Like everything, I believe it depends on the severity of your RA and how well you respond to medication.

My RA was very painful and in 15+ joints when I was diagnosed. When I was on enbrel, I am positive I was in remission. Now that I'm on nothing, I only have 2-3 joints bothering me at a time.
I'm sure if I tried to do a normal activity, like exercise for 30min, I'd be back to 15+ joints messed up though.

It can get better. When I look back at where I was in 2007, when I was first diagnosed with RA, I'd say I'm about 90-95 percent better. Back then, I could barely turn on the shower, I was afraid to drive because of my condition, and stairs were totally out of the question. Although I'm lucky in that I got a diagnosis right away, I couldn't start meds for a couple of months because of another health issue, so I developed some permanent joint damage. However, now that I've found the right meds for me, I'm feeling almost normal again. Believe it or not, I even played a little tennis a couple of weeks ago -- the first time since my diagnosis! I didn't actually run around much (if the ball was out of my reach, I just let it go), but I hit the ball back and forth with my daughter for about an hour. I had to use a lighter racket, but making such accommodations for my condition is almost automatic now.

.....only if their RA isn't severe (sounds like yours is--so is mine)

It does get better ... Or it has with me. My pain is not really better but the management of it is. Does that make sense?

I now pay close attention to my body... when I need to sleep, rest, eat, or even take a short walk or do yoga.

I no longer work (THANK GOD) and am now after 2 yrs of grieving am starting to feel better about "life".

I know that I will possible never be the same but I am learning new things.... like instead of hiking 10 miles in the canyon or riding my bike 20 miles like I once cld... I started doing things that I can. I now quilt, sew, water color paint, and cook.

I have taken a different approach and my family now seems to understand that I have to control the disease or I will get completely down.

I enjoy my women's groups and no longer care about a career that was totally consuming me.

I appreciate my husband more bc of his acts of love towards me and in his helping me thru all of this.

It didn't happen over night.... but finally I got thru the grief and it did get better.... mostly my approach to how to manage and handle it.

Lots of luv n hugs.
xo Sun

Just be careful and don't get to cocky if you are on medications and you feel like you are in remission. Thought I was and stretched out enbrel shots with too many days in between and my RA came back very strong. Now after 6 months off enbrel I am trying it again. I don't want to jinx myself and say I think it is working (I am still on 5mg prednisone), but my aches are a lot better.

After going through a very rough six months, if the enbrel has started working again I will kiss the enbrel shot each week and take it faithfully and be thankful for all the "less pain" I have now.

Hi,
Well I have to say mine has got better with the help of the right meds and I can do most things in moderation. Although it's taken 3 years of trial and error with the meds. Goodluck with your treatments but believe their is light at the end of the tunnel.
Hugs
Kelxx

I've only had two doses of MTX, but I'm noticing an increase in energy. As a result, I went gun-ho last week. Didn't nap M-Th and by Th pm, hit a brick wall (metaphorically of course). Paid for it all night and until about noon on Friday. Then on Sat ended up in urgent care with severe rib pain. Rheumy thinks that it may be pleurisy (inflamed lining of pleural cavity, around the lungs).
So, I have to remember that while I may be feeling better, I still have to pace myself.
I have undifferentiated inflammatory polyarthritis, which has resulted in secondary osteoarthritis and secondary fibromyalgia. I have tenosynovitis, tendonitis, synovitis, etc. I also have localized scleroderma on my right hand & forehead and dishydrotic eczema on my feet.

I take SSZ, MTX, Mobic, Welbutrin, Fish Oil, Prenatal Vitamins, Magnesium, etc. I haven't found the "perfect" combination yet, but I am positive that we are close.

I may not be able to powerlift again, but my goal is to be able to comfortably ride horses again and maybe even jog.