Has Anyone had this problem | Arthritis Information

I am on Enbrel 50mg. once week I am on predisone 20mg. Every day And on methotrexate 10mg. I have been so sick with really bad pain in hips bones down legs and now a flare all over. I have a hard time sitting on my butt cause everything hurts. I was on 40mg. of predisone when I started the enbrel and mtx but after I started that the doctor took me down 20mg. of the predisone 5mg every week until I was down to 20mg. It's like a truck hit me and broke all my bones. I called the doctor today and he said stay on everything. And I told him to late I already uped my predisone 10mg. to see if i would feel better. I was so mad at him I hung up. I tryed to tell them how bad I feel and they just don't care. I just don't know what to do. I think it might be the MTX causing all thses problems cause nothing started to hurt until I took that and the doctor will not listen to me He was firm and said stay on it. I justed wanted to die when I got off the phone. I can't live like this for the rest of my life. I am very tired and he blames all that on thr RA Bull crap I was not this tired before I started the MTX. hank you for letting me vent and if any one took this MTX to and had problems let me know. Joan

I took mtx for 18 long months. The longer I took it the sicker I got. It also made my joints feel like someone had stomped all over them. My rheumy took me off of it and the pain in my joints improved. So did my stomach.

Hi Angel, I take MTX and it does make me tireder for about 2 days then a bit better than usual, the pred reduction however causes major probs for me especially if I bring it down too quickly, so maybe you could wean slower, the idea of the MTX is to hopefully reduce your need for steroids. I have never been able to get off of them though. Good luck Janie. I took it for more than 5 years with great success. It did however make me very tired for a couple days after taking it for a long time. After a while I did adjust to it and it helped me so much. Not everyone reacts well on MTX. If you can hang in there long enough to adjust you'll be glad you did. Once you get your RA under control the overwheling exhastion will subside.

I think coming off the predisone is what is bothering you at this point. That too is going to take some adjusting to. Give your body a chance to adjust. Once it does the MTX should make it possible to come off of the predisone all together and that's a goal you do want to make. Predisone long term can cause a great deal of problems you do not want.

Predisone makes you feel great but it's not a medication that you're going to want to take long term. Your goall will be to find a combination of DMARDS, Biologics....and NSAIDS if nessesary and get off that predisone. It takes time and you should expect a certain amount of problems. Your doctor is trying to get you to the point where you can do without that.

Janie; don't you have horrible problems from being on predisone for a long time?

I do well on MTX- only that fatigue and brain fog the day after. I think Joonie used to complain of more pain while on MTX.

Hope you feel better soon!

I too, do well on MTX (in combo I'm better)

angel.... try to get an appointment w/ your RD... he should SEE you like this.. to make any declarations about meds!!!

I've been on the MTX since being diagnosed with RA. At first it did give me stomach problems. RD had me add a couple more of folic acid day before I took the MTX and it has helped. I get the brain fog and the wiped out feeling a day or 2 after taking it but over all it does help.
Hope you will get to feeling better soon. I am truly sorry for your situation with your Dr. not seemimng to listen. Went through a year of that myself pre RA trying to get diagnosed and not knowing what was wrong with me. I had several Dr.s who didn't listen to a thing I was saying and one who basicly told me I was a hypocandriac.
You'll be in my thoughts and prayer.
Thank you for all your info. I have been on predisone for almost 2-1/2 years. I only been on the enbrel 50mg. for 2 months and the MTX 10mg the same time. I am so tired and hurt so bad I just don't know what to think anymore. Everytime I want to just give up. I sit here and think of my 36 year old daughter with cancer. I worry about her every day. She is done with chemo and radition now. But now she has a 7 hour surgey july 30 this month to have reconstuction. Her blood count is only 2 and I worry about her going under. She is a very high risk of getting infections. Oh I can't even thin k of all of this being a Mother. She lives 1000 miles from me so I can't be with her. I am in no condion at this time to do any flying or driving. She knows and understands. Last time I flew by her was christmas. But we talk every day sometimes 3 x a day. Best wishes for you and your daughter. Mine is 3 and I can only imagine how worried you must be. Prayers will be lifted.Angel58:

I'm sorry you are going through this. So frustrating not having the doctors take you seriously. I have had that happen a few times. It's easier said than done, but maybe you could try a new Rheumatologist? I know you feel like, where do you start, who would be a good dr. etc... but , if you don't try, you may always be stuck with this pain, and with this dr. making you feel like you're not that bad, when you are and need someone to listen. My RA dr. kept me on Medrol (prednisone) for 6 months, i found out by reading online and from another dr I saw, that you really shouldn't be on steroids for a long period of time (unless that's the only thing that can bring relief) The dr. said it can cause small hairline fractures and depeltes your bones of calcium big time along with MANY other health problems, which I ran into. I also was very sick, not sick to my stomache but just an ill feeling when I tried MTX... my dr. had me stop right away. I felt better.

Have you tried going to see your PCP and explaining what's happening? maybe they can take xrays to see what's happening in there? Also ask your PCP if he/she can refer you to a Rheumatologist that they personally would send their family members to , or someone they have heard is a great dr. Sometimes you have to be a squeeky wheel even if you feel like you're bothering them to get the attention you need and deserve unfortunatly.

Hang in there, I'm sorry you're going through so much and trying to support your daughter as well.

Kelly

Well... I hurt for 2-3 days after taking my MTX. It started in my toes, and now it has graduated to my whole body hurting. This is not the first time the MTX has made me hurt worse. I took it before and it made me hurt worse, plus have hot & cold flashes.

The last 2 doses of MTX I have been in a lot of pain after taking it. So... bad I just lay in the bed crying and taking pain meds and sleeping. I cannot function, I cannot move, I hurt in my hips and the pain runs down my legs into my knees, and then my back will be stabbing pain, my neck will be killing me and then ever other part of me is just like a toothache, throbbing and sharp pains with movement. It is AWFUL!

I guess when I go back to my RD the 28th I will tell her about it all.

I wonder if... the MTX causes my body to produce more inflammation? I notice that I am more inflammed the day after MTX day, but it gets better and the pain goes away by mid week. Just like the toe pain does.