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...

2,179 Members

16,355 Posts

0 Online

GunaDieAloneInPain 03/04/2013

i only have 2 injections left and i cant afford anymore and no organizations or foundations will assist me with any help for some reason.

i wana try and spread out the last 2 injections i have to try and keep the pain away long as possible before it comes back since i have no more meds.

so for anyone that has gone off enbrel completely or even temporarily how long as it before you started to get pain back from the RA or PA?

just curious cause it has been working for me and i feel pretty good and not looking forward to my PA pain coming back

bcatz 03/04/2013

I went off in November/December of 2011 and I'm still basically in remission.
Your doctor didn't secure a couple injections for you?

achymom 03/04/2013

I skipped 3 weeks when I was fighting an infection and things stayed under control. I hope you are able to find a way to access the meds at a decent price.

bigiblue 03/04/2013

I tried to stretch it as you are doing because of ins issues and im in pain again . I have been in remission for 3 years, but i think it stopped working . I stopped it for almost 5 weeks b/c of an infection, and then got on it every 2weeks to stretch it, but now i started to have more pain. My Rheumy said it might happen and i didnt believe him b/c i was feeling so good like i didnt have ra any more. Now im paying for it. If i cant get it anymore then i'll have to try celebrex or something else. I have 4 more shots left.
I hope you stay on it and dont get off it. Keep us posted as to how you 're feeling. Good luck.
Bigi

fark420 03/05/2013

I've stretched it about a month before but I think it depends on you and what your body is doing, remember or at least for me stress can play a huge roll in flares, good luck I hope you find some financial help. Also what about other non biologic's Arava, prednisone etc. to help fend it off?

deleted_user 03/05/2013

I'm so impressed that some of you can attain remission. I guess that leaves me hopeful but to be honest I don't even dream of that. I cannot even imagine that happening so it's good to hear that it does in some cases. I cannot go more than 10 days without the Enbrel or the pain comes roaring back with a vengence. I hope you are one of the lucky ones who gets remission and if not I hope you keep pursuing ways to get this medication at a reasonable cost, have you checked with your doctors' office?

LynnRivers 03/06/2013

In 2011 I switched from a 7 day interval to a 5 day interval because i was flaring on day 6 & 7. So it really depends on the person - it wore off for me in six days. Enbrel completely failed for me last September - just stopped working suddenly.

I'd wait until you start to feel a little extra morning stiffness then take the next dose.

deleted_user 03/10/2013

I just started Enbrel and my third shot is tomorrow. Did u get an Enbrel savings card? I got one from my RA Dr and 4 shots are zero after my insurance and savings card. Let me know if u haven't tried the card and I can point u in the right direction. Please also give me your pros/cons of Enbrel.

I am so down this week has been terrible I have been in a nightmare flare for 10 days.

Xoxo MLC.

Join the Conversation