anybody?
I see lots of meds but even the biologics don't work for some folks..... That is kind of discouraging as my immune system seems way to strong... uggggg
I can hope for the best I suppose...
hope your feeling better today..
maybe some day they will invent a drug that works...
Since I've been taking Humira (about 8 months now), my joint pain is pretty much gone, only occasionally does it cause a problem. I have been struggling with some other things, though I'm not sure if they're side effects of the medication or totally unrelated. The biggest problem has been some heart palpitations, dizziness, etc. There was a research article I just read, don't remember where, that said about 50% of men with RA find medications that lead to remission...I think for women it was more like 38%...so it's certainly not hopeless!
Alan
I am essentially pain-free on MTX and Plaquenil. Sometimes I get twinges of that roaming pain thingy and easily get tendonitis, so I am reminded that I have RA, but mostly my life is pretty good. I am one of the lucky ones.My test results indcate remission of Ra but I have chronic pain......always. Typically summer is a better season for me with less pain. Rumor has it my pain stems from fibro and erosion damage left by the RA when it was in it's most severe active stage.
I have terrible pain in my ankles at night, after I have spent all day on my
right now today this morning, I don't hurt, but I am very tired, so I am still not doing anything.
The pain hasn't stopped yet since it started, no matter what I've taken so far (though I've just started the DMARD dance). I tell myself that it will be with me always. That way, if it ever goes away even temporarily, it will be a gift and a surprise. My goal is to keep it manageable, which so far it is. It stinks. But it could be worse. I am alive, functioning, and am still able to experience a lot of the things in my life that bring me joy. I,ve yet to get mine under control. However, with the combo of weekly humira injections and mtx injections, along with prednisone, placquenil and vicodin, it does sseem to be improving but I have yet to be pain free.For years I was in a medical remission. I was even eventuallyCheese,
what kind of pain meds are you on? I want to be pain free so bad but I think it will never happen. Im on vicoden, arava, daypro, 1mg of pred. and 100mgs of enbrel weekly. And Im still in pain everyday.
momof3
Always have pain somewhere, but it seems to rotate to different areas. What I've found that helps me is distraction, talking on the phone to friends (really takes my mind off it), and taking pain meds at different intervals at the beginning of the pain before it gets bad. Also, using different methods for pain control, heating pads, rice socks, TENS unit, stretching, PT, swimming, enough rest, moving often.
But as you can see, most people find pain relief and symptom relief. No matter how bad it sounds for some of us, the majority are finding good answers.
When I am not flaring I can be relatively pain free unless I overdo it.When one has overcome the disease there is no pain, i.e. one has gained freedom.
If there is a flare it is not pain free. No matter how one diverts the focus and attention, taking pain meds. and using other external methods, there is still pain. The control is partial. All these were my past experiences.
I effectively counter the pain with herbs in the past. NO PAIN MEDS. NO EXTERNAL METHODS ETC.. Today there is no threat!
That is what I mean NO PAIN!
I only wish I were pain free As long as I don't try to twist my left wrist, which has deteriorated, I'm fine for the most part. Thankfully, I'm right handed. Heck, I even bowl twice a week.Well... I was almost pain-free, but I been off Humira for almost 2 months because well, I broke a bone and needed surgery to repair it and then I decided I would wait until I saw my RD again to make sure I could take it with my toe nail the way it is. I do not need to get sick. I would just rather deal with the pain, swelling, & stiffness than get an infection that might not be so easily cleared up.
But when I am on Humira, I have some energy, and can do some of what I want to do and still not hurt as much, but I only hurt if I over do, which I tend to do sometimes, especially with cleaning house.
So, in a sense, yes I am pain free, more pain free than I was about this time last year
I'm going to read carefully all the posts to try to find what may help me and then talk to my rheumy. I've had RA for more than 12 years. I've been on MTX for about 4 years now and Humira for two. I manage very, very well. Pain Free? Not exactly, but you have to be realistic I think. When you've been through things that so many of us here have you begin to accept a certain degree of pain as normal. Over time you stop expecting to be "Pain Free" and you celebrete the good days. In my opinion once you acheive results where you have far more good days than bad; you're moving in the right direction. After all these years I haven't been able to go off my meds....but I'm at least lucky that the meds work for me. I know so many that aren't as fortunate so I certainly count my blessings. I was at the end of my rope with constant pain until I began enbrel 6 months ago. Since then, I have felt normal, and energetic again. I am very diligent about avoiding people who are obviously ill, and wash my hands constantly so that I don't develop infections that may cause me to have to go off my enbrel. My greatest fear, which I seldom allow myself to think about, is the certainty of going back to the pain if/when it becomes necessary for me to stop taking enbrel. Enbrel has been my miracle! ThinkThin~have you tried using more MTX? I'm now down to 2omg and Humira weekly; but I was using 25mg. In my opinon 10mg isn't much. Maybe if you increased your MTX you wouldn't have to use the predisone? I'm not sure which is better for you....I suspect neither in the long run; but knowing that predisone contributes to bone loss such as osteopenia and osteoprosis I'll now try to steer clear of it when ever possible. I'm had RA for such a long time now and have used it off and on for years. At 35 I have osteopenia and they contribute that to the meds I've been on all these years. Steroids. Some people find themselves in a situation where they feel they can never get off predisone; but I imagine with an increase in MTX you'd be able to. I might be wrong though. I'm certainly no expert; just had years of personal experience. [QUOTE=Thinkthinn]Clair, I am wondering if you are on any other meds besides enbrel. At the time I began enbrel, I was taking the maximum dose of MTX weekly, as well as 1500 mg per day of naproxen, with little to no relief. I was also nauseated and lethargic all the time. After the first few weeks on Enbrel, when I was feeling soooo good, I saw my Rheumy and asked if I could wean off the MTX, because it made me so nauseous. She allowed me to do that. I have not taken 1 naproxen tablet or anything else besides my enbrel for 5 months now. I feel absolutely normal, without even morning stiffness! I realize it doesn't work this well for everyone, and I pray that it continues for me without complication. **disclaimer** I do have some damaged joints that, of course, cannot be reversed, so I am still unable to do "everything" I did before my diagnosis 9 years ago. But outside of that, I have the stamina and painfree lifestyle that I enjoyed back in my early 30's! Cheese, what kind of pain meds are you on? I want to be pain free so bad but I think it will never happen. Im on vicoden, arava, daypro, 1mg of pred. and 100mgs of enbrel weekly. And Im still in pain everyday. momof3 [QUOTE=Thinkthinn]Lovie, I agree with you and my doctor is upping the dose of mtx slowly. I am guessing it will go up again in January when I see him again. I suppose it is possible that I am in remission...however, the only way I know to find out is to go off enbrel and see what happens....and I'm scared to do that! Thanks for your good wishes....I don't take a single day for granted. Along with this disease comes a renewed appreciation for good days, and I hope to have one looooooong string of them! Mark1, hmmmm, seems like I've had RA so long... (I was diagnosed in 1998/1999) that I really don't remember what life is like without pain... (eeewww SAAADDD!).. I definately can say that I've been through periods where, based on RA terms, I could say "I'm in a drug induced remission" (i.e. with meds feeling minimal morning stiffness or pain;whilst on my Methotrexate and IBU 800); however take me off either for longer than 10 days and I'll begin feeling the effects..sad to say... although inevitable I'm sure... I'm 10 yrs into the ordeal and my bod is no longer reacting to the previously stated meds. I'm now looking to up the anty to the new Biologics to see if I can get back to that "drug induced remission" state Kris
I read that women are less likely to experience remission, according to a study published online in the journal Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases. The discrepancy in female/male remission rates could not be explained by age, drug treatment, or how long a patient had rheumatoid arthritis, the study authors said. How interesting is that? Tell me what you think! http://pharmdaily.com/Article/5688/Rheumatoid_Arthritis_More _Stubborn_in_Women.html
I am relatively pain free and am on enbrel, MTX and pred. I am on 10MG of mtx and down to 5mg of pred. Cant seem to ween off the pred yet. But I am suspecting it is the ored that keeps the pain away.
I meant to write , I suspect it is the pred that keeps the pain away.
I am relatively pain free and am on enbrel, MTX and pred. I am on 10MG of mtx and down to 5mg of pred. Cant seem to ween off the pred yet. But I am suspecting it is the ored that keeps the pain away.
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Im a lucky guy momofthree! When I flared I was on the Preds to reduce swelling and take pain away, then I added Methotrexate in pill form once a week with Folic Acid. MTX worked very quickly for me and I was off Preds within a month. I and myRheumy had thought there might be a chance I shut off my disease a year ago and I went meds free for almost a year...but then I started to flare again. I went right back on the MTX and it controlled my flares once again.
As I said...I am very very lucky, at this point almost a year later once again I have been pain free.
Lovie, I agree with you and my doctor is upping the dose of mtx slowly. I am guessing it will go up again in January when I see him again.
I think it may go like this. More MTX then less pred. And I will be weaned off the pred that way. I hope it works. I,m going to ask him next month.
Claire, I will keep my fingers crossed for you. Just one medication s a real dream. It sounds like this has worked for a long time. Could you be in remission?
Most of the time I have no pain or very little pain. If I've been
standing or walking for too long (longer than a couple hours) my ankles
hurt. This is a far cry from when I was first diagnosed a year
and a half ago!!
I've been on MTX (15 mg/week) for a little over a year now, and I know
this is helping me quite a bit. My doc added Enbrel about 3
months ago, and it's also helping.
dordale
I think it may go like this. More MTX then less pred. And I will be weaned off the pred that way. I hope it works. I,m going to ask him next month.
Claire, I will keep my fingers crossed for you. Just one medication s a real dream. It sounds like this has worked for a long time. Could you be in remission?
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