Guest guest Posted October 8, 2006 Report Share Posted October 8, 2006 I'm glad you found something that works for you. I've been very lucky with the meds I'm taking. But I still have some pain from time to time. It could be worse!!! Take care. Check Out the new free AIM® Mail -- 2 GB of storage and industry-leading spam and email virus protection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 26, 2007 Report Share Posted April 26, 2007 In my case I was also prescribed MTX initially. Unfortunately the pain was so bad I decided to take the prednisone. Even though long term this is bad for you it does help with the pain right away. You may also want to ask about enbrel or humira. I am currently on Humira. My problem now is that i am on so many different medications that i am not sure which one is really working. All i know is that there was also a time i couldn't get out of bed and now the pain is manageable. Good luck in finding the combo that is right for you. It will get better now that you are diagnosed. > > I have been diagnosed with very active and severe RA and 2 weeks ago > was prescribed MTX by my Rheumatologist, taking 3 x tablets per week > plus folic acid 2 days later. > > I also take 2 x doses of Celebrex per day. > > I have been told that I must be patient because it can take from 4 - > 10 weeks to feel any beneficial effect from MTX, but I would love to > hear from members on how soon they felt improvement on this drug. I > am in severe pain, particularly shoulders, neck, arms, wrists, hips, > knees and feet. I also have suffered from osteo-arthritis for many > years in my spine and hips, but I have never experienced pain like > this in all of my life (I am 58 years old. > > I am finding it impossible to sleep with my v. painful shoulders - > has anyone any useful tip on how to try and make myself comfy in bed ? > Currently my husband has to help me to get in/out of bed, help me > with turning over in bed, he has been a star !! He also has to help > me with getting dressed, doing my hair, most things in fact, I never > thought I would ever become like this in my life. > > I am having blood tests every 2 weeks and will see Rheumatologist > again in 8 weeks time - when I last saw him 2 weeks ago, he said I > would be bounding through his door by then - if only !! > > best wishes - Lynda > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2007 Report Share Posted April 27, 2007 Dear Lynda- I personally never found benefit of pain relief from MTX. It works in conjunction with a biologic like Remicade. It is a chemotherapy drug and prevents your RA cells from dividing as they are abnormal like cancer cells and the good along with the bad in this case. I found relief in things like Ibuprofen and Prednisone. They are my mainstays. MTX will not halt disease damage or progression, only modify it. Go out and buy yourself a foam mattress topper to cushion your joints. Make sure it is comfortable for you. I have to have my spine straight and my pillow is actually a sofa pillow that is very stiff and thick. I build up my pillow by using a blanket underneath it and pieces of foam to keep pressure off my shoulders. Doing this helps immensely. If you are having a shoulder flare be sure to ICE the shoulder itself at the socket and use a heating pad for the muscles leading to your neck. You sound like you are suffering alot. Do consider getting on Remicade or another biologic. You can try Cyclosporine. Its an old drug but it is a TNF binding agent as well as an antimalarial. That taken in conjunction with Low dose prednisone and Plaquenil and Ibuprofen/Davrocet will help. It is an organ transplant rejection drug and has been around a long time. It worked for me for 5 years at disease onset before a biologic came on the market. Know that I have been where you are now. You are in my prayers. Deborah On 4/26/07, kenneth194542 <lynda.parton@...> wrote: I have been diagnosed with very active and severe RA and 2 weeks ago was prescribed MTX by my Rheumatologist, taking 3 x tablets per week plus folic acid 2 days later.I also take 2 x doses of Celebrex per day. I have been told that I must be patient because it can take from 4 - 10 weeks to feel any beneficial effect from MTX, but I would love to hear from members on how soon they felt improvement on this drug. I am in severe pain, particularly shoulders, neck, arms, wrists, hips, knees and feet. I also have suffered from osteo-arthritis for many years in my spine and hips, but I have never experienced pain like this in all of my life (I am 58 years old. I am finding it impossible to sleep with my v. painful shoulders - has anyone any useful tip on how to try and make myself comfy in bed ?Currently my husband has to help me to get in/out of bed, help me with turning over in bed, he has been a star !! He also has to help me with getting dressed, doing my hair, most things in fact, I never thought I would ever become like this in my life.I am having blood tests every 2 weeks and will see Rheumatologist again in 8 weeks time - when I last saw him 2 weeks ago, he said I would be bounding through his door by then - if only !! best wishes - Lynda Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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