I hate to tell you this, but the only people who seem to live without pain are in remission, the rest of us just take it a day at a time, celebrating when we feel good, trying to get through when we don't. How long have you been on meds? I was diagnosed in Sept., and still battle this monster every day. God Bless.

I started in June on meds and still not working, I agree there has got to be something to at least make it better... Start, Switch, Start, Continue..Hmmmmm, What is this Remission that you speak of jwilliamsmom....

Somewhere over the rainbow, down the yellow brick road, next2:) The general consensus seems to be that people in remission don't post, only those of us in the grips of this monster. Praying for us all. God Bless!

yes it's very frustrating to feel "normal" and then suddenly be smacked down with aches and pains--hang in there, you will have the good days again and hopefully soon-

Oh, sweetie - I do understand the roller-coaster. You think you are fine and wham! It doesn't matter what meds you are on, you can have a bad time occasionally. I truly hope yours doesn't last.

Lynne

I find it so inspiring that you are doing the elliptical. I was doing that before I damaged my knees a year ago (not on the elliptical-- a fall on stairs did that) and the RA set in, which was almost simultaneous. I'm always looking for a way to get back to some regular exercise. I'm not in remission, but do have some really good days...and some particularly bad ones.

The medication does what it can, but from what I've read the disease is still not predictable enough that it can be totally controlled for everyone through medication or anything else. I remember thinking that my doc was going to give me a shot and it would go away once and for all. Then I learned the reality about daily meds and twice weekly shots. But it beats the pain I was in!

Do the gym when you can and count the blessing that you can do the elliptical when you body responds like it should. On the other days, we'll have a virtual "drink" and wait for the pain to abate again.

I learned the hard way not to overdo it with my exercise. Yes, I can do it, but I end up paying for it "with interest" later on. So, my principle is not to exercise for more than half an hour at any given time and not go go beyond feeling exhausted. Exercising every day, rain or shine, I found, is better than pushing myself to the limit one day and then not exercising at all the following day. And, of course, I do stick to "easy" exercising, with a strong preference for walking and a bit of running, and, at least up until now, little if any machines. Good luck to you on your endeavors. You truly are admirable!

Just to add take care if you have spine issues with any exercising... Maybe my age but find the bone at top of neck (where dowager humps feature) gets sore very easily. Won a membership to a gym a while back and they have very good machines that are hydraulic or something like that. Stops any jarring anyway. You need to be really careful with joints and overdoing it as others here said.
You asked about medication controlling symptoms but no one right pill for everyone and there is a time factor. The painkillers take edge off but I find for me they cant get right to the core of the bad days pain. Those are the take to bed days I guess but you might not have that option.

Have you tried swimming? I find on my bad days that being in the pool gives me the much needed exercise but it's not nearly as hard on my body. Of course, the days when I swear a truck hit me and I"m so exhausted I can't get out of bed...well, on those days, I just grit my teeth and tell myself to stretch for a few minutes. A little movement seems better than no movement for me. Good luck--and hope you start feeling better soon.

God bless you all! How great it is to be able to talk to people who really know what I'm going through! That's for all of the input and advice! I haven't been back to the gym and I almost went to the ER because of burning in my chest and it felt like my lungs too. It went down my arm and in my jaw. It went away after about an hour but It woke me up that night. Probably should have gone to the ER but I thought I was just being paranoid. I have an appointment with my cardio this week. I've had fluid around my heart because of the RA but don't know about chest pain from it. Anyway, thanks!!