Balance | Arthritis Information

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After a year on meds, I’m now in the phase of trying to figure out the balance between keeping RA under control and minimizing the dosage.   I started mtx (and Relafen 1500mg) in April (07) increasing my mtx to 25 mg by June.  Added Enbrel in August and decreased mtx to 20mg in November.   At my appt in February, I was given the approval to drop to 17.5 in March and then to 15mg mid-April if I was feeling good.   But, if the drop caused any swelling/pain, I’m supposed to bump it back up.   I have had some swelling/pain in my feet, a little stiffness in my hands, but not overwhelming.   It seems like so many live with pain/flares/swelling quite a bit, so I feel lucky in how I’ve responded to meds and figure some discomfort is better than a higher dose of mtx.   I had someone tell me who has had RA for 25 years that some discomfort can be a good thing as it reminds you to take it easy.   What do you feel is a good balance and is it an absolute that to prevent damage, you need to have no pain/swelling?

 

Thanks

Cathy

if you have swelling/inflammation that WILL lead to damage.   First step is to control the inflammation.
 Pain is a factor of many things and may be present without active inflammtion.  The pain to worry about is if your joints already have joint damage.  In that case increasing pain may indicate a progressio nof the secondary OA.
 
Personally after living with severe joint damage for me the risk of the meds is far less.  But that is me
This is something I can't seem to grasp either.
Like right now my inflammation levels are near normal according to my blood tests.
I have slight swelling in my hands and wrists- barely anything. I don't see it in my wrists the doctor does, my rings are too tight so i know my fingers are swelled. My hands are achy with use.
All in all in sounds good to me but the doctor wants to ADD biologics.
So I'm under the impression that the little inflammation, swelling & pain is causing him to think I'm doing damage.
Frustrating!  My doctor acts like I'll just be on MTX a short time then off it for good.  I hope!  My wrist is swollen, but not very visibly so.  But, I can't bend it.  That's where I get so frustrated, not knowing how much is caused by swelling, and how much by permanent damage already done.
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