Hello, I turn 42 in about three weeks. For pain I usually take 800mg ibuprofen when needed. I'm on a regimen of plaquenil twice a day and Humira shot every other week. Seems to be doing the trick. What meds are you taking for your Ra? For me once my symptoms felt somewhat better so did my depression and state of mind. Welcome to the board.

Hi sweet7474,
Sorry to hear about your trials with RA. Yes this disease sucks! I'm 46 but was diagnosed when I was around 43. When I first got it, I was fairly depressed about it but immediately became very proactive at finding a good Rheumatologist & hitting the disease aggressively as they all suggest. So far I've been very very lucky, I was on Methotrexate for about a year & 1/2 & now I'm presently in remission for about 6 months now. For how much longer?? Who knows, it could end tomorrow or could be fine for the rest of my life. I'll still have flare ups for certain but as for now I feel very blessed & lucky. My lower lumbar back is still giving me issues but I'm tackling that separately.
Take care! I hope you feel better soon!

I was diagnosed in my mid 40's and luckily got on MTX right away, which really helped a lot. Over the years the MTX dose got higher and then it was working less and less. Five years ago we added Humira to the drug arsenal. It was a game changer and I have my life back. I've been in drug-controlled remission now for 5 years. I'm in my late 60's now and "old age stuff" [e.g., OA, DDD] is something I deal with now. For me, Tramadol helps just enough to get the edge of the pain off. Most days are pretty darned good. I think there's a lot to be hopeful for.

Here's the trick and the best advice I can give:

1. Get the best rheumatologist
2. Find a drug treatment plan that works
3. Lose weight if you need to
4. Exercise - doesn't need to be strenuous - just move those joints
5. Accept that there will be some adaptation to the constraints of the disease
6. Set your boundaries with family and friends; educate them; don't feel you have to attend eery function or be all things to all people
7. Rest when you can

8. Find a passion in life, because sitting around and dwelling on the disease will make you feel worse

Also, on a sad or frustrating note. Be prepared that some family/friends will not understand or take the time to understand what you're going through. They'll only hear the buzz word arthritis & think, "Oh just pop a Tylenol & stop being a baby". Although they have google & the internet at their fingertips they won't want to try & get a deeper understanding so they "may" just distance themselves from you OR you may end up doing the same to them.

My list:

1. Be HOPEFUL! There are LOTS of treatments for RA some bring good relief for some of us, some even put us into remission (I have been in remission for 6 years on Orencia, minus 3-4 months I had to go off it).

2. There will likely be ups and downs un tis you and your doctor find a good med or cocktail of meds

3. Get plenty of SLEEP! For me, the only other factor other than medication is sleep. Weather doesn't effect me nor does diet. Sleep is restorative! You need it! I need 9-10 hours a night!

4. Be gentle and PATIENT with yourself try to avoid catastrophe thinking that you will ALWAYS be in the pain you are in now! I know cause I do the same thing. :-) I guess it's human nature, but it's just not true!

5. One thing that gets me through is thinking of all the diseases that are FAR WORSE than RA, and there are PLENTY! You sure wouldn't want to trade RA for ALS! MS is not exactly fun either. There are MANY, trust me! ALSO be grateful that you were diagnosed NOW in 2010, when there are good medications available. I have had RA for about 40 years and suffered greatly and have deformities because until recently there wasn't much they could do for it....so....

6. Take it one day at a time.

7. READ, read, read so that you become an expert on RA and can be inactive member of your health care TEAM!

8. And when you ned to bitch or moan...come here!!!

Sending gentle hugs.

I am 62 now, and I was diagnosed at age 44, although I had it at least 2 years earlier. I was struck down, to say the least. I was working out at a gym daily for a couple of hours, I had lost weight and I felt good. Then I went in one day with a hot knee, a red, swollen balloon. One particular weight I could not lift with my legs - not even the bar. That is when I knew something was seriously wrong.

It took a couple of years to get a diagnosis, and then 5 years being undertreated for severe RA. I had to go on disability and I just gave up on life. I was so depressed and miserable, and I could barely move. It was the worst time in my life, so I understand what you are going through.

I finally got on Kineret and mthx, and although I had some really bad hand and feet deformities, I felt so good I lost weight, started riding my bicycle and lifting weights and took flute lessons and did a Master of Divinity.

Then I had med failures, and lots of issues, but I took back my vow not to take prednisone and manage to ride out (literally) the med changes. I've been in a holding pattern the last 18 months, but even though I was completely bed ridden, I didn't get depressed like I did in the early years of this disease.

I still have that hope and trust that somehow things are going to get better. Whether they will or not doesn't matter - it's that I don't give up.

So don't give up! I think everyone in this forum is a testiment to the fact that you can feel better if you find the right meds. And sometimes that takes time. And welcome to the group!

Well I am just going to be honest as I was just diagnosed April of this year and yeah so far it bites the big one. I have been in pain for at least 6yrs give or take, I am trying to put the pieces of the puzzle together. In march of 2013 I just became exhausted, thought it was depression as I have that too, all I could do was work and sleep, I was a single mom with a 4 and 7 yr old and I did the best I could until March of 2015 and my mind and body said something is wrong and you can't con't on like this. Needless to say I had to resign from my job. It was all I could do to care for my kids. I went from doctor to doctor with all these complaints and they treated me like it was all in my head. My mood just continued to get worse and so did everything else. I finally got my diagnosis and thought well things will get better. It has a little bit bc I know what I am dealing with but I am still struggling. I think what has helped the most is having support especially people who have been through it or are going through it at the same time. I know that was long winded and I apologize but there's something therapeutic about sharing your story. We are here for you. Vent, gripe, complain whatever makes you feel better. Depression and pain go hand in hand. I have been dealing with that. It's a tough road. I have been on steroids for about 2 months now bc of the pain. I also see a pm doctor and do other things like streching, exercise when I can, heat and ice, topical creams, relaxation and praying. It takes a combo of things. You have to find what works for you bc we are all different. Don't feel all alone bc your not. Hope you feel better soon.

Hang in there! You will find balance. First of all, you need to accept that you are different now from when you were younger. That's hard. Different, but you are not a bad person. You will figure this out. The more you read about RA, the more you will see how we are all different. You will have to keep trying ( with your Rheumy) to find your specific drug "cocktail" ( no alcohol here!) Just try to think of this RA as a new challenge in your life-I'm sure you've had many. Every day may be different. You will have to accept that there will be days that you will say " never mind" to the original plan for the day. Some days will be better. Some days I can function- (I'm "stable" as my Rheumy says.) Some days it's a down day. I try to be "productive" each day. "Productive" can mean that I only folded some wash (nothing else-not put it away). Some days, maybe I can be REALLY productive and do several things! Or some days being productive means I got dressed. That counts.
I refuse prenisone except for a short treatment for asthmatic bronchitis. Enbrel shot on Monday, twice daily plaquenil with once daily mobic. After reading about the addictiveness of Tramadol, I limit my use to a max of three per week. Not three per day as prescribed. I've found out just how to schedule my meds. As I said, shot on Monday, Tramadol on Wed afternoon and Tramadol on Fri afternoon with a possible one on Sun. I also found that ginger capsules-1 capsule twice a day, has made a BIG difference. But! As with each med you try, EVERYTHING takes at least six stinkin weeks to kick in. Just watch the calender and reserve judgment until then. That is so hard! We are used to taking something for a headache, and voila! 20 mins later, the headache is gone. Doesn't work like that for RA. I also find some relief in wearing a copper bracelet. I do better without magnets, while hubby prefers magnets in his.
So I guess I want to offer my sympathy. RA sucks, true story, but it's your new normal and you have lots of company. Hang in there. Xoxo