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...
Do you those that have been on a dmard or biologic for at least 6 months still have swelling or pain, or maybe that red splotchy skin over the knuckles? If yes, does that mean damage is occurring? I heard no pain still can have damage, so pain on meds...could that mean pain can have no damage in spite of hurting?
I've been on Arava since December 30, and Plaquenil since January 16.
I'm still on 10mg prednisone, a delay release I take at bed, and it is released by morning.
By that afternoon I am hurting and aching some. I have that splotchiness still over my knuckles. When I make a fist my middle fingers still cross over my ring finger, and my pointer finger leans the same way and goes under the middle finger. Is that from swelling and will go away I wonder...
I haven't had a flare since starting the plaquenil 2 weeks ago, and I feel improved. But I can tell I probably am not improved enough to get off the prednisone fully.
So is this the norm for meds? Are the meds supposed to make us pain and swelling free? Able to be steroid free? I get reevaluated march 20, and hopefully by then I'll be much better. If not, I'm told I'll start a biologic.
Are the meds only a damage prevention, but not a pain and swelling fix too for some people?
Thx. I just don't understand what I'm supposed to expect from my treatment I guess
I've been on Arava since December 30, and Plaquenil since January 16.
I'm still on 10mg prednisone, a delay release I take at bed, and it is released by morning.
By that afternoon I am hurting and aching some. I have that splotchiness still over my knuckles. When I make a fist my middle fingers still cross over my ring finger, and my pointer finger leans the same way and goes under the middle finger. Is that from swelling and will go away I wonder...
I haven't had a flare since starting the plaquenil 2 weeks ago, and I feel improved. But I can tell I probably am not improved enough to get off the prednisone fully.
So is this the norm for meds? Are the meds supposed to make us pain and swelling free? Able to be steroid free? I get reevaluated march 20, and hopefully by then I'll be much better. If not, I'm told I'll start a biologic.
Are the meds only a damage prevention, but not a pain and swelling fix too for some people?
Thx. I just don't understand what I'm supposed to expect from my treatment I guess
it sounds like the prednisone is helping alleviate your symptoms but wears off. maybe splitting the dose would be helpful, or taking the traditional 5mg twice a day.
This disease is still a mystery.
At least we have some hope with the treatments vs recent years where there was no long term preventative care.
At my last appointment my RA doctor said they don't know what's going on in the body, such as why the meds stop working & why we all respond to different treatments vs others.
The best of luck to you, Sammy
NOW.
I tried once to take one 5mg delay tablet at bed, and one at wake to try and drag it out longer.
Result was I woke as stiff and in pain as I did on the original prednisone I was taking at morning and lunch, since it wasn't a 10mg dose all at once but a split 5/5.
My Dr is out of town til march, so I have to take it up then. I think this is a new medication on the market. I had to get it from a pharmacy in Illinois, and I'm in the south. She had it mailed to me. Must be a phamaceutical rep perk med or something.
If you listen carefully to all the RA drug commercials they will say "may help prevent damage" or "will slow the progression" or "its thought that our drug works by...." None of them make the claim that they flat out stop damage in its tracks. So listen carefully to the way things are phrased.
With RA its all about controlling the pain, slowing progression and increasing quality of life - regardless of if you use natural treatments or drugs.
Good luck to you :)