Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group

Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...

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Caren28 02/09/2010

hi everyone,
I have finally found a combination that is working really well for me, Enbrel, 20mgs of MTX and Plaquenil. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to take a break from the Enbrel and MTX because I'm scheduled for a spinal surgery next week. The surgery is not very complicated, as far as back surgeries go, but I'll still have a lot of healing to do. My rheumy wants me off the meds for a week before and 2-3 weeks after the surgery. I'm very nervous that I'll have a bad flare without them. Have any of you done this? How long did it take before your symptoms started up? Did it affect your recovery? Thanks for any thoughts.

Caren

naturegirl65 02/09/2010

Caren
No I haven't been in this situation so I cannot give any thought on it.
But I certainly hope good things for you and a successful surgery and you heal well and that you will not experience any flares or bad repercussions of coming off meds and having surgery.

Keep us posted.

deleted_user 02/09/2010

Caren,

I have never been in your situation, and I can understand why you are so worried.

I am sending good healing vibes your way and am hoping your body will no react to being off the RA meds for a few weeks.

Good luck with the surgery.

deleted_user 02/09/2010

Caren,

I have been in your situation and wish you luck and better success than myself.

I had elbow surgery to have my tendon's fixed in 2008 and had to stop my Enbrel and MTX the standard two weeks before and after. Unfortunately, the combination never started working again so I was forced to switch to Orencia. I am now in a situation where i have missed my Orencia for two months and still determining if the Orencia will start working again... and it is the second time I was asked to stop the meds.

Keep in mind it is not uncommon for your body to not accept the drug the same way after stopping it for a period of time, though I have also heard the opposite.

I wish you luck with your surgery and will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Christine26 02/10/2010

Wow that is tough when you have to stop your meds. So what are you supposed to take to get you through the pain while you are waiting for the surgery. Any pain meds on board. Good luck and speedy recovery with the surgery.

deleted_user 02/10/2010

Are you in any way non-compliant? My advice is don't go off the meds. I had surgery in April, and in the end, I did not have to go off the mthx, (the latest research says it does NOT impair healing after surgery.) I did have to go off the Kineret for a week before and after. It was very complex reconstruction of my entire right forefoot, but the pain from the flares was worse than the surgery, and it took months to heal. I also got a nodule in my throat, and 10 months later I am still having problems. If it is a question of bones, then stay off anti-inflammatories, since they will inhibit bone fusion. If it is just about the anesthetic, I would really push to not go off. I will never have surgery again, unless I will die, if it means going off my meds. Nothing is worth not being able to talk for months, sing, or breathe (my cousin died from an RA nodule in her throat, was revived and has a permanent trache.) So that is my sad story. There is a lot of conflict about this issue, and it was not worth it for me. Get a second opinion if necessary and talk to the anesthesiologist. I don't know about Enbrel, but I think it is a TNF, which means it has nothing to do with anti-inflammatory. It was a terrible mistake going off my Kineret.

bigiblue 02/10/2010

I had knee surgery last week and had to get off enbrel (50mg) before and again after until my knee has no signs of infection. I also got off Prednisone 4 days before surgery, but they had to give me some the day off in my drip b/c the dr. said it is still in my system. It has been one week now since my surgery ( last Tuesday) and zI have no pain, no flares and I feel like it has all been a dream. I feel like I have gone into remission. No swelling (other than my knee), no pain. I have to go to the orthopedic on the 18th and we will see how I do in the coming weeks. I heard that sometimes a person can go into remission from all the Antibiotics they give you. I am not sure.
bigi

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