Mthx was never enough for me. I didn't just have breakthrough pain, I had 100 joints that were sore or flared when I was evaluated for a biologic. I was on it for 5 years, with nothing but prednisone and Naproxen and that should NOT have happened.

I think you should wait another month. Mthx is supposed to take 3 to 6 weeks to kick in according to my pharmaceutical compendium. But sometimes a bit longer. If it does not work, be aggressive in demanding a biologic to go with mthx. Otherwise you will be getting joint damage.

Nothing affects my RA except for the meds. I do eat well, and exercise, but food, weather and stress don't make a difference if the drugs are working. I will admit, that when my Synthroid was down, the combo did not work as well. But that was simply my thyroid not functioning correctly, which it happened when I got RA.

I hope you get some relief from mthx, or you can add more meds and get this disease under control.

My doc said it takes three to six months for MTX to reach its maximum benefit, but after three months on MTX, she added Humira for me. MTX alone just didn't help enough. I'm still hoping to get better. I have had five shots of Humira so far. She said after six I can taper on the prendisone. We shall see. In answer to your other questions, I have seen posts from people who are able to control their RA with MTX and they take NSAIDs and pain pills when needed. I know MTX alone barely touches my RA. Best Wishes! V

There is no one answer for people. MTX alone works for some; others need another drug for the cocktail to improve their condition. I know my dedicated rheumy tried at least l5 different combinations on me before we found something effective. It isn't about the drugs, it's about how our bodies deal with them. I wish theire was one miracle drug that worked for everytone, but that's just not reality.

I'm in remission now but still have osteo and all the things you mention impact it. My ring finger predicts weather changes and fatigue hurts my joints. It iimpacts us all differently, unfortunately.

Lynne

When first diagnosed, my husband had bladder cancer, so I didn't take the biologic, we both have insurance but cancer is very expensive. I was on MTX, prednisone, lyrica, other meds and my joints and flairs only got worse.
When I did start taking the biologic, I started getting better. Of course it took an extra 2 years, and 4 different biologics later. My knees are bone to bone, but I am so much better.

Bad stress will put me in a flare, I really try to keep my life, hassle free, and have learned to not sweat the little stuff. I stay away from negative people and have learned to say NO!
Lin

For me it took four months to see any affects from the mthx and this was only after I convinced my Rheumy to let me take another pil. I am now on 7. How many do you take? I have a cocktail of Humira, mthx and now celebrex for my RA. I was also on Plaquenil but was having too many side affects I wasn't happy with so we switched my mobic and plaquenil to celebrex. I am still having issues with pain, stiffness and swelling everyday but it is to a much lesser degree than it was prior to the meds. Everything I have taken has helped improve my situation but I am not free of symptoms ever. I did have some good days a few months ago but not since then. If things are not better by January we will make some changes to my meds. So I have been on mthx for 9 mths. Humira for 6mths and the Plaquenil was almost 2mths before stopping it. Hope this helps.

Well, some have mild to severe aggressive RA. Some can get by on Plaquenil alone, or some can get by with Mtx alone.

I always needed 3 meds for my RA. And i didn't get that breakthrough, till 2000, about a year after Enbrel came out

About it taking 3 months or more to work?...The same thing in reverse...when you have to get off of mtx

OMG, i had to get off of it, elevated liver labs. Had the biopsy, just fatty liver, have to loose weight. i might possible be able to back on it..when labs come down .

Rheumy said, this pain i have, is like it was when i was diagnosed..mtx outta my system.

I love Remicade, been on it since March....but, mono-therapy isn't enough, and by week 4...i am flaring like i have never flared...until i get remicade again on week 6.

Then i gotta do the prednisone. Terrrible pain, just about all joints. And they always see my hands first, for the first sign of inflammation.

When the hands are flared...there are so many things i CANNOT do...like sleep, ...so at this point, the prednisone helps

So i miss my Mtx..16 yrs on it...

When i am on the right combo of meds..i have skinny fingers..and don't get the pain i do now when i flare, after remicade wears off
after all these years, they now say i have psoriatric arthritis..as my reason for getting remicade, because 2 yrs ago, i got the peelings on palms and feet.....

so they said i had RA all those other years...sero-negative..but i have seen some high sed rates..who knows?...same meds for either..and hard to diagnose psoriatric arthritis

Thank you all for your comments and advice. It seems that every time I finally get in with my Rheumy he is leaving for vacation or an out of state conference the very next day. He wanted me to keep being patient with the MTX and prednisone until he gets back in town at the end of next week. If I am not feeling better by then he is going to increase the MTX. I have been on meloxicam and celebrex but I do not tolerate nsaids well because of previous damage caused by Fosamax for my osteoporosis. I have an internist friend that has asked me why I am not on remicade as well. This is one difficult disease. It sure is hard to plan on anything anymore. .....except for your friendship, your experience and your words of wisdom. Thank you

I get occasional breakthrough pain. I had a rough end of the week because I had accidentally run out of one of my NSAIDS. After not getting a lot of breakthrough pain for a while, I had forgotten how bad it could be. It's mostly re-managed now.

I had to increase my MTX once and split the dose to help manage the side effects. I think It took me about 3 months to get the dosing right.

Hang in there!
Ren