Can methotrexate cause more pain as a side effect. I had one injection of methotrexate for...

Question posted by BellaBoxer on 27 July 2022

Last updated on 13 August 2022

... inflammation from inflammatory osteoarthritis. I am having way more pain than I ever had before. It’s so bad that I can’t even stay in bed laying down. The pain feels multiplied many times more than normal. I’m on opioids for my pain but they aren’t helping at all. It’s like the pain is too strong for my pain meds to even touch it. I’ve tried ice and heat trying to get relief. My pain is so severe I almost went to the hospital last night but I fear they’ll think I’m just looking for more meds. I also have thrush on my tongue. I used to get it every time I got a cortisone shot but I can’t have them anymore. Can all this be caused by the methotrexate. I’d greatly appreciate any advise or info on this. I’m so tired of pain and now I have more pain while trying to find some relief.

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Debbymaree 28 July 2022

There is a condition where some painkillers can actually cause more pain than the condition you are taking them for.
I thought I had this recently.
Is the pain in a different place? Sometimes mtx can cause or accelerate other autoimmune diseases. Once you have one it's common to get more.
Have you tried probiotics? For the thrush.
You need to go see your health care provider.

BellaBoxer 13 Aug 2022

Thank you for replying. I have inflammatory osteoarthritis all over my body and was put on methotrexate injections to try to take down the inflammation as I can’t have cortisone shots anymore because they stopped my body from producing its own cortisol and I can’t take anti inflammatory meds as they cause me ulcers. The pain that has increased is my usual pain just amplified to the point that I have to use a walker to get around. I have hip bursitis that comes and goes but it came back with a vengeance after that one shot of methotrexate and won’t ease off no matter what I do. The arthritis in my knees have flared up terribly and they really weren’t that much of a problem before the shot. My whole lower body from my lower back down is in terrible pain and is keeping me awake at night. I can’t sleep on my sides anymore so have to stay on my back.

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I’ve been very sore and stiff for a long time now after getting out of bed or up from a chair or sofa but it is much worse now so I have to keep the walker next to me. Before the injection I was still able to walk my dogs and had just bought a 7 month old boxer puppy. Now I can’t walk them and can barely get in a few minutes of throwing a toy across the backyard. I can’t imagine my arthritis has all of a sudden taken such a bad turn on its own. I’m only 58 but feel 30 years older. I’m on 6 mg hydromorph contin 3 times a day along with 4 Percocet and it barely seems to be able to touch the pain at times and mostly not at all. I call my rheumatologist office and was told the shot wouldn’t have caused this to happen and to try it again so 3 days ago I took another shot. I’ll see what happens. If my pain gets any worse I won’t be using the walker either. The nurse also said it doesn’t cause thrust on the tongue but I see other comments on here from people that say it does. I got a prescription from my family doctor for the thrush and a rinse to use on the day of each injection but the thrush came right back again. I have chronic fatigue as well and this shot causes so much fatigue on top of it. Wondering if it’s worth continuing with this. All the other scary side effects I read about worry me as well. It takes over a week for the rheumatologist office to get back to me and unless I book a month in advance with my family doctor it’s hard to see him. Can’t get an appointment with my internal medicine specialist earlier than sept 25. I feel like I’m left flying blind with this new med and doctors don’t seem to like to acknowledge the side effects of meds. I think at least if they would be up front about them I might feel more comfortable. Most everything I’ve learned about methotrexate I found online and am grateful for this site to get some real answers from people that have been there. I’m just having a really trying time lately with so much extra pain and am really grateful for your reply. I hope this med is working really good for you.

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