I started on just naproxen when I was dx'd. It didn't seem to help much, but I had to delay starting methotrexate for a about a month because of a scheduled surgery. Then, while I was waiting for the MTX to kick in, I also got a couple of cortisone shots in the knees, which helped me a lot. Humira was added about 4 months after MTX, and I'm still taking all of those meds.

From the day I was diagnosed, it took 6 months before I could get anything that worked. Prior to that I was huffing aspirin, vicodin, and NSAID's like nobody's business.

I did get some things from my GP and Ortho prior to getting diagnosed, and also had shots in my shoulders - which lasted an entire 6-8 weeks ... ugh.

My doc started me on Celebrex initially after my first visit to the rhemy. You will need more thanjust OTC for the damage to the joints.

I was taking advil like they were candy before diangosis. The doc gave me cortizone shots in each knee to counter act the worst of the pain and swelling soon after, then once the MTX kicked in I stopped taking any nsaids.

I was put on Plaquenil immediately to try to halt the deformity risk.

I started self medicating with high doses of ibuprofin... too high I later learned, luckily I've had no bad side effects. When I finally did get in to see a doc, before my diagnosis, I was instructed on the limit of ibuprofin to take as well as given a script for pain meds (started with vicoden... when that was no longer strong enough I got bumped up to percoset, which I still take.)

Once I had a diagnosis my Rheumy put me on predinsone and ibuprofin to see how I would react. At my next visit I was pregnant, so we had to hold off on some of the other medications until after I give birth.

I am not looking forward to the struggle of finding the right combo of drugs that will work for my body... franly it doesn't sound like very much fun! But I am looking forward to doing something to fight back at this disease and try to be able and maintain somewhat "normal" activity!

I live in the Lake Charles La area and I understand the difficulty with the weather. I take BC Arthritis powders and find that they help me better than Tylenol or Advil.

I also use the Arthritis Gloves for my hands and it does help me especially if I put on BenGay first.

Shelley
What are arthritis Gloves and where do you get them. I don't have a lot of pain right now, exept my hands and wrist.

I start Fenbid and prednisone 7.5mg/day after my first visit to Doctor, then he put me on MTX 10mg/day since 1/12/2008, after two weeks, i tried to reduced prednisone gradually 5mg/day to 2.5 mg/day. however, my pain is manageable, but my joints still swelling. At second app to doctor . He prescribed me prednisone 4 mg/day, MTX 15mg/day.However, i felt so fatigue and uncomfortable for one week, now i felt a bit better in this two days, not sure if it is the medicien working. Really hope these medicine can work and bring me a good remission and noraml quality life

I'm on Enbrel, Athrotec and 20 mg. prednisone. My rheumy is not happy with my swelling so we are looking at Orencia and Rituxan (sigh).

Lynne

Oh god it took me like 2 yrs b4 we finally found meds that worked. First he put me on celebrex, then plaquenil, then strictly methotrexate, then a mixture, then prednisone...UGH. it was a mess. Finally put me on Enbrel and Metho and it has worked so far.

I had my GP prescribe some 600mg ibuprofin to take when I need it. Also use BioFreeze for some temporary relief. I will occasionally use pain patches too.