I have been diagnosed with RA, Wegener's Granulomatosis and OA. I take paracetamol for the pain for the RA and OA but I am reluctant to continue this. Is there an alternative relief for the pain?

The answer to this question depends on a number of things. I certainly would recommend that you address this with the physicians caring for your illness due to the number of variables involved. First of all, if your pain is due to OA and is basically non-inflammatory, paracetamol is one of the safest interventions you can take for this. As long as the dose does not exceed 6 pills per day and your liver function is being monitored this is a very reasonable intervention. If this is ineffective or poorly tolerated, another simple analgesic such as tramadol could be considered. If you have any kidney problems related to Wegener's, I would avoid anti-inflammatory drugs such as Advil (Ibuprofen) or Aleve (Naproxen), as these drugs can worsen kidney function in addition to being associated with ulcers and potentially with cardiovascular complications. If the pain is related to inflammation, intensified treatment of RA could be more effective and more specific, but this depends on what you are currently taking. Without knowing more about your current regimen, it would be difficult for me to advise you on this. Once again, I would recommend visiting with your rheumatologist to make a more informed decision; if you don't have one, I would request a referral.