I had some reluctance with subcutaneous injections at first and had my wife do it but the truth is: after the first time, it is easy—it really is. The needle is so small and short that you can barely feel it. Humira even has an auto injector, so it's more like pushing a button. In fact, since you need higher doses of MTX, you may actually be much better off taking that by injection as well since the pills are thought not to be fully absorbed and have more side effects.

Most RA involved weight gain is because of prednisone and I don't think DMARDs like Humira or even MTX have that side effect.

I have never heard of a biologic causing weight gain. I'm on my 7th, and the only thing I have noticed, is that I feel so much better, I can exercise. I have always lost weight on a biologic - usually the weight gained from prednisone.

Needles are really nothing. It is just a brief second, and then, you will feel better for a week or more, depending on the drug. I did mthx needles (are you on oral mthx - that is another one you need to change to injectable, because not much is absorbed orally!) and my first biologic was Kineret, a daily needle. At first, it was painful and a hassle (mthx and the diabetic needles really feel like nothing!) but as I improved, I grew to love the daily shots, because I knew it would make me feel better.

Even if biologics did make me gain weight (and assuredly, they do not!) I would still welcome them over the pain of RA. And that doesn't even get into permanent deformities. If mthx isn't enough, you are risking deformities, and needing joint replacements. Surely a weekly needle can be endured over permanent deformities? Right now, I am wearing all kinds of splints from the deformties I got over the past two years, since Simponi failed. So even though my new combo is working, it won't make the deformities go back to normal.

I admit, the Orencia needle I took this morning stung a bit. Maybe for 3 or 4 minutes? But I will feel better for a week. And the pain of a needle doesn't come close to the unending and grinding pain of an RA flare.

You sent me an email and I responded.

Been on Humira 6 years. I've never heard of any weight gain with any biologic.

You mentioned you gained weight on Pred. When you go off the Pred you'll lose weight. If not, it's because your exercise level is down and/or your food intake is up.

Humira is an autoinject. It's simple and easy. No reason to fear it. I'll walk you through the process if you decide to go that route. It doesn't hurt at all.

Do it.

Going on biologics have greatly improved my life. It took me WAY TOO long to begin them. ... I was afraid of them. When I started them, my physical activity improved and I did not gain weight at all. I have also started a low do of prednisone and feel better than I have in 7 years. My activity level is far better than it has been in 7 years (since dx)... and I haven't gained weight on the prednisone. To me, it's about quality of life over all else. I felt a little apprehensive at first about giving myself shots, but it is worth it and lasts only seconds in the whole scheme of time... Best of luck to you.

I had approx 2 years of remission on Humira and another 2 yrs on Enbrel. I am now on orencia and have 6 yrs of remission. For me, the pain I am ALL OVER without it compared wot getting my life bak on it is a no brainer. Weight gain FOR ME is not even a decision to be considered. It's purely a matter of quality of life. Without my meds I would commit suicide. My life is not worth living. It is torture just to get out of bed, crawl to the bathroom and more torture to get washed an does myself.

I know not everyone has RA as severe as I do, but even if your symptoms are mild you need to consider the longterm effects such as crippling deformities and also you need to consider the risk of RA on your major organs.

Injection for methotrexate are easy and better than pills for me at least. My side effects were far worse on pills than with easy injection.

Only other self injection I have done is rebif (interferon beta) for MS. It took a few weeks for it to become "normal" but it did.

Please don't let the delivery system delay relief you could achieve more quickly. And most importantly, slowing or stopping disease progression has such an impact for rest of you life.

Good luck!
Ps get yourself a little gift for first injection....something frivolous like bubble bath, a pedi fun socks etc