23 male and just diagnosed with RA

Celebrex is similar to ibuprofen only milder on the stomach and should be used only when required.   If your Doc starts you off on steroids the two shouldn't be taken together.   Paracetamol can also give some relief and can be taken with most other drugs.   Time span varies from person to person.   There is no easy way of saying this but your life has changed and will never be the same - barring a medical breakthrough in understanding the disease.   Dealing with RA is a very personal thing but over time you will learn your own strategies, forums like this are an excellent venting and learning tool.   Google will be your best friend, google as much as you can on the disease and don't take everything your Doc says as gospel, RA is very much a guessing game.   I wish you luck!

I take Celebrex and cannot tell it works at all but the doctor wanted me to take it. Also took Naprason and it didn't do anything. 

Celebrex worked so so well at stopping the pain, for me, but was extremely short lived. It gave me relief straight away but after two weeks the effects were completely gone and I was in agony again.

Some of those 'heavier hitting drugs' are what protects the joints, I'd be talking to your Rheumatologist about protecting your joints and stopping them from getting worse.

Lovely to hear about your baby on the way!

Ra is just so different with different people and very unpredictable. Best to stay optimistic! You have been prescribed an anti inflammatory pain killer which may well help you right now. There are lots of options for treatment later if the stiffness, swelling and pain in joints increase- and that s the important thing to tell your rheumy if something doesn't work.

RA brings fatigue, so try to get more rest/ sleep -keep joints warm , but keep them moving and pace yourself.

My Rheumo told me to get unto 6000mg, of Odurless Fish Oil, taken 2 for breakfast, 2 with Lunch, and 2 with dinner, that is 1000mg capslues, golden monsters but once you get used to them they just become routine.

I notice the difference when I don't take them, get very achy and stiff, for me they do seem to help, I also know they don't help everyone.

Disadvantage - you hair will get very greasy, you will need to wash hair each and every morning with your shower, and you must not take them in the run up to surgery, thins your blood out too much, also check with gyno if you should start oil before baby comes, and if breast feeding.

Advantage - the micro lines on your skin disappear, bonus for me at 60+, the less lines the better, rheumo told me that, she was right.

Many medications for RA are dangerous to take during pregnancy, thats probably why you were started on celebrex. The gold standard is methotrexate but it can induce abortion and is very toxic for breast feeding. If celebrex works that's great, you may not need the stronger scarier stuff. I would say 4 weeks at the soonest you may feel a difference. Steroids are wwonderful for pain relief, but again might not be a good idea if you are pregnant. Your doc may dis cuss other options after your baby is born. Good luck!!