I have had RA for 5 years & despite prognosis I'm doing

I was diagnosed with RA in February this year. Am taking Methotrexate which has helped with major flare up in hands and wrists but I have contant severe pain in my feet (not just morning stiffness). Has anyone else had the same problem? I would be grateful for any tips people have on this sort of pain control as I can't take anti-inflammatories.

I totally agree with these comments! A good relationship with your GP is a must. My GP is great. He listens, he sympathises where necessary and he takes great care of me. I have had RA for 18months and have struggled at times but support is the greatest painkiller. My hubby and family, GP, Consultant, Nurse and my Occupational Therapist are all my heroes! I am truly grateful to all of them.

I was diagnosed finally 4 years ago after at least 6 years of intermittent symptoms. and take all the usual drugs including Methotrexate. I have now had to give up work

I would say that the one problem that is under- discussed all the litrature but causes me the most problems is fatigue. This has little relationship to disease activity, is unpredictable and yet is the most disabling symptom. Both my Gp and consultant are very supportive but can provide no real solutions . I think because it is unseen and unpredictable it is hard to explain and to live with and I don't think it is all down to pain or depression as is often suggested.

It can be with me for 3-4 days and then begin to lifdt abnd I can start doing things within mybcapabilites . However it is not something you can weill awy and so is frustrating . The only place I saw anyt real discussion was an american web site altho' pacing is a help.

i have been diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis and osteo and, like you, suffer a lot of pain in my feet - i do take anti inflammatories and pain killers and have also been to the podiatrist a few times - she has sorted me out with some special insoles, which have proved to be quite helpful - i still get the pain but it takes a little bit longer! best cure is to sit down and put your feet on something cold!!

I was recently diagnosed with RA and I have to say in my particular case the flu like symptons are worse than the pain. When I am having a bad flare up I feel terrible due to the fatigue and generally feeling unwell. My eyesight muscles also seem to be affected on a bad day , I also think my heart muscles are as well as I have bad pains down my left arm neck and chest. I find it difficult to carry on on a bad day I just want to curl up and go to sleep, on a plus side at least you appreciate the good days and dont take feeling well for granted [/img]

I have been suffering the symptoms of RA for over 25 years with varying degrees of severity over that time and have been very lucky for a long while.

However I am now in a flare up again. The condition has never been properly diagnosed, other than to ascertain that I do have the rheumatoid factor. This is my fault as I have never consulted the doctor about it as I have managed the condition well with a supply of Voltarol, now out of date, and the attacks have been very infrequent.

So, I have an appointment next week and wonder what is ahead. Anybody in or had a similar experience?

Recent blood tests investigating current rheumatoid symptoms have come back as negative for the Rheumatoid Factor - which was positive in 1994 - normal for the Inflammatory Response,but positive for Anti-Smooth Muscle Antibodies.

I have been referred to a Rheumatologist to see what is going on but wondered if anyone else has experienced a disappearing Rheumatoid factor and/or these antibodies? It is all a bit puzzling... :roll:

I've had RA for 16 years, tried many drugs but nothing ever worked. Was unable to take Methotrexate, either orally or injections but asked to try Enbrel this year (2007). I began injecting in October but did have a few hiccups. After four injections I took Mucron tablets (decongestant) and woke with very red cheeks and irritation around my neck and the previous injection sites. Pharmacist said Mucron was a coincidence, not sure myself. Enbrel certainly is helping my RA, not so much pain and more flexible joints, but I had to miss a week when I was admitted to hospital overnight with tightness and pain in my chest. No heart problem found and no-one knew whether it was the Enbrel or not. Also missed a week when I developed an eye infection, missed another week when I was put on antibiotics for cough after a cold, but hopefully I will get back to normal weekly injections next week and hope to get a good run at it this time. Would recommend anyone with RA to try it, push your rheumatologist to let you give it a go, although they're not keen because it's so expensive. Good luck to anyone who gets the chance.

I am 61, had RA for 16 years. Tried Sulphasalazine, plus several other drugs, the Sulphasalazine seemed to make me go to the loo a lot so I was taken off it after some months. Haven't found any alternative therapies that helped but have spent hundreds of pounds trying ... I now believe only the recommended RA drugs actually work and the only one to work for me is Etanercept (Enbrel) which is self-injected once a week. One thing that did help with the severe tiredness (before I went on Etanercept) was a gluten-free diet which my then GP suggested. I was not shown to be a coeliac but the diet gave me more energy and I was able to get through the day without having to go for a sleep in the afternoon, it also helped to a degree with the pain. The food is expensive and it isn't possible to get it on prescription unless you are a true coeliac but it might be worth a try if you have RA.

I have had RA for 16 years and have tried most of the RA drugs, none of which worked for me. Had to be taken off Sulphasalazine after a few months as it seemed to be making me go to the loo a lot and also wasn't helping the arthritis much. Azathioprine was one drug that did seem to work at first, my CRP came right down and I felt really good but sadly it didn't last. I'm now on etanercept (Enbrel) which has to be self injected once a week. Only started in October 2007 so it's early days but it's the one thing that has made a difference to me, although they're not so keen to put you on it as it's so expensive, also you have to have tried several other drugs first, that's part of the criteria. Over the years I've tried several alternative therapies, spent pounds doing so, but nothing helped at all. A gluten-free diet did help with the severe tiredness I suffered all the time, also helped to some degree with the pain. It was suggested by my GP and although the food is expensive it might be worth a try. Try it for a month, if no improvement then drop it

as it's quite a hard diet to stick to. Do hope you find something to help you as I know how low it can make you feel but don't give up, something will come along.

My husband was diagnosed with RA 2 years ago at the age of 43, before the illness he had never had time off sick, he played football and rode his superbike every day.

now he finds things very difficult, he is having to retire from his job as he cant work, he cant walk far, is in constant pain and life as we knew it has completly changed.

He has tried all the mediction on offer to him, starting with steroids, non steroids, methotrexate, sulfasalazine, anti TNF, both humeria and enbrel he has even had ritixumab nothing has helped.

he now has to take slow release morphhine for the pain, and life is not good!

From all that I have read on RA, Patients have a higher risk compared to normal healthy people of succumbing to Cancer. I am not a medical person, my limited knowledge is based on the immune system, how it responds to the Rheumatoid Factor. As for the Doctors not taking any blood tests or chest x-rays. My late Father age 63 and his two Brothers, age 63, all succumbed to the same form of cancer at the same age and died. I was informed by the Pathologist, the chances are this is in my genes, so I am at high risk. Therefore I have to undergo a a chest x-ray once every three years. Blood tests, I used to have them every three months, but last year my GP decided their was no point. They know what I have, RA, they know their is no cure and as I seem to be coping, no point in having blood tests. I hope this helps.

I'm sorry to hear about your husband. I've had RA for about 35 years and one thing i've learnt is to stay positive. I am not for a minute suggesting that he is imagining or making up the pain (I've been there and got the t shirt!). But....I have definitley noticed that the brain has it's own pain killers that can be set off by doing something you enjoy - even if it causes you pain. Afterwards you are a) happier B) more mobile c) dead chuffed you have achieved something. this may be as simple as putting on your socks or doing up shoes or going for a walk to the end of the street. Depression is cruel and will not help pain - think about how you feel on a sunny day compared to how you feel when it is miserable. lRemember this someone with pain knows they are alive.

I was diagnosed with Rheumatic Arthritis in 2002, and given diclofenac to ease the pain and inflammation. As soon as I started taking the diclofenac, it seems the RA got worse and after a while, I was also offered methotrexate. I refused it though because I was very worried about the toxicity of these drugs. I am a befriender at my local hospital, and have seen first hand what these drugs can do ie. liver and eye damage etc. etc. I did a lot of research on the internet and came across an American medical website, which has information and support about a safe, low-cost treatment for rheumatic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, and related diseases. The particular treatment focuses on antibiotic therapy, which has proven safe and effective. I made contact with them, and then targeted my GP with my evidence. Then, I walked like I was 80 and felt like I was 90 (I am 48). I was tired, in pain, and depressed. Luckily, he was very open-minded about it all and prescribed the antibiotic, and within weeks I felt like I had been reborn. To cut a long story short...the antibiotic worked for me and in a very short time and almost all my pain was gone. There is only one consultant in the UK, who will deliver this type of treatment, and like myself, there are many people who visit and have never looked back. I still work full-time, and do everything that had been part of my life before this disease came in. And it has given me the unshakeable belief that there ARE answers if we care to seek them - using patience, discrimination and wisdom. And, most of all, if we make a commitment to educate ourselves and to case-manage our own healing, finding and using expertise that makes sense to us, rather than unquestioningly putting our wellbeing and healing in the hands of those who will not step (or even look) outside the square of medical orthodoxy. Please feel free to contact me.

GemmaF, I was very interested in the reply you gave about your antibiotic therapy treatment. I too am 40 years and was diagnosed with RA a year ago. I was first given only diclofenac but my symptoms worsened. I now take Methotrexate , sulfasalazine and a low dose of prednisolone but my condition has not improved as I had hoped. Although it is alot better , it is not anywhere near to making me feel better. My consultant just keeps increasing my doses and hoping for the best. But I hate taking these drugs. Can you give me any more information about your treatment and whether I can email you regarding this. As you are not a member I could not see how to request info from you . Thanks ....