Pain free!,

Posted , 8 users are following.

I was diagnosed with ra 14 months ago.  I began methotrexate 12.5mg.injections soon after and began the routine of lab tests, visits with rheumy, etc.  my dosage soon increased to 15 mg.  For the past year I have gone through joint pain of different degrees almost every day.  I cannot say that I ever felt really good...of course tried many different pain meds which I hated to take and seldom provided any real type of relief.  My inflammatory markers are normal with every lab...so why did I feel so badly!  Last rheumy visit Dr. ordered plaquenil...mainly because I was so miserable!  Due to insurance restrictions, i had planned to start meds after jan1.  Now for the good part!  About 3 weeks ago my ra symptoms vanished.  I get out of bed in the morning with what I used to feel...typical stiffness for a 65 yr old!  No lingerng stiffness...no pain disturbing sleep, and no stiffness getting up from a chair after sitting . Just gone.  Hub is shocked to see me up so early in the morn, but without pain I sleep so much better!  I have cut down celebrex dose from daily to 2x a week and that is only to keep it in my system. I am thrilled.  For the first time in over a year I feel like myself.  Have rhemy appt Jan 3.  Does anyone have an idea what is going on???

my sis swears the mtx has finally kicked in, but after a year?  Seems far fetched.  Does this sound typical of some sort of remission?  I am enjoying this sooooo much...but still scared something is lurking around the corner.  I would love to hear comments or ideas!  Thank you

1 like, 13 replies

13 Replies

  • Posted

    Wow I'm thrilled for you what meds are you still taking? Are you still in the methotrexate?

    • Posted

      Yes just mtx. Had not started the plaquenil. Cant wait to see what rheumy has to say.
  • Posted

    There are a couple of forms of inflammatory arthritis that might do that - one is a reactive arthritis where the inflammation was in response to some trigger (your body reacts) and it often burns out after some months. The other possibility is something called palindromic rheumatism - but I don't know if episodes last as long as yours did. 

    Of course - it is possible that the mtx did take a long time to kick in but even then, it is unusual to be as symptom-free as that. Was your doctor sure it was RA? Was there joint damage?

    • Posted

      They said no joint damage but labs were off the charts.
    • Posted

      I will read up on the reactive...sounds interesting
    • Posted

      I'd have to look up in pt portal...i always fotget the 3 initials!  It is the fairly new one used for diagnosis.  I just remember he results were over 600

  • Posted

    Hi Jayne

       i don't have the answer for you but I say "wow,  that is fantastic"   Merry Christmas and Happy New year.  I hope you continue to be pain free and doing well for a very long time hopefully this is the medication and disease response to it

    Gloria

    • Posted

      Hi Jayne

      So glad your pain has gone, I have to say something though regarding methotrexate, as I too am taking only that, I just read so many negative things about it but never good things, if it works for you it's a marvellous medication and I thank god for it, just hope I don't get problems from it as so far so good but I have to admit it's my second attempt in the last six months so fingers crossed it works for me as it seems to be for you. May you continue to do well

  • Posted

    MTX is still helping you! 

    So happy to hear it has helped with pain and will also stop the severe progression of RA.

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