The interesting thing about this disease - is that no case is 'typical'.

If you'd told my mom, who had twisted hands and advanced RA just four years after onset, that she'd find a magic pill and get close to twenty years of pain free remission - she would've said you were nuts! Yet that's exactly what happened. She still pulls sixty hour weeks at the family's florist during holidays. And she's 67!

If you'd have told me during a severe super flare in '09. That I too would find my magic bullet and be pain free after twelve years of chronic pain - I'd have also thought you were nuts. Yet here I am, letting my disabled parking tag expire in four days and can't wait to burn it :)

Statistics are just that - numbers. You can let them get you down - or choose not to become them! Sure, both my mom and I have things we used to do (jogging for example) that neither of us can anymore. But you notice more nature in the park on a hike than you do on a run.... so we've learned to enjoy nature more. It takes some time to learn to live life more fully through the small things - but dwelling on the darkness won't lead to the light.

Both of us found our magic bullets during some of the darkest times that RA can bring. It does happen. And many here beat the statistics each and everyday that they get dressed and trudge off to work - remission or not - they still beat the statistics.

We all worry about our futures. Each of our futures will be different. Now everyone ends up on disability in 10 years. I worked for over 20 years after my diagnosis -- until I was eligible for early retirement. I did stop working on disability in 1999.

I still worry but have learned to go through a "worry period" and then get on with my life. It'll crop up again, I'll deal with it, and I'll keep going on.

HawkEye53,

I know how you feel. I just received my official diagnosis this February but my doctor backdated it as "Active since 2011". So, technically, I am going on 3+ years of diagnosis. Things have definitely gotten worse in that time and I cannot do everything I have been able to do in year past. Primarily in the mobility area. The sad part is... I'm only 28!

I had a BAD flare all winter this year and had to use a cane for a couple of months. 28 and I'm having to use a cane!?!?!? It made me sooooo depressed!

I have since started Humira and saw some great results for a couple of months but had a flare hit this week. Had to use my cane again.

I really LOVE my job and don't want to be disabled but If things get worse, I may have to look into disability. It makes me depressed just thinking about it. :/

No need to apologize for posting your thoughts/how you're feeling...that is what we're here for!
Yes,ofcourse it can be discouraging..but we have to keep looking for the meds or the little tricks of what does help us feel better and what doesn't..life is too precious(like with your special 8 year old) to give up and just suffer in pain..

Thanks for the posts everyone feeling more positive today and hoping to have a great Sunday with the kids

I was first diagnosed two years ago, didn't know what the heck was going on, I couldn't button a blouse or even put a T over my head and I every step I took, pain, could hardly walk, was going down fast, had to wait about a month before able to see a specialist. No, I can't jog or exercise like I use to but things are way better for me now and I take each and every day as they come. I've learned to accept that this is the way it's going to be and it's going to take plenty of determination on my part to keep this at bay along with my medication. I pray you find what works for you!

Hello. My doctor told me when I was first diagnosed that a high percentage of people with RA quit working within 10 years of diagnosis. At the time I was very gung ho about it and swore to myself I would not let RA dictate my life and decisions. Now 6 years later I have had to change my tune. I work part-time now because the pain and fatigue were too bad for me to continue my high stress full time job. To be honest I thought I would be miserable but some good has come from it. After working full-time for 20 years, being a mother to two girls, a wife, daughter and daughter-in law. I am finally being forced to take time to spend time on myself. Read a good book on a comfortable chair, take a slow walk when the weather is nice, actually chat to my neighbours who I've lived next to for years but never really known. So although the prospect of never working full time again is a little sad, it has honestly not been all bad. I've sort of learned to accept the situation and find the good things in it. I hope this doesn't sound like I lack empathy. Chin up friend. It'll be okay.

oh yeah hawkeye, the future is something that i consider with dread and with hope. often simultaneously. i have to look at it as, it is what it is so deal with it the best as i can, present and future. compared to the way we used to look at the future, it will be discouraging. but are you familiar with the old saying that hindsight is always 20/20? don't compare your look to the future from RA eyes to the previous look to the future with pre-RA eyes......that's never going to be a fair comparison for you to make so just don't do it.

Hawkeye (makes me happy to type that- I grew up in the Hawkeye state), how old is the research you were looking at? If it wasn't done last month, remember that the advent of biologic drugs has changed the prognosis, and for the better. People who were diagnosed before these drugs were available sustained plenty of damage that might be avoidable now.

That's not to say that everyone does well now. We all know that, just from reading all the stories here. I'm also not saying that you don't have reason for concern. Especially with a special-needs kid you have plenty going on without getting sick on top of it. Like Sally, I'm also a firm subscriber to the "prepare for the worst, hope for the best" school of thought.

I agree with alto - I have prepared as best I can given the information I gleaned from this site and others

Peace
Bluedogs2

So sorry to hear that you are suffering..I was dx in 2004. Here it is 10yrs later.. I guess I am one of the lucky ones.. I have not gotten a whole lot worse..I have stayed pretty much the same except my legs want to give out and ache a lot.. Only on MTX 6 ml per week..so far so good.. also have osteoarthritis on top of the r.a...I have lost a lot of my strength... x-rays do not show any major difference than what it was 10 yrs ago.. So many of us do not fit into what you have read.. I hope you find the magic cocktail that works for you .