I am not an expert, or anything like that, But.....I have taken Embrel, which helped a lot until it stopped working after about six months. I currently take Humira, first with MTX and now Arava. I was very close to remission on a very high dose of MTX and Humira, liver numbers kept rising so I was taken off MTX. Started Arava a week ago.
Biologics definately make a huge difference, reduced pain, fatigue. My RA has moved around. At first (around the time I was dx) knees, hips, hands and wrists were just horrible. I now rarely have knee or hip pain, but I can feel some damage in those areas. Now it is FEET, shoulders and hands. This is a very weird disease.
Lynne

I think you will get even better. Are you on anything else with the biologic?

On methotrexate and prednisone

With the larger joints often we get "secondary osteo" from RA damage that may not resolve when the inflammation goes down.

Bone erosion is not the only kind of damage RA can do to a joint.

It will really depend on how damaged your joints are. If most of the pain was just from the swelling then it will likely get better as it sounds like the Enbrel is working better for you.

If the pain is from damage to the joint structure (ie cartilage wearing away) then it will likely still hurt.

Give it some more time to see how much more the Enbrel will help.

I've been on Kineret, Enbrel, Humira and now Orencia & Meth.

can't remember Kineret but both Humira & Enbrel (all with meth) stopped after about 18 mos to 2 years. Orencia and meth have me in REMISSION for 3+ years now!! I feel like I'm 20 and I'm 68! There is NOTHING I cannot do (except for things that involve my hands - no pain, just that they are permanently cripped from years of having RA before there were bologicals!) I can walk MILES, do deep knee bends, ride my boke! I do aerobics 3x a week. I have a replaced knee and wear braces on both legs to support my ankles and avoid ankle fusion surgery - again damaged from 35+ years of having RA and now OA. But NO pain!!

Thanks for your comment LynnRivers. I never thought about it the way you just explained it. Makes a lot of sense why the biologics work on some and not on others.

RASS, how long before you got into remission? I'm going on 9 years and no remission is sight, is it still possible?

I agree with LynnRivers

Rass...Is Orencia administered by infusion or injection?

My experience is as follows: Diagnosed 6/10 - started MTX 6/10 - Added Enbrel which worked for 3 mod then stopped abruptly. Tried Humira - didn't work at all. Tried Simponi both through a injection vs. infusion trial and with injections at home - better than not being on anything but not great. All of these were TNF inhibitors.

Tomorrow, I go for my fourth monthly infusion of Actemra. I'm still on the lower dose but have notice a few positives. 1) Knees while still painful are not as swollen (actually look like pre-RA knees) and 2) seem to be able to walk at a more "normal" pace.

For those more familiar with Actemra / Orencia (they're the same drug), how long before real relief? Just curious as this is the first biologic I'm even mildly encouraged by.

Thanks.

PS Actemra and Orencia are not the same drug.
Orencia is a TCell modifier and Actemra is an IL-6 modifier.

Generally Actemra seems to affect a broader aspect of the immune system which is why they mostly give it to those that the others meds have failed. Not usually given as the first biologic to try.