Hi TWGarrett,
I am sorry your toes and fingers are hurting worse. I can't tell you if it is the new you or not. I just know that when I have a flare the new pain usually goes down some afterward but never gets back to 'normal.' I am still waiting for Humira to start working better. I just started it the end of November. I am now at a place where I honestly don't know if it is working or if it is just a lull before another flare. I still have a lot of pain in my hips, knees, ankles and feet. The hands hurt too but for now the swelling in them seems to be decreasing.
I hope for your sake that the pain decreases some.
Soft Hugs,
Dorthy

You might have to find a new cocktail if the present one isn't work. My last RD said most biologics only last about 5 years at most, except Kineret.

I find I get different side effects and flares with different biologics. I had never had flares in my ankles, and on Xeljanz, my ankles were swollen like balloons and I could barely walk. When I got off Xeljanz it went away.

So you do need to talk to your RD, maybe it is time to switch drugs. And prednisone is just to cover symptoms, not to attack the disease. I'm taking it too, but it is stop gap, until some day one of these biologics work.

And I do think the feet and fingers are supposed to get the flares first and go away last, from what I have heard. I hope you get some relief from the pain and deformities. (That is what is worrying me now, my index finger is starting to drop!)

I'm not sure but my fingers & toes are always included in a flare. They can ache outside flares but it's not quite the same. Having neuropathy with spinal invovlment changes things some what but flares open the door for head to toe pain.
My feet are changing more & more. Also have the the dropping in the index finger. It's not as bad if the swelling goes down.
I hope you gain more relief. Yes may be time to exam the meds.
Only you'll know that.
Blessings, Sammy

Terri, RA seems to always be a game changer, or is that a gamer? Anyway, the "New Normal" changes so often that I call it the "New Abnormal." I think I should start a business where you rent your shoes because, RA seems to change what we can wear every month. From what you described, it sounds like it's time to talk with your doctor. I know that's just too fun, but necessary.

I'm with you, " I don't like it either!" I do hope you start to feel better soon

Thank each one of you for your feed back! Just to look at me you wouldn't know there was any problems. Aside from I can barely bend my toes. However, just about every joint in my fingers and toes along with my ankles and wrist feel like a toothache inside them. We save soda cans and I use to crush them but I can no longer do that. I don't drive very much any more, but I did Saturday and the stirring wheel hurt the joints in my fingers. My hips burn and ache along with my back and occasionally my chest. These things I can tolerate but my hand and feet are a different story. I'm holding half my toes up when I walk. I was just wondering today what people do about shoes once their feet begin to deform and I figured I would find that out soon enough!
Thank y'all again for letting me know I'm not alone. Tender hugs, Terri

You get bigger shoes, I'm now a 12 extra wide instead of the 11 narrow that once was. I know of what you speak concerning the 14 joints on each hand. I shopped this week for a car with push button start. Opening door knobs is hard, buttoning my shirt requires assistance. We just adjust.