Question: I have been having severe (& I do mean severe) aches and pains for the past 3 weeks. When the pain started it was in my thighs. A few days later that pain went away only to be replaced by the same severe pain in my arms. This continued throughout the 1st week. After that, over these next 2 weeks, new pain locations would start, but none of the previous pains would stop. The pains were no longer traveling. Instead all pain areas were staying, from my scalp, jaw, neck, shoulders, back, full circle of thighs, groin, in cartilage, ankles & tops of feet. I am on Humira since 1/21/16. I thought I was having an allergic reaction possibly, to the Humira. In March, I had the fingers on both hands & the toes on both feet were "locking up" & very painful. At the same time I was have severely painful XXXXXXX Horses in both calves & the arches of both feet. After 2 weeks the lock ups & XXXXXXX Horse completely stopped & never came back. Now, however as I described at the beginning of this email, I have pain all over my whole body. I do not have any insurance, so I was hoping it would go away on it's own, like when I had the locking up & XXXXXXX Horses, but it is not happening. I went to a doctor last Friday. She took blood to run blood tests for Lyme Disease & the other test for arthritis. The test results were not in as of yesterday & the pain got so bad, I went to the emergency room. They ran several bloods & they were able to get the results of the blood tests that were run on Friday. Everything on the blood tests looked perfect, including NO arthritis, EXCEPT it showed positive for Lyme Disease. Since I am allergic to aspirin, advil & aleve, they gave me antibiotics that I was instructed to take 2 times per day for 21 days. They gave me Lidacaine patches on Friday for pain. It did absolutely nothing for the pain at all...no help whatsoever. Yesterday the ER gave me Tramadol (50 mg) for pain. It helps the pain to become tolerable. Pain was 8-9. Pain with Tramadol is about 6-7. The issue with Tramadol puts me to sleep for hours at a time, almost all day. I am laid off & it is hard to go to interviews if I can't take the Tramadol to reduce the pain to a level where I can tolerate the pain, but because it will make me far, far too drowsy to drive or interview. I think my doctor (actually she is a Nurse Practioner)would be open to medication ideas if I knew any to suggest. Because of my aspirin allergies, she does not know what to give me to reduce pain to a tolerable level & not make me too drowsy to drive or interview. Below there is a block where you page asks what I have tried so far, so I put that info in that block. My question is what can you suggest to help me?

Thank you for your quick reply.

I looked online at both of the drugs you listed.

Here is what I found under Etoricoxib:

•If you have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine. It is particularly important that you tell your doctor if you have had a bad reaction to any other NSAID (such as aspirin, naproxen, diclofenac, and indometacin).

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Here is what I found online about Diclofenac:

You should not use diclofenac if you have a history of allergic reaction to aspirin or NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

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So, it looks like I cannot take either one of the drugs you suggested. I am deathly allergic to aspirin, Advil & Aleve. (They close my throat, literally).

Can you suggest something to relieve the pain that:
1. does will not make me drowsy
2. does not have properties of aspirin, Advil or Aleve
3. does not have a warning not to take if one has an allergic to the products I named above?

I am in terrible pain & need some relief. I listed all the methods I have used so far in the "what have you tried so far" section of my profile yesterday.

Please advise.

Thank you, XXXXXXX XXXX

Hi Dr. XXXXXXX

When I was in the hospital for Ulcerative Colitis back in XXXXXXX 2016, I was given Prednisone & was kept on it for 3-1/2 months. I gained 25 lbs! I have so far lost 10 lbs. I am in so much pain at this point that pretty much all I am eating is soup, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches & thin slice turkey sandwiches WITHOUT any lettuce nor tomato, just using a tiny bit of mayo. It's easy to make & I know I have to eat something, even though I am not hungry as I think you have to take the antibiotic with food. I am drinking lots of water (Deer Park Brand).

I was given 21 days of antibiotics. Because of that I am guessing I will be in this enormous level of pain for at least another 2-3 weeks. I still have some Prednisone left.

1. Can I take Prednisone for 3 weeks with gaining weight?
2. If not, how long will be able to take it without gaining weight?
3. If I take Prednisone for 2-3 weeks while I am waiting for the antibiotic to kill the Lyme Disease, what is the weaning off process?
4. What can I do to lose the weight that Prednisone put on me? The only reason I lost 10 lbs so far is because I am barely eating. Any meds you can suggest that are safe to take AND ACTUALLY WORK, preferably over the counter, but if not then prescription.
5. Also, I have a hiatal hernia that has been laying dormant for several years, but in these last few days, whenever I eat, say a sandwich, I have strong pains in my back where I guess my esophagus is. I take very tiny bites and chew several times before I swallow, in hopes of not having the pain. That doesn't stop the pain. What are you suggests of what I can do to avoid the pain when I eat?

Thank you again, XXXXXXX XXXX