Guest guest Posted April 26, 2007 Report Share Posted April 26, 2007 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 26, 2007 Report Share Posted April 26, 2007 Lynda, I am so sorry you are in so much pain. I have RA— have had since I was 14. I’m now 42. I remember when I was 20 how painful my shoulders were. Honestly, what really helped was cortisone. Are you taking cortisone? They didn’t have biologics then, but they do now, and it sounds to me as though you should be on one of those as well. Enbrel works wonders! I take orancia now due to insurance costs; it works too but always knocks me out. I started methotrexate in my 20s but I was already on prednisone and I can’t really say how quickly it worked or even how it works. It was prescribed during a flare I suppose... If you’re in that much pain you should ask your RD about getting a series of cortisone shots, just to tide you over. He may not need to prescribe an ongoing dose of prednisone once the mtx kicks in. Are you taking anything else? If you’re only taking celebrex and now mtx you sound undermedicated. Doctors do not care about your pain unless you make them; they care about the ongoing prescription more. YOU MUST TELL YOUR DOCTOR YOUR PAIN IS UNBEARABLE. The first doctor to prescribe cortisone shots for me was an italian rd I saw during my junior year abroad. I broke down and cried in his office, and he said I should enjoy my time there and enjoy my youth and not be in pain. Once he prescribed it others kept on doing it for flares, but before that, they were all too worried about covering their butts and not being the first one to prescribe something with serious side effects. YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO WAIT 8 WEEKS FOR RELIEF. You must insist. Remember, your RD DOES NOT KNOW WHAT IT FEELS LIKE. Sorry to shout, but this issue burns me up a bit! From: kenneth194542 <lynda.parton@...> Reply- " Rheumatoid Arthritis " <Rheumatoid Arthritis > Date: Thu, 26 Apr 2007 21:20:54 -0000 " Rheumatoid Arthritis " <Rheumatoid Arthritis > Subject: methotrexate 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 26, 2007 Report Share Posted April 26, 2007 Lynda wrote: > > 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. Ardeith writes: Some patients feel quick benefits, for others it takes longer. It sometimes seem as if RA is different for everyone who has it. Yes, you must be a patient patient. And ask your doctor about a pain-reliever so you can sleep. Lynda wrote: 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. Ardeith writes: I remember those days. I've been fortunate in that I tolerate Celebrex very well, and am on Enbrel, too. Your doctor may try several approaches to controlling your RA......and if all else fails, may recommend one of the biologics, such as Enbrel......but it's horribly expensive, and some insurance companies may not want to cover it until you've tried less expensive drugs. Lynda wrote: 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 ? Ardeith writes: Try everything you can think of....raise your head and shoulders, raise your legs.......I used to sleep quite nicely in a recliner.....but these days I sleep on my side, and you can't do that very well in a recliner. Besides, after awhile, a recliner puts me too far back on my coccyx....tailbone....at that begins to hurt. So, I sleep on my side now, with pillows placed to put the upper leg on.....if my knees are together too long, while on my side, my hip begins to hurt ....so the leg that's uppermost goes on pillows. And I even have pillows placed to rest my wrists and hands on........ Lynda wrote: 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 !! Ardeith writes: Putting your bed up higher might help with getting in, and out, of it. Not so much strain on the knees. I use the space under it for my yarn stash. As for turning over, it helps if your bed is big enough that you can just roll over without having to lift yourself to turn over. Lynda wrote: 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. Ardeith writes: None of us thought we'd be crippled by RA.....most of us never thought we'd have RA. I had my hair cut....it's above the collar in back...about two inches long elsewhere....and it has a mind of it's own. I wash it, comb it neatly, and it waves wherever it wants......but my hands wouldn't handle long hair anymore. I don't wear things with buttons......or zippers. I'll admit caftans probably wouldn't work for anyone who has to meet a dress code at work.....but they are life-savers for me. I can't fasten a bra anymore, and besides, the straps hurt my shoulders so badly I once pulled one off and threw it out of the car while zipping down I-75. And I don't even want to think about trying to pull on panty-hose...... If you have to write....not type....get the fattest pens you can find. Or use markers. Markers don't work well if you have to use NCR paper....but otherwise, they work just fine and don't put a lot of stress on your hands. And even skinny markers can make your hands cramp....so I wrap mine with layers of masking tape....to make them fat but still be able to use a fine point. One lesson you have to learn here is to let others help you.......and that's a hard lesson. Most women have been the caretakers.....not the caregetters....but you need to let others have the opportunity to be blessed by giving care to another. Oh, yeah, the patience thing......gotta have a lot of that, too.....patience with yourself, with your body, and with others who might not do things precisely as you would........ Ardy.....who has had RA for 34 years..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 27, 2007 Report Share Posted April 27, 2007 > > > > 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 March 25, 2008 Report Share Posted March 25, 2008 Hi All I have had RA for 4 years and I am taking Minocin 100 mg, 3x a week. I had a year when I had to take a generic and my RA has been flairing for 4 months with damage done. I will start methotrexate very soon to try and halt the progression of the condition and minimalise joint deterioration. I will take the MTX and ANTX together. Wish me luck. Ken.CAROLE MCGINLEY <scotconnect@...> wrote: Hi, my name is Carole and I have just been prescribed Methotrexate for my RA. My doctor also prescribed Folic Acid along with the MTX. I am currently taking Plaquenil (200 mg twice a day) and 5 mg of Presdnisone daily. Please let me know what I can expect from the Methotrexate. Thanks in advance. Hi carole I hae been taking 5 tablets once a week for about15 months. I was scared to take it at first but touch wood i havent had too many problems. the only other thing i take is the folic acid the next day. After suggestions on here i take the MTX on a saturday night. I have had alot of problems with my teeth and gums which could be the MTX but also just getting older! I do tend to have a cough most of the time but dont think ive had to many extra colds. eat lots of fruit and veg and try and stay healthy otherwise another carole! Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Search. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 26, 2008 Report Share Posted March 26, 2008 Dear Carole- I would consider taking Leucovorin to rescue you from the fatigue of MTX. After a course of MTX it really does help alot. I would also take MTX before bedtime so you can sleep through the 8 hour cycle as it works into your system. Follow with leucovorin. Taking a multivitamin will help with energy as well as hair skin and nails. Folate along with biotin in the supplement will also help you. MTX interferes with abnormal cell division which is in essence what the RA process is. Overactive white blood cells attacking your joints. Good Luck. Deborah On Tue, Mar 11, 2008 at 1:53 PM, moondahtoo <moondahtoo@...> wrote: Hi, my name is Carole and I have just been prescribed Methotrexate for my RA. My doctor also prescribed Folic Acid along with the MTX. I am currently taking Plaquenil (200 mg twice a day) and 5 mg of Presdnisone daily. Please let me know what I can expect from the Methotrexate. Thanks in advance.Carole Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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