I know what you mean... I've been wondering the same thing myself. I'm still very young and things seem to be getting worse. IDK what's going to happen if I can't work full time and live my life! It's becoming overwhelming!

Like RASally says - the first year is the worst.

I had all the same feelings as you stated in your post. But....believe it or not it does get a little better.

Firstly, for me, the Humira took 4 months to work. That made quite a difference - maybe a 20% improvement but well noted.

I think what helps the most is time - as time goes on I think our minds start to get accustomed to what is happening to our bodies. I was ever so frustrated like you between the constant pain and the fatigue/fog. Many times I felt the fatigue/fog was actually worse than the pain.

While I still have serious symptoms, I feel a lot better now that I am 2.5 years in. RA literally turned my life upside down, but now I seem to have found a happy (or not so) medium. It is what it is and I have found my limitations which are pretty severe. Most thankfully for me is the Humira has seemed to calm the fatigue/fog which really helps.

I think most of us have felt like you do at the moment but there is light at the end of the tunnel.
RA does change your life.
After 4 years, I am still on the meds roller coaster trying to find my magic "meds cocktail". It can take a long time to find the right meds for you and they often will take time to kick in.
RA is a very individual disease and what works for some people doesn't necessarily work for others.
Don't lose hope.
Hugs

Glad you did post as I'm new into this too and the experienced people have really given me hope that this does even out and we'll feel better after jumping through the hoops of finding the right individual treatment.
I know this sounds idiotic but there are moments where I think maybe the Dr. will find its something not so bad then I snap myself out of the daydream, having trouble accepting it all. You're doing a lot to bring it around, hoping it won't be much longer before you get relief.

I'm sorry you're going thru so much,but we have to believe and fight mentally and physically to make things better for ourselves!
Be it starting with getting the right meds combo which helps...physical therapy...just finding new hobbies/crafts to do..something that gives us a reason to fight to go on! Because we can't let the pain control our lives

hang in there, loosing hope is not a viable option. you are just as valuable as anyone one else and you will have opportunity to be pain free and enjoy life again. fortunately i was able to manage/control mine with diet within a few weeks of the begging of mine which started with a major flare.

Thank you all for your replies. They really do help. I read about people getting relief from 10mg of prednisone and think how far that is from me. It helps to know that I'm not the only who has such a difficult time getting any relief. I did my 3rd humira shot today. Every one I think of as hopefully being a little closer to some relief.

I would like to add one thing.....I was so sick when I was first diagnosed that I could bearly walk....had to use a wheelchair in stores...slept for days it seemed like.....then little by little I started to see a glimmer of hope....it takes at least a good year...maybe a little longer before the meds start reducing the pain....or at least it did for me....then it took a lot of time for my mind to get wrapped around the disease itself....I so agree with what everyone said but for me....it was staying positive and willing myself to focus on the good....even on my darkest days....I loved life so much I was committed to being as well as possible....but it had to soak in first and I did my share of questioning whats next"??? It will get better....I wish you all the best....remember time is a friend!!!"

Iretz,

I'm so sorry that you are not feeling well. I wish I could do something to help you. But, you aren't alone. I continue to have awful pain problems and when the fatigue kicks in, it makes life really rough.

I'm pinning my hopes that my Rheumy can get me to some medications that will work for me. This is what keeps me going.

Please hang in there. Hope is a wonderful thing to have.

If you ever need to PM and talk about things, I'm available and I care.

Be well,
TheWino

Ya can't give hope - think for just a moment ....

if you give up, those around you see it and then ... could they possibly think that you don't or can't care for them. Hummmm .... Not sure that is what you would want -

We haven't met and yet, look at all that we have shared. Think for just a moment about how far you / we / all have come - here on this post, in this group.

Question: Have you shared with those close to you? The ones that can touch you and you feel that tremble they can't keep from you. If you give up, what happens to them? And your friends and partners here?

The pain and fatigue are part of what we carry. We can come to this group and we all share your pain, your frustration and we read your "trembling".

This "stuff" we deal with is just overwhelming and will keep hitting you until think you will lose your mind. I know, but I will be Da*ned and go to blazes before I will give up my hope - hope for relief, hope for a better tomorrow, hope for MBDs2.

Don't do it my friend. I need your calming word when I'm troubled just as I am reaching out to you now,

Be calm and let your faith carry you
Peace
Bluedogs2

I am sorry for your pain. You are incredibly smart to have written down your feelings and get IT out of your system. We are all here for you. We know how you feel. We understand what you are dealing with. You are smart to have found a support group. No one can go through this alone. You need a buddy. We are your buddies. Keep venting. Read old threads here to increase your knowledge of the disease and know you are not alone.

Hot baths, heating pad, ice packs rotation station while watching something humorous on the Internet or television or read a funny book. Keep laughing -- you need a sense of humor for this ugly RA beast! You are smart. You got yourself here. You are going to get better day by day. I am hugging you through this post!

Just earlier today I wrote a post very similar to yours. The support and understanding I received was overwhelming. There are truly some wonderful people here. It reminds me I don't have to do this alone. Some days it all just gets too overwhelming. BTW venting is allowed & no guilt or judgments will be given. Just empathy & understanding.

I went back on 20mg prednisone last week & lasted 3 days. I just can't take it. Psychologically the side effects make me crazy. Everyone is so different. I'm also returning to my pain mgmt doc for the 2nd time in a week to adjust my meds. Nothing I'm currently taking is dropping me below a 7. I'd settle for a 5 at this point. Just enough to function. 20mg may not be enough for you. I've heard of people on much higher doses to bridge the gap til the dmards/biologics kick in. Even then you may need the prednisone for a while. Whatever works for you.

Please remember that tomorrow is a new day and you get another chance to focus on the positive and be hopeful. You'll find the right meds that work for you. You will feel better. The tough part is waiting for that to happen. Take it hour by hour or minute by minute if you have to. Whatever gets you through. But you will get through it.

Find something positive, whatever that may be; no matter how small and work from there. Give yourself praise for making it through the day. Be kind to yourself.

I wish you the best and hope that your tomorrows are better than your todays have been.

Emerald

Hi Iretz, you have received some wonderful advice here from some good folks. You must hold on to hope as that is all we can do along with waiting a bit to see if the meds will work and switching things around to see how things will pan out. I do understand your frustration have been through this for years with trying this and that and waiting to see if this will work or that. That chronic feeling of not being in pain at some point does feel like you have no hope. I too see a pain management doctor. I am actually on Butrans patch. It comes in varying doses and you wear a patch a week then remove and replace with another patch. It works very well. It delivers a continuous low dose of pain for 7 days into the body. I use it along with taking pain medication.

Yes you will be able to think clearly again and yes you will get through this. Hang in there. One last thought have you had an ortho consult. Just to see if anything else is going on? May be worth a shot. Please keep the faith. We are all in this with you.