be done elbow and wrist wise
First thought is hot and cold treatments
For those hands, get a tub of dried split peas and keep them at the back of the fridge lovely and cool on hot painful joints
Cold packs and wrapped frozen peas also good- 10 mins on, 20 mins off
You might like a paraffin wax treatment bath, I got one from boots but you can get them in Argos on line etc. They are meant for manicures but you dip in 4-5 times so your hand is coated then cover with clean plastic bag and wrap in a towel or even tea cozies! Weatie bags in the microwave are good too
They do work and for some relief it's a help
Longer term it's xrays, ultrasounds (ultrasound guided joint objection can help as well as monitoring the swelling inside) and there are operations like taking a bit of bone out of the elbow to give it some room to straighten etc.
Try looking at your pain control too while waiting for drug review
Ask the gp for pain clinic referral
But try not to let it get too extreme pain- have a try at ironing out the peaks and troughs. Take max paracetamols and then bring in the big gun drugs ontop like morphine, tramadol
I have a slow release patch stuck on my back- butrAns I think it is
Take care- think on getting dragon for the computer and a trackerball mouse
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