[Grey Matter]

I donno if I have asked this before, I can't really think on it. I have RA and Adult Onset Still's Disease, two different forms of arthritis. I am at a pain level of 10 today, I am usually between a 7-8. But this is getting horrendous. I have no pain management (my RA doctor simply said "take two advil in the morning and two at night. hahaha works wonders as you can see) even though my doctor just marked me as in an extreme flare due to being exposed to a virus a family member had.

I don't know when to ask to go to the ER. No one takes it seriously. Ever.

[kaliope]

I would say when the pain becomes intolerable and is impacting your quality of ife. if you cant function, go to the er. take care.

[SnakeCharmer]

I'm sorry you're feeling so rough today. I have two inflammatory auto-immune rheumatoid disorders that cause a lot of pain and advil does not represent a good treatment plan, if that's all the RA doc is recommending.

If you're hitting ten on the pain scale (pale, sweating, heart palps, fainting, writhing) it is time to go to the ER. If you're not losing consciousness on and off, don't tell the doctor your pain level is at 10. You won't be taken seriously.

Here's a lesson I learned from my doc: I asked him to educate me in doctor-speak, so I could be taken seriously when I had pain issues. He gave me a chart very similar to this one from Ireland.

Remote Medicine Ireland: The importance of the Pain Scale

He told me if a person says they're at the top of the scale and they're not in a heap, covered with sweat, fading in and out, with other physiological symptoms the doc can measure or see, doctors are likely to see the patient as hysterical or drug-seeking.

So if you do decide to go to the ER, it might be in your interest to say you're at a 7 or 8, even if you subjectively feel at 10. They'll treat 7 or 8. That is extremely painful. They won't treat someone who says 10 who didn't have to be carried in.

I tend to be quite stoic and when I went in complaining of severe pain, they didn't take me seriously until they took my pulse and BP, which were sky high. They laid me down and shot me up. The doc stuck his hand down my shirt and felt that I was drenched in sweat. My face doesn't sweat. The rest of me was a sodden mess. That's what they look for and 8 is plenty bad enough to cause it.

I hope that info will help you get doctors to take you seriously. RA and Still's, especially in a flare, are really painful. Often beyond words.

Take Care.

[JoeS21]

If you ever have a choice in the matter, go to the ER in the morning. That's usually when they're the least crowded (i.e. more like an hour wait instead of a 5 hour wait if higher priority cases keep coming in).

I know that's probably not the answer you're looking for, but that's what I have lots of experience with. Hopefully someone else can give you the information you are after.

[Jolisse]

Have you been to a pain management clinic? There's no reason you should be in constant pain, find another doctor. How often is your pain at a 10?

[Perna]

I would call whoever marked me as in an extreme flare and make an appointment ASAP and make them give me something to help, at least with the flare, or keep bugging them. That's all an ER is, a place to bug doctors but it's not very comfortable to go and wait, etc. so I'd rather wait and go to my own doctor who knows me (or should be getting to).

Some times extreme pain is just something that has to be put up with for awhile. I remember when I tried to get my husband to take me to the ER in the middle of the night and he said, no, he'd take me later in the morning. If I am not going to be comfortable for several hours anyway, I guess it does make sense to just put up with not being comfortable at home waiting than go somewhere and wait and perhaps be ignored/mis-treated anyway and have the wait wasted.

[growlycat]

I have found that Urgent Care is more pleasant and responsive than the ER.

I do worry for you that ER's may treat you as a "drug seeking" patient because they don't know you or your situation.

I'm mad at your primary care dr. for not better managing your pain. That seems inexcusable on their part.

I've never been to the ER just for pain.

I spend a good many days and nights screaming my throat raw because it was so severe. Alternating with passing out and vomiting. (I live with my parents and sister. My sister would relocate to the guest room on the other side of the house, but my parents had a lot of sleepless nights)

I don't consider pain an emergency. ER is for very sick people needing urgent attention, not for people who are only in a lot of pain.

[EsotericNonsense]

Tell your primary doctor that if you don't have something you can take for the pain you are worried you will hurt yourself in an attempt to get some form of relief.

[AngstyLady]

I would think that if your pain level is at a ten, it's time to see a doctor, or go to the E.R. I'm sorry that no one seems to take you seriously, that's seriously ****ed up of them!
You haven't tried cutting Nightshade (especially tomatoes) out of your diet, have you? I read that it can help in reducing RA. I hope you feel better/get a good pain relief soon!