Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
I have a question or two again please. As I'm newly diagnosed, I'm trying to understand if what I'm going thru is 'normal' or I'm horribly impatient. I'm on plaquenil for a 3month "let's see what it does". I know that it can takes time, up to 6 months, to work IF it is going to. I had been on a lower dose, 5mg, of prednisone, but off since about 2 weeks ago. i was doing pretty well, a little stiff fingers (only place I currently have), in the morning, but all and all, OK. On Thursday, my right hand, particularly middle finger, started having intense pain and stiffness. It has been swollen for weeks, but not anything like this. I called my rheumy and she called in another prescription for prednisone for me to take for another 3 weeks. How long did you guys wait before trying a different med? I'm hoping that the snow and colder weather we had mid week was the culprit, but is it nice now and still really sore. Do those of you on biologics still have times that you are completely incapacitated by pain and stiffness? Hoping for some relief from the prednisone SOON. thanks, donna
I still have good days and horrible days...half the week good other half can be bad enough to stay in bed and what i also call incapacitated fron the pain and fatigue. everyone is different, the only time that I felt normal with no pain, stiffness and fatigue was during the months that i was on pred. hope this helps...hope you get relief,
pearl has some good suggestions methatrexate in combination with humira, enbrel, orencia or remicaid, is the gold standard in RA treatment right now.
Those do the trick for the majority of us. For me, it's been a life changer. I've been on enbrel, humira and now orencia. First two were good for about 2 years each for me. orencia, I am on 3 years and in total medical remission. Like I have no RA! As good as I was 40 years ago!!!
I highly recommend these biological disease modifiers! Plaquenel is kinda 1990s. Old school thinking was to treat conservatively. New school is treat aggressively sooner rather than waiting for deformities like I have.
That avitar you see is my REAL hand xray! BOTH are twisted and deformed. You need a powerful drug that stops the PROGRESSION of the disease, not just treats the pain and stiffness.
Good luck!
After 3 attempts I put my foot down with the doctor.
She decided to take a more aggressive approach & started the Enbrel.
I was one of the lucky ones & felt relief sooner then later in some areas such as my hands.
Although I noticed when I had to go off for infections the relief is not always as quick to come.
Prednisone gives me the best relief but there is a reason its used only when needed.
I don't get relief right away from it usually takes a few days to feel any real noticeable difference. Its taken a week at times which is a bummer as I'm already decreasing the dose by then. My doctor is not a fan of Prednisone so I count my blessings when she prescribes it.
I do think even on biologics there are other factors for some people that can determine how one feels.
I agree with the more aggressive approach if there is any signs the RA is causing major problems. I don't get waiting til damage is done.
Is there any indication in your blood work that the Plaquenil is having a positive affect?
You know it may not hurt to ask about trying another med if the problems are still there in a month or so. Hopefully you get some relief on the prednisone & that will buy you some time.
I wish you the best of luck.
Sammy