I, too, feel the "pie in the sky" idea of one day being pain free. I was diagnosed in February, and since then have had many more bad days than good days. I understand this is a process overall, and my rheumy likes to tell me I will one day feel like myself again, but at this point I just can't see it happening.
I also have MANY gorgeous shoes I can no longer wear and are currently gathering dust in my closet. For some reason, that bums me out more than the constant pain and saying, oh, sorry, no, I can't do that today -- my knees won't let me.
Lavagirlie, I'm not trying to bum you out, too; just want you to know there's someone out there that feels the same way you do and we're in this together. Hopefully there truly is a light at the end of the tunnel for us.

Love my shoes. Can't wear most anymore.
Such a shame. Could be worse.

You know it's hard not knowing. It's hard functioning in pain. It's really hard waiting to see if a med or treatment will work. Stay on your doctor. Gets closer to that 3 months & your worse tell her you simply don't think it's working. I was so bad in those first several months of my diagnosis I did as instructed but also let my doctor know It was getting to be to much. Took pictures of any swelling. I don't swell all the time. Even with a lot if pain. My doctor responds better when she can see it.

There are those people who have "remission" or periods of no or low pain. I don't think it's common but does happen.
I think we all know what your going through & understand how you feel.
If that pain starts to control your life ask for something to help maintain.
Not sure if your on an anti inflammatory but if not it's worth a shot.
Most take Prednisone while trying to find that right treatment. Although there are other options.
Prednisone the double edge sword, helps the pain but nasty side effects.
It's hard at times to stay hopeful but you never know.
I wish you the very best of luck.
Sammy

Sammy is right, there are cases of longterm remission right here on this site. Some occurred fairly soon after diagnosis. Others such as myself went ten years with moderate/severe symptoms before experiencing remission.

Granted the majority of those that I know personally who have had remissions lasting 1-20 years - have done so with diet or AP. I've read about some people on here going into remission on the aggressive treatments as well. Each patient ends up following their own path - just as each patient has to accept the potential side effects of their chosen treatments.

So do not lose hope. Remission can happen - even in advanced cases (like my mother's)

Yes, it is possible to be pain free. I started on Enbrel and added MTX, took about 6-8 months for it all to gel and work. I don't have pain any longer, but I will admit that for me, while I did have some pain, it was not real bad (or maybe I just have forgotten the early days of RA). For me, my two issues are swelling and fatigue, and even on my worst days I can still function pretty well. oh, yes, heels? not anymore!!!!

Thanks for the responses. Hopefully I will receive some relief from using a biologic.

even on a biologic for some time and being pain free, there are certain shoes I still can't wear. I have a brand new pair of 5" heels that are sitting there that I can't bear to part with. I had to give away a great pair of boots for the same reason.
I was told to get more supportive shoes because I had a bout of plantar fasciatis (sp).

over time it will depend on the severity of your disease and how you handle the adjustments and how well your smorgasbord of treatments and adaptions work for you :) - and I hope it works well.

if you have less pain rather than more pain as opposed to no pain that's a win also. it's ok to miss the shoes. buy bucks worth of nail polish and pay for the pedicure. :)

hope the first biologic is the charm.

hugs
Depot

I started on Plaq March, 2013. Results began in the latter stages of May. I could tell because I then could cheat my diet (slightly) with not much consequence. Oh, diet, agree with 2scicrazed. I've a strict diet that if i stay on then there is no RA pain...I know this because before the Plaq even had a chance to work I had gotten control of it. The down side of it is that i loose weight. When i started the diet went from 200ish to 165 in about 3 months. About then the Plaq kicked in and so I'd eat a little something every other day or so that helped to maintain the weight. Did just fine except for having to get clothes resized, Then in mid April this year was rear ended at a red light and that threw the RA into overdrive for about two months and I became very regimented on the diet again but i lost down to 156 by mid June which began making me worry that I had no reserve in case I caught cold, etc. So, for the past few weeks I've been eating many more bad things to put some weight back on (which did hurt because of what we all experience with joint pain) and now I'm back to 164 as of yesterday. This weekend I'll back off the bad start back to just trying to maintain the weight. I had my 6 month RA visit yesterday and he patiently allowed me to tell the story and when i asked him what was too light for me he said that my size (male, 6'1", 53 yrs) didn't hit a danger zone until about 144 pounds. He did tell me to eat protein in order to keep the muscle and brain function at good levels. The diet i use is no nightshades and no processed sugar but potato starch is used as filler in so many breads and carbs I just don't eat hardly any of those, if it says just spices then don't eat because of paprika, same if it says natural flavoring added or vegetable broth. Cashews and almonds hurt as do mangos and peaches. Walnuts and pineapple are very good for me, apples and melons no problems, peas are good but okra is not. I also watch very closely and try not to consume much saturated fat and no processed sugar. That's the diet that works for me. Oh, the RA said I was doing well, keep on doing whatever it is, kept me on the Plaq.

About those heels that you love to wear.....obviously you look good in them or you wouldn't care. Well, I looked much bigger and more macho at 205 than at 165 (was still trim) but that is just gone and never to return. I'll take less pain even if i get less flirtations. Also, wearing high heels for long periods (years) could cause you to have to have the bones in your feet broken and reset later on in life and as to have read from 51percent surgery and RA are not a good combination.

Life is now new for you girlie. Adjust and be persistent and you'll still have tremendous joy ....if you don't then you won't. It's that simple of a choice for you (if your lucky). Good luck.

I say make your own expectations, and they can be what ever you feel meets the life you're looking forward to. If you're suffering, if you jjust can't handle leaving those shoes in the closet, then step forward and demand some change.

What do you really want in your life? Think about it, and work diligently to chart a course that gives you that. Be a nuisance with doctors. Get your way.