I take Methotrexate, Humira, and Celebrex. I still have mild pain, but for the most part it's bearable. When I have a flare in a particular joint (especially hands and wrists) I use a pack of frozen peas wrapped in a thin towel to cool things off. Most people swear by heat, but I find the coolness soothes hot and inflammed joints and brings the swelling down. I do have problems with my left knee. MRI showed that it was a plantar's cyst. My Physical therapist had me ride a stationary bike (one of those that you sit down in) and that really helped it. I still have trouble with stairs though. I really don't use topicals, but I have found BioFreeze to be somewhat helpful at times.

Hi Renee,
1. I have not been pain free, but I had another chronic pain condition prior to my RA diagnosis. My RA pain varies from a minor annoyance on a great day to incapacitating on the worst day of a major flare.
2. I do get particular joints that flare. Sometimes I'll be doing pretty well in most areas but have just my shoulders or wrists be really bad. I use a topical NSAID called Voltaren gel. You need a prescription in the US for it.
3. Knee problems are very common for us. You can search for knee topics in this board. Lots of people have both osteoarthritis and RA in their knees- this might be the case for you. I walk with a cane and it does help a bit.

I would recommend getting a second opinion from another rheumatologist. If you don't like the second one better you can stick with the one you have now. It's a good idea to establish a relationship with someone you trust now so they'll be there if you do end up with more serious RA trouble. Good luck to you!
Caren

Hi renee, I have been dealing with RA for the past ten years and through many medications. Sometimes I have good days and sometimes I have not so good days. In the beginning there were more pain free days. Now when I have no pain at all it's like wow I don't have any pain today and I don't realize it until half the day is through. I do have a great Rheumatologist who listens and is aggressive and pro-patient. My Rheumatologist goal is to keep deformities from setting in, make certain my labs are good, and to try to prevent flares from occurring which I have not had a bad flare for years. I can usually catch a flare before it really gets going since I know my body now.

Not being happy with a doctor is not good. You need to have a good patient -doctor relationship in order for everything to work well. I would also suggest you get another opinion from another Rheumatologist in your area.

Yes there are times that I am in pain after a big day or doing some extra curricular activites such a bagging leaves, or yard work. Since I know that I will take pain medication before I start and not push myself to the limit.

Topicals and patches yes I have used. Some of which are Lidocaine and Diflucan patch, Thermal patches, and most recently I found "Old goats cream" online and that believe it or not does seem to help. I also Take warm whirlpool baths with lavender epsom salts and I have a heated mattress pad cover that I turn on as soon as I get home to warm the mattress before I get into the bed.

I was having knee pain and was using a cane.. It was only the left knee..When I told the r.a. doc he said well lets check it out.. He bent that knee every which way to the point where I had to use a walker for a week... My next appt was 6 months later and I told him I would move the knee... Pain was so bad I ended up with an mri to find i had a severly torn miniscus in that knee... cortisone shots had not helped with that earlier... Mine was on the outside of the knee but he said it usually is on the inside.. I get all the opposite stuff......When he corrected it he said he had never seen such a severely torn miniscus and the person was still moving around like I was.... So when I say I am in pain..I am in pain... some docs just don't get that either... When I said I was a little more stiff in the a.m. the first thing he said was..well do you want some prednisone?... no? How about a biologic...? What are we playing. guessing games??? Right now my wrists are flaring...and fingers look like sausages... Oh well..such is life... I know I will never be fully pain free , but I live with what I have and make the best of it....Hope you are doing better...

I am pain free on Orencia and methtrerxate for 3 years now.

If you are on a BIOLOGICAL they stop the progression of the disease so you won't get deformities. Prednisone does NOT do that!

i take prednisone as needed. sometimes aleve or motrin. yes there were pain free days. but for the past 6-7 months.......the winter is terrible and i had so much pain almost every day. i hate this weather. during summers, as i have a toddler, i take a pain med before i take her out to beach or any place where i have to walk or do some activity. all i use is heating pads. i never had swelling. my fingers and toes are the most painful parts. sometimes elbows too. but rest seems to help me a lot. i have a left knee that gives me pain. yes i do have to limp. i had x-rays in the past which were normal. no recent x-rays. never saw a rheumy. no insurance. just seeing pcp. never been on any meds too for almost 10 years. started prednisone last year bcoz pregnancy made my RA worse.