RA

Hi Erin: you dont give your age but I got RA at 16. I'm now 61, and after trying everything on the drug list since 1971, methotrexate did work last year, 20mg a week, with folic acid tabs to keep my liver in a good state..The side effects were not good, so I went onto injections that helped. Am now on Cimzia as well, that shuts down my immune system, and pow, overnight, no more pain and the inflammation has died off. Over the years, nothing worked. one Doctor put me on 32 soluble aspirin a DAY...

Good luck..I have found, what works for one person, may not work for another..

Regards

Dave

Hi Erin

RA is an auto immune desease (your body is rejecting it's own

joints)

MTX is an immuno suppressant this is used routinely in early

diagnosis it is not a pain killer so usually alongside you will most likely be given an anti Inflamitory NSAIDS (meloxicam) is a

NSAIDS

Along with paracetamol or Cocodomol or tramodol

Everyone is different.and pain tolerance is different.

MTX takes a few weeks to get into your system and they will

need to find the correct dose for you if you take MTX read the

side effects and don't suffer in silence as some people have

little or none of the side effects others have extreme side effects.

If you fall into the second category you can always ask for MTX

in injection form which is easy to do yourself and relatively

painless you should have also been given folic acid to take 3

days after you take the MTX. To lessen the effects on your body.

Painful joints do not necessarily need to very swollen usually

There is an excess of fluid.around the joints some or all of them.

Steroids can be used to supplement the Meds you are taking if it does worsen quickly ask for steroids to get you through the 1st

Few months until MTX kicks in this can be as you suggested

prednisolone or injection in your bottom of Depomedrone

But as I said earlier you can take painkillers along with what you have.

But if your joints are swollen try to take it easy on them, ice packs are a big help on the knees

I buy the plastic bags that you can make ice cubes in as they

bend nicely over the joints.

You only need about 10 minutes every few hours.

Hope this helps don't forget knowledge is power so read all you

can before your next Rhummy appointment, it's always handy to get the direct number for the specialist nurses too as you can

always ring them for advice.

Hope this helps and good luck

A LITTLE ABOUT ME

I have had RA for 15 years now and I am 57

I have just gone through an acute flare up which has lasted 10

Weeks or so, I also take amytriptaline 75 mg (which is a high

dose) at night as a muscle relaxant it is actually an anti

depressant but not a very good one but the starting dose is

usually about 30 mg.

This medication helps with the sharp shooting pains I experience at night.

Hi Erin:

Your experience is a lot like mine. I had pain in my feet and in the large knuckles of my hands. And then my ankles and wrists were involved. My GP sent me to a rheumatologist the very day I complained to him of my pains. I am a negative RF person, but I do have RA, the "palindromic" type which means the RA travels around my body in unpredictable locations and severity of pain.

At the start, I was put on plaquenil and meloxicam. After two years I was put on methotrexate (mtx) with 12, 2.5mg tablet per week. I soon found that taking meloxicam every day produced blood in my urine (invisible, but there, and which is not natural for a guy). Now I take it but only if I need it and you will learn when that is by listening to your body. The blood stopped when I was more sparing of the drug.

As time went on, my 12 pill per week mtx intake has decreased to only 3 pills per week (due to me taking a proactive role just as you would like to do) by using turmeric capsules (1g to 1.5g per day) which has made it possible to decrease my mtx intake. Gooood stuff and your liver actually likes it. Now I supplement that with pineapple juice and black cherry juice. Google this stuff and you will find reputable sources that advocate the juices.

As for your knee, it is possible the swelling is due to inflammation from the RA. That should be toned down as time goes on. 

I just had an abnormal CBC (blood test) which showed an increase in the diameter/volume of my red blood cells due to an inability to metabolize folic acid in the presence of mtx. So now I take leucovorin which is the metabolized form of folic acid and will soon learn if this has been effective. Otherwise I feel pretty good.

So one has to notice what is going on and bring ANY questions/concerns you may have to the rheumatologist. I found that things that are seemingly innocuous perks up the doctor who then makes needed adjustments.

Your proactive attitude is an absolutely beneficial thing for you!

Good luck and be positive.

Somehow I was misinformed on how to take the MTX... I thought I was suppose to take 1 pill a day for 5 days... But I called today, and the nurse said no I was suppose to take 5 pills at once. I told her I took one last night, and she said to take the other 4 tonight. But I'm scared to take them because of the the folic acid issue. He didn't mention anything about it. I did blood work yesterday and I'm scheduled to go back Dec 1st so I guess he will know more at that time. What do u guys think? Should I take the remaining MTX tonight? Or wait to call them about the folic acid?