Hey everybody... wow what a 9 months I have had. I have been in a flare since July it has attacked my back knees, mostly my achillies tendon and has cost me 1000.00's of dollars becaues of it. My rheumy of course sent me to have epidural injections in my back had MRI's sent me to orthepedic sugeon for foot and then had the nerve not to like what he said. First of all I don't know if he was just mad cause I didn't go to the one he wanted me to or if it would have been the same thing anyways. He acted like he got plum mad over me telling him that Dr. said he needed to get my RA under control before he could do anything with my foot. I took offense to his attitude. I have been seeing that Dr. for about 11 years and have always trusted him until recently I feel as if they give you a diagnoses and then just sticks with that and looks no further for other things going on. I was told in the begiining that he had to keep a good eye on me because of Lupus but he has not mentioned it in years. I am on Orencia and have been for 2 yrs now and it just has stopped working. I filed for my disabilty and am waiting to hear from that. He took me off MTX and by 2 months after I really went down hill. told him kept telling him and fianlly he put me back on well it has been several months but just havn't reached the same place I was when I went off. So he finally listened to me saw my blood work and my hands being smushy so we talked of switching to Remicade next month. I was there to have a Orencia treatment so instead of not having that and waiting for my ins. to approve the remicade he gave it to me I don't know why it is not working. So I have to wait till next week also on pins and needles to see if ins appoves it and will it be the same as Orencia I don't have to pay a thing for that. Ok sorry I wrote a book but just venting I guess. Anyone else switch from Orencia to remicade? Whats your thoughts on how my Dr. acted with my ortho DR. advice and I have been thinking of going to another Rheumy for 2nd opinion. Maybe they get tunnel vision after caring for you for awhile... also I have never had any trouble or bothered him about anything since i have been diagnosed until now. Hope everyone has a great night. Laura
Laura,