Short term effects of Enbrel | Arthritis Information

I've been on Enbrel for over 6 months and I always thought of it as a long term solution. But I have noticed what I think is a short term effect, also. I usually take my shot on Friday and lately I've noticed my pain calendar shows that Wed and Thur are often my worst days. Does Enbrel give short term relief or is this just coinsidence? How many on Enbrel have pain and joint relief direclty following the shot. And if you do, does anyone take two 25 mg shots/week instead of a 50 mg shot once a week?I've taken 4 shots of Enbrel now, Humira never really worked for me....initially, Enbrel made me have vertigo for like a whole staight week. That's stopped now, but I am still very tired the day after. Did you get that? But oddly enough, and I'm almost afraid to say it out loud, I'm noticing that for an hour or so each day I am not swollen in my fingers. This is the first time in 2 straight years that my hands have a brief glimpse of normalcy...I hope so much that this "works" for awhile and gives me a breather. I take one 50mg. shot a week and 5 methotrexate's...don't remember the dosage.

I've been on Enbrel for a year now and take the 25mg twice a week, with great success. It's only recently, through developing terrible pain in one shoulder, that I've noticed a marked improvement in it on the two days following my injections. It doesn't really alter how I feel about the drug though, it's still effective longterm and it's not like I'm suffering elsewhere on the other days - I see it more as a sign that the Enbrel is definitely doing something, which is always good!

And Kim, when I first started Enbrel I would sleep practically the whole day after injecting but that quickly went away. Best of luck with the treatment!

Moonie

I had kind of a simular experience with Humira. I started on the every other week dose; but my troubles would return by day 8, 9, 10. The closer it got to my injection day the more I noticed my pain. It wears off in a manner of speaking.

I changed to weekly and have had more success.

Justoday, I too find discomfort on the days right before my ENbrel injection. I posted about it before I read your post. I'm not giivng up quite yet because I can't go on the MTX / Enbrel combo so I really WANT this to work. In the meantime, I'm trying to rest when I need to, not overdo anything and walk walk walk. Even if it's just around the block once or twice a day. I feel better if I keep moving...usuallyHey Honey, I turned 40 yesterday. I have 3 kids and it's really a crappy thing having to ask them to cut things, or tie things because some days I can't. I'm a mom who might jump on furniture with a tooth brush if the right song hits, now there are days I can't wear shoes because my toes feel broken. But, maybe this mix will work for us! kinda scary though because it seems like a lot of these other folks have some good results and then the medicines seem to stop working. I don't have any joint damage yet either, it's a miracle with all the pain and swelling. It's the craziest disease isn't it? You don't know from one day to the next what's going to happen.Hey KimberD, happy birthday! I turned 40 a month ago. Someone told me recently that I look like i'm in my 20's. I said Thank you but laughed inside because I feel somedays like I''m 80! It is a crazy disease. I have days where I have pain in a knee and I feel such panic. At my worst, undiagnosed, I was having to go down the stairs in my house on my butt because my knee would give out. I thought I had Lyme disease. Then the swelling in my wrists started. So much so that I couldn't even clip my watch closed - my watch is very loose, like a bracelet. I did tell my kids that they are going to have to chip in and help around the house. I said I am not happy that I have to ask for help, in fact I find it downright degrading sometimes. So I explained that if they happen to see the laundry basket at the top of the basement steps, that simply means that was as far as I could carry it that day and they are to (without sighing and fighting) pick it up and take it to it's final destination! LOLHi Honey and Moonie, Me and my big mouth...."I think it's working!!!" so, my hands are so sore and fat today. Still, I know I wasn't swollen for a bit here and there. So, I'm gonna say "It's gonna go away again"...people are shocked when I tell them I'm 40 AND have a 17year old. I love it, but inside I think the same thing. If you could have seen me trying to write a check with the pen in my fist..haha....I hate that shooting stabbing pain, but for me the worst is when my fingers actually hurt to touch, like they're broken...do you have that too?

KimberD, yes I do have those stabbing pains that are painful to the touch. One morning, before med's started, I had one of those nights of agony and literally rolling around in bed from the pain. My husband woke up and said are you ok and I just started to cry. I couldn't be brave anymore. I just sobbed. He said "where?" and I said my hands. His reflex was to grab my hands and start rubbing them and I screamed. He didn't know what to do. He ran to get the heating pad and some aspirins for me. On a daily basis I get these little tweaks of pain shooting anywhere. Do you get that? Like right now, I am feeling little twinges in my toes on my left foot.

I feel like that sometimes too Honey.

Your HUsband sounds like a doll. Good for you Honey. We all need a midnight savor....even when their efforts don't pay off; it sure is comforting to have him around. Isn't it?

Lovie, yes he is a doll but it took 15 years to get him that way! Haha He is a very busy executive and very stressed w/his work and I hate to add to his stress sometimes. But, sometimes I need him to help me and he's good about it. He feels sorry for me. He is scared about this and just wants me to be the "old me" again I think. I must say though, today was my 9th Enbrel injection and I am starting to feel/see light at the end of the tunnel. I do however get tired and achey the day before my shots but today (the day of my shot) I could run a marathon. I guess I better grab the running shoes while I can.Hi guys,
I'll get a crazy random pain in one of my toes, or fingers too. There's a shooting pain, or sometimes a dull ache. My wrist gets it's own special crushing pain, that's always a treat. But I think I hate it most when it hurts to touch too. I get these paper cut like feelings on the top of two of my fingers sometimes too. It feels like a paper cut, but a little deeper. Really odd. This week will be my 6th Enbrel shot, although initially I had less swelling for bits of time here and there I seem to be back to "normal" again...fat and sore, haha...I won't give up though, maybe by shot 15 I'll feel better! On a side note Honey, I was married to an exec for 16 years and felt the same way. Funny we have so much in common! HOpe you continue to see that light at the end of the tunnel....

This is a lot like me and Renmicade, I will feel great that day, but lately I have a nasty flare the next couple of days, then everything straightens out and I feel sorta ok til the next infusion.

I spent all day yesterday in jammies on the couch, it seemed like everything was frozen and swollen and HURT.

I get the stabbing pains in my hands and feet and knees a lot too, I'd swear my toes are breaking.