Does the weekly dose of MTX (20mg), Enbral (50ml), and Prednisone (5mg) stop the onset of flares or just stop the progression of RA. I have been on the Preds since December and am now weaning off of it (down from 20mg to 5mg per day) MTX since January and Enbrel since February and I have had excellent results as for the pain and swelling and have not experienced any of the side effects except the weight gain that I see posted on this site, and I have been very thankful for that, but the past few days my ankles and now my hands are starting to be very sore and I just wonder if a flare will come on despite the meds I am taking. I am still new to this RA crap since it came on all of a sudden in Novermber 2005 after I had knee surgery and am still trying to figure all of the in's and out's of it but I am learning a lot from just reading the posts on this site. Thanks to all for the great info so far.
Well in theory, the meds eliminate both. But if you are flaring, it is taking a toll on your joints. If your flares are mild to moderate and few and far between then you are doing pretty good. If you start having severe flares or flaring often, it may be time to change meds or doses.Chuckan~
For me as I get closer and closer to my dose day I experience more problems. Kind like my meds are wearing off. If it's getting toward the end of the week and it's about time for your meds....that could be the answer.
I take Humira and MTX and have some weeks where I'm almost pain free all week....and other weeks where I struggle. It's really random. Unpredictable.
I do know that the meds are "slowing" the progression but not completely stopping the RA. I've had weeks due to infections where I had to be off my meds all together and it proved to me that the meds are working. A few weeks without them and you see pretty quickly how good they really are.
Hope this is just a temperary set back for you and you'll be up to speed soon. During the course of my treatment (12 years now) I've discovered that when I start to experience problems such as you describe a slight increase in my meds will make all the difference in the world. One more pill of MTX could level you out for a while. You might want to ask about that. I'd hesitate to jump back on predisone too quickly if it were me.
Good Luck. We're glad you're here with us.
Thanks Crunchy and Lovie,
You were both right on the money, talked to my Rheumy and she said the same thing. She was happy with our doseage so far and she also does not want me to take any more prednisone and to just take one more MTX pill if I felt I needed something but first to try Tylenol and see if that helps. I am really glad I found this site. I am the only person I know with RA and everybody looks at me funny when they ask what's wrong and I answer RA. Now I just start telling everyone it's just old age since I'm 58 and they accept that answer much better.
Thanks for you guidance.
Hey Chuck, Glad the meds are working for you. Don't be saying you are old at 58. I want to be young at 58.
I would rather educate people about this nasty disease. It is amazing how many people have never heard of it or do not understand it. There are so many of us suffering from it. Why is that? Nothing stoic about me - I sit as many people down as possible and tell them about ra. It is the female in me - I want to be understood
Anyway, welcome to AI. Rox
Hi Roxy
I guess I don't want to sound whimpy when I talked to people. My you have the right idea. The more we educate people the better off we should be. I know my wife has worked in a medical office all of her working life and she doesn't really understand but she has been great in helping me cope with this stuff. I always have been extremely active in sports, building things around the house, working and riding on motorcycles and now I can't wait to get home and just sit in a chair and do absolutely nothing. People think I am just being lazy even those that know me and it's very frustrating so I just don't say anything but maybe that is what's wrong, I should be getting their attention and do a better job explaining this disease to them.
As far as explaining RA, I do that on an as need basis. People who work closely with me who might have to pitch in for me deserve to know why. My boss needs to know why I can't carry heavy supplies from building to buildning but doesn't need to know all the particulars. This board is a great place to really vent.
Linda, RA,OA, fibro, Sjogren's
You know, I find it is easier to tell people RA than to say arthritis. They get the wrong idea when you say arthritis---I am like Roxy though. I want people to understand about RA and other auto immune diseases. I think that everyone should have a cause and this is one that I know about. I understand what it is like to be misunderstood. It just feels right to me to try and educate others about this.