I was diagnosed with RA about three years ago and have been 'progressing' through plaquenil, low dose mtx, .8 injectible mtx, and now remicade. Started remicade infusions late last year. Was wonderful first time, second time great, third time wore off week early, last time wore off two weeks early. This seems awfully fast. If it repeats my rheumy has authorized shorter time frame infusions. I am on beginning dose and have noticed that this last infusion (followed by my weekly mtx at .8) has not helped the numb big toes. Guess I am 'progressing' right out of this help. How fast a progression have others noticed - not just in their RA but in their resistance to meds?
My RA has flared just about everywhere (cervical spine, sacroiliac joint, shoulders, elbows, wrists, fingers, knees, ankles, feet, and much fun in my jaw!) I noticed that people posted that their rheumy told them RA did not affect the spine. Mine clarified that to say that at locations where there is a major joint attaching to the spine (i.e. shoulder bones, sacroiliac joint) you can certainly get RA flares in those locations which make it seem like it is in the spine. Don't know if this helps anyone but it seemed reasonable to me.
Thanks for that info...I have a lot of pain in my back too. I know this is going to be a STUPID question but what is the sacroiliac joint? Is that lower back? At times mine seems to travel straight up my spine.
I've had RA for 11 years and am now on MTX and Humira. I've been on numerous medications over the years (This is my first Biologics) and like you have to change pretty often. I've been on MTX for close to three years now and I think that's the longest I've been on one but we've steadily increased the dosage as times went on. Now at 22.5mg. The effects of everything seem to wear off pretty quick with me. Humira in fact is doing the same thing. We've just increased that dosage to weekly verses bi-weekly. I think that's pretty much the way it goes for all of us.
sacroiliac joint, joins the back hip and pelvis (or that what i was told by GP) thats the one thats causing me a load of grief at the moment or one of, that and my jaw are really driving me crazyYep - Tori is right. The sacroiliac is where the hip meets the spine (which means there is a protective cushion there and that allows the arthritis to make that joint 'flare'. Tori, sorry about your jaw. The first time I had a flare in my jaw I thought I had the world's worst earache and went to the emergency room. That doc said I had tmj. I called my rheumy the next day and he just laughed and said no tmj - just a flare in a strange place. Said it is pretty common. Needless to say, my meals for the next several days consisted of liquids. Couldn't even get my mouth open far enough to get my daily pills in there
I recently had a set of 'double' flares - first both shoulders at the same time (that was really fun!) and then both sides of cervical spine - probably about C5. When someone called "Arthur" their visitor I never realized that it was really a visiting disease - visiting a different joint whenever it feels like it
MAN; I LEARN INTERESTING STUFF HERE EVERYDAY!!
Thanks guys.