Crystal - I agree, you have extenuating circumstances.

But there are MANY RA patients with kidney issues who take RA drugs. You seriously need to find another doctor.

Kidney disorders are disabling......the the chronic pain and inflammation from RA can be tremendously disabling as well.

If you cannot find a board certified rheumatologist who won't work with your specialist for kidney disease, find the closest medical teaching hospital and go there. You'll likely be triaged and get a much better treatment plan.

I wish you well.

Thanks, doodlebugs for that info on this drug. My husband and many in his family, including one son, have a particularly aggressive form of RA. Our son was getting OA bumps by the time he was 30, probably a result of being an enforcer in hockey, and banging his hands. (I won't comment on the faces he banged his hands into!)

Anyway, I shall have to see if it is available in Canada, yet. It might be something he should look into, and reduce the amount of progression damage he is experiencing already.

I'm intriued by your rheumatologist, crystalcane. Is he an MD? I only ask because his opinions are out of the norm that most of us sense or see.

Andd doodle, are you an NP? You've said before that you were a physician, and I've wondered if you have letters or titles associated with that. It was impressive the way you jumped all over that drug. Reminds me of RA Sally. And I haven't heard of flavinoids in a year of Sundays. I was (mis)diagnosed with fibromyalgia years ago, and somebody in my health network, I believe an NP friend, suggested bioflavinoids. Mine were beet. And, I'm glad you mentined that, because it's one of those long lost pieces to an earlier puzzle, which I now believe was an early manifestation of AI disease. I beet (pun intended) that with all natural remedies, aside from a sleep med, which I still use, so as much as I have believed in RA drug therapy, I will retire from this space to reconstruct my former life and remedies, saying FURA.

Bye bye, and thanks for the fish.

Nonightshades, quit smoking.

Plain and simple: either something was lost in translation in the doctor's office, or your rheumatologist needs to go back to medical school.

Without treatment RA can cause irreversible joint damage. That's why rheumatologists are strong advocates of the known DMARD treatment standards.

joline - I am a physician (MD) - I am not a rheumatologist. On this forum, I am a patient with RA...but it is hard not to inject some comments that let a little of the physician sneak out. (I feel I have shown great restraint in some posts!) I try to not make any comments that could be interpreted as real medical advice, and I ask that people do not ask for such.