I started with Humira. It was a huge help for my feet, but other body parts did not have as much improvement. The improvement for my feet was within days.

So, at this point I have been on Humira, Enbrel, Cimzia, Orencia, Actemra, and will be starting Rituxin in September. So far, I had been able to give myself shots, but for Rituxan, I am going to have to go in for infusions.

I hope you have great success with Humira!

When I took Enbrel, it worked for a few months then suddenly stopped working. Humira worked much better, and it works great for a lot of people. I sure hope it starts working for you right away!

My first biologic was Humira. Started of course with Methotrexate which worked great - kicked in after 2 months and gave me just about total relief for 2 months. Then gradually down hill to the point I had to stop working.

Started Humira April 2013. It took a solid 2 months before I felt any effect. Then gradually over the next month I felt somewhat better. It took away those nasty attacks (flares) that were immobilizing but still had some pain and fatigue. Quite livable and was happy enough.

Then when I procured insurance, they denied the Humira and said I had to try Enbrel first. My doc was livid since the Humira was doing pretty well. I had a period of 2.5 months between the Humira and Enbrel so I was back to square one. Took 6-8 weeks to feel any effect from the Enbrel, but even then I would only get 2 days of partial relief per week. Then after 1 month of that I get no positive effect at all from it. As a matter of fact I honestly believe I now feel worse for a few days a week from the Enbrel than with nothing at all.

So in summary, the Enbrel is a total failure for me. I was on Humira for 7 months and it worked quite well. Now mind you I wasn't doing jumping jacks or running around, but I could actually take a 1/2 mile walk almost everyday which was a huge thing for me.

I go back to my doc in 3 weeks. At that point I am going to refuse to take the Enbrel and beg/plead to get put back on Humira.

We are all different with how these biologics work, but for me the Humira worked well enough for me to at least be able to function 50% of my old self - the Enbrel no.

Are you taking any other meds like Predisone or Methotrexate? You should have something to ease the pain until the Humira starts working. You should ask your Rhuemy about it. I am on Humira, Predisone and Methotrexate. My Rhuemy is weaning me off of the Predisone now that the other two are working pretty well. Call your Rhuemy and beg for something, you should not have to be in so much pain!!
Take care and hope you get some relief soon. Also, try an electric blanket when you are hurting. For me it helps to calm it some.

I'm sorry you are in so much pain. My husband and I talk frequently about my cronic illness and what he can/can't do to help. For me, when I'm flustrated (flustered/frustrated) I frequently say, I'm so done! It's okay to voice frustration, pain and discomfort (physical and emotional). For some reason I think we feel we can't do that. Its healthy and 'normal'. I was on Humira after metho. It did not do that much for me. I now self-inject Enbrel 2x's/week and metho. Not sure twice a week has done anything. I'm going to go back to 1x/week on my own. I changed rheumys and won't see my new one until December. I hope your day is as painfree as possible and I hope Humira gives you the relief you deserve!

The day after I started on Humira, my feet felt so much better. No longer was I feeling like I was walking on marbles! My husband and another friend commented that I 'act' like I feel better.
They say it can take three months for the drug to get to the full effect. This week I am 7 weeks in. I am still hoping for more improvement, but the fact that I can walk again is great!

Good luck, I hope it works well for you!

The humira worked wonders for me. I felt the effects after the first injection.

Good luck!

I am going on 6 months on Humira and it took about 4 months to start working. i didn't have one of those overnight improvements that we all wish for, but i can tell that i am doing better. especially the mornings are easier, i can get up and do what i need to do without having to wait for pain meds to kick in or joints to limber up.

i have a lot fewer days where i am non-productive due to pain, so i would say that Humira is a definite success for me.

Thanks for all the great comments. I appreciate them vey much. Knowing not all medicines are a cure all for everyone because we are each different in what works for some and not do a thing for the others.
Someone asked, if I were on meds now? I take 20mg of Thebold stand by....steroids also Naproxin, and pain meds.

I am with you grandpa. Waited for insurance company to give the okay then said I needed to go through speciality pharmacy. Uggghhhh. So I will be starting it next week. After being on methotrexate prednisone arava and neither does diddly. Well prednisone helps but cant be on just that and at high dosages. Hoping for a quick fix on humira but know we need to give it time. Anxious to hear how it works for u. I am waiting for relief in my feet elbows hands and everywhere else it hurts. Good luck

Grandpa....I can't help you out at this time with the Humira. But oh I feel your pain!!!! This has been a very tough month for me too... I have never had so much pain as I have lately. By the time evening gets here I wish I had a wheel chair and usually I am in bed by 6 pm every night... what a life this is. I have been waiting for humira for over a month and every time I think things are going ahead it seems they go backward a week or so.
Sure hope that the humira will work wonders for you and it does so quickly. I know that it can take some time to kick in and do a great job but my doctor said that Humira was the one that worked the best for most of her patients. Please let us know how your doing and if the humira does work for you. Hope you have a better weekend.

Humira has worked great for me. Started in Jan and noticed a difference the first week. Still have some pain in my left knee, although that may the osteo, and occasionally some pain in hands, but usually just one joint at a time. Hoping that it works as well for you and Carrottop.

I have had RA for about 15 years. I believe it came after I contracted Lyme Disease. I have had bouts of being I total pain and achy all over, barely able to walk because my feet hurt so much. I have refused to take any of the biological like Enbrel of Humera. About 4 years ago my internist suggested me to take 6,000 units of Vitamin D daily. I started on that regimen and my inflammation rate slowly went down over the course of a year. I continue to take it daily. If the weather is humid and I feel achy I take one Advil or one Tylenol. I have to say I live a full life, go to my pool every day in the summer And do all my own household chores and shopping. I can take short walks and try to be as active as I can. I contribute my good health to the Vitamin D therapy. I do not trust the biological because of all the known possible side effects. I say try it to see if it helps. I purchased my Vitamin D from Amazon. It is called Nutrigold. One tiny little gel pill which has 5,000 mgs per pill. Good luck to all and feel better.

I just wanted to wish you good luck with Humira. I hope it works really well for you as quickly as some of the people here have said.