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...
My impression going into this was the right personalized combo of dmards and/or biologics surpress the swelling and pain, and eventually can after a couple years put you into a medical remission.
My rheumy told me when I was beginning methotrexate that pain management help wouldn't be necessary because, as I said, it surpresses swelling and the pain subsides.
I am now on arava and plaquenil. Though it's helping now, I still have swelling, a red splotchy area is still over my knuckles, and there are still pain twinges in hands, feet, wrists, ankles etc. It's helping I can tell, a lot, but not as much as I thought it should.
I'm on a delayed release prednisone called rayos. 10mg to take at bed. It releases 4 hours later. I take it all at once, but because by 6pm it is worn off a lot, I mixed it up last night. Took 5 at bed, 9pm, and the other 5 this morning, 530am. Well, woke stiff and tight feeling in hands again. Pain in ankle back.
Point is, if I need 10 mg prednisone still at once instead of a 5/5 split, I'm obviously not reduced in much swelling and pain help from the dmards alone.
I am beginning to think the prednisone reduces swelling and stiffness, the dmards prevent major flares, and none of it will ever take it away unless by the grace of God it goes into remission. Can you all give me a little perspective on what I am to expect from my treatment here? I was under one impression and have begun go realize something totally different. Thx.
My rheumy told me when I was beginning methotrexate that pain management help wouldn't be necessary because, as I said, it surpresses swelling and the pain subsides.
I am now on arava and plaquenil. Though it's helping now, I still have swelling, a red splotchy area is still over my knuckles, and there are still pain twinges in hands, feet, wrists, ankles etc. It's helping I can tell, a lot, but not as much as I thought it should.
I'm on a delayed release prednisone called rayos. 10mg to take at bed. It releases 4 hours later. I take it all at once, but because by 6pm it is worn off a lot, I mixed it up last night. Took 5 at bed, 9pm, and the other 5 this morning, 530am. Well, woke stiff and tight feeling in hands again. Pain in ankle back.
Point is, if I need 10 mg prednisone still at once instead of a 5/5 split, I'm obviously not reduced in much swelling and pain help from the dmards alone.
I am beginning to think the prednisone reduces swelling and stiffness, the dmards prevent major flares, and none of it will ever take it away unless by the grace of God it goes into remission. Can you all give me a little perspective on what I am to expect from my treatment here? I was under one impression and have begun go realize something totally different. Thx.
I'm ok enough to survive til then.
I will have been on arava 3 months and plaquenil for 9 weeks. That will be ample time in my opinion to reasses, and switch to a biologic if necessary. I need to wait it out I suppose. Still I expected more out of these medications. It is improved and the plaquenil has so far stopped my flares. Arava did NOT. That said I've only been on plaquenil 7 days so it's too early to tell if it's really helping lol.
I just expected more. I feel it's s bandaid that's stopped the gushing, but the wound is still trickling out blood and hurts. Does that make sense?
Thx for your comments.
Why did he take you off mtx?
I think you pretty much summed it up with "none of it will ever take it away" I think all we can expect is to be able to function with maybe minimal pain.
I am on mtx and Humira... when I started Humira in May 2013, I went off prednisone, I hate prednisone and I didn't want it to mask if the Humira was working.... either it made me feel better or I would be in pain. The Humira did make me feel better after about 2 doses. Had a pretty normal/feeling pretty good all summer, then I went on vacation and I guess thought it was a good idea to sit in a car for 16 hours.... never doing that again. After that flare, I started feeling pretty good again.... then comes colder weather and over worked around Thanksgiving... bad and good days....Christmas comes, got sick, missed 2 weeks of mtx and 1 dose of Humira... back on meds again now, but with this weather not feeling to hot... but still functional.
I guess what I am trying to say is this.... I don't ever expect to be pain free again, in fact I think that my tolerance to pain has gone up. What I expect is that I will have good days and bad days, that I will go to work and be able to do my job come home do what I need or want to do most of the time. I am hoping because I take these meds with there side effect, that I am walking still in 10 years and not crippled unable to care for myself.
Good luck
Cindy
51percent hit the nail on the head. As with all heathcare processes, it boils to money.
My insurance, BC/BS, wants to see that I have failed two DMARDS before they will approve any anti-biologics.
After dealing with these terrible, painful, life altering symptoms for more than seven years, my Rheumy is going to try and get Humira approved next month, February.
With so many things that have gone wrong, I'm not expecting a smooth transition to these meds from an insurance standpoint but I'm praying hard.
Please remember that if your current DMARDS are not providing satisfaction, there are other DMARDS to try and nine anti-biologic medications right now that may help you as well.
Good luck,
TheWino
It does get better, though. I am now in a lot less pain than I was when diagnosed. I can work, I can exercise and am working on including a social life. You will adjust and get used to all this. Until you get there, this is a good place to vent. Also, check out the "RA Warrior" website.
Thx again you all
It took me eleven years to find the treatment that eliminated all of my symptoms 100%. I was lucky though, the first treatment kept it down to mild level for the first seven years. Only dealt with severe level for one year (because of generics)
So keep your chin up. You'll eventually find your magic bullet.
Caren
Rawarrior, one of the first sites I went to :)
Thx to all. I expected a full suppression of symptoms, and I'm now realizing that's pretty uncommon.