I am on injectable humira. Some days the pain isn't bad it is tolerable and some days the pain is a little worse. I wouldn't say I have been pain free but tolerable where I dont want to jump off a bridge to make the pain stop. But the meds aren't all about stopping the pain it is about preventing damage also. Don't get me wrong I am all about less pain but I am also for less joint damage and deformed fingers and joints

I have had the scan to see how my bone density is, but they have only checked my neck, back and my hips. I have Osteopenia, but not osteoporosis yet.

I don't have osteoporosis yet, but it's throughout my family. Most every relative I know who has knee issues has had "rooster comb" injections. Apparently those really help delay the issue.

My aunt had "cold laser therapy" on her knee. She has RA and rather than stopping remicade this was an alternative. SHE SWEARS by it! Her knee has been pain free for well over 7 months now. My uncle just had it too and he said he feels good as new. Maybe look into it?

Your right Jen. Sorry I did post the wrong condiition

diagnosed with porosis 3 years ago, doc put me on alendronate (poorly spelled, maybe even wrong drug) took it one time a week as directed (full bottle of water no food and remained upright for 30 minutes, then a little less than a year into it RA jumped on me. Did the big diet change of dropping out nightshades (theory is they draw calcium from bones and deposit into soft tissue) and was re-testedthis summer and porsis is now penia. Yea!

I was on Methotrexate by injection and Humira by injection and was in a drug induced remission for a time. It was grand. However the Methotrexate ended up causing a pheriperal neuropathy so now have to medicate that. Without the methotrexate, the Humira was not enough. I have been through Orencia and now Actemra and not doing well at all. Hoping you will find the right stuff. Drug induced remission is the all time achievement desired!

Best of luck to you.

Daisy8, I must disagree. ANY type of pain free remission is our goal!

Minocin was my mom's magic bullet. After just four years her hands were severely deformed - super aggressive and severe form of RA. In desperation she found Dr Brown in another state - and was in remission within six months. Been in remission for around 20 years now.

I tried name brand Minocin first. While it did keep my severe RA down to tolerable moderate for a decade - it was not my magic bullet. I found mine by accident when I used the paleo diet to lose the prednisone weight. Turned out the developed food sensitivities/allergies were the root cause of all my inflammation. Later allergy testing confirmed my observations. I've been in diet-induced remission nearing two years now - only have RA flares when I develop a new allergy and haven't identified it yet or I slip up on the willpower and eat a known no-no

I'm not against the aggressive drugs. They are there after all else fails. But in both my and my rheumys opinion - the longer I can stay in remission OFF them - the better my long term prognosis shall be.

BTW my father finally got a knee replacement after trying all other treatments over the last two years. He's doing great! Wishes he'd done the replacement sooner.

Every friend that has had that surgery - loves the results.

I've been on several RA meds and so far, nothing has worked. I'm on Humira now and have only taken four shots... I see my Doctor next week and she said last time, she decide at that time to stay with it or move on to something else..... Anyway, as for pain, my is pretty much constant. In the morning, it's everything I can do to just get out of bed. The Naproxin I'm on seems to be not lasting as long as it did when I first took it so it wears off over night and the inflammation sets in and stays that way until I can get my morning meds in me. I start off with 7.5 mg of Vicodin to take the edge off. I try my best to only take that once a day. Sometimes, I have to take it again let afternoon or early evening. After about an hour os so, I take the Naproxin and Steroids and they kick in and ease the pain to where at least I can walk without extreme pain but overall, pain is part of my daily life and I don't know if it'll ever end. I try my best to stay positive but this has really taken a toll on me as I'm sure it has all of you. My weight loss is what bothers me the most. I've lost 52lbs and three doctors have told me it's all related to the meds and having RA. My RA doctor told me for my age (67) I have one of the worse cases of all her patients. I wish there were a magic bullet for all of us but that's dreaming..... Take care and God Bless and wishing all of you a pain free day.....