Re: Doc says if won't get worse

[Guest guest]

Kathy, six months sounds like a worst case scenario. Usually help starts within about 6 weeks and if not then the dosage is increased. I have heard that Methotrexate slows but does not stop joint damage from RA. The biologics (Enbrel, Remicade, Kineret, Humira) are supposed to stop damage but they haven't been used as long as Methotrexate so there isn't much long-term data on them. If you can tolerate the pain and continue to function then it's probably best to wait. If the pain gets too bad then you might ask about Prednisone which is a strong antiinflammatory that acts pretty fast but has some bad side effects. I was on Prednisone for over a year but am now off it and pretty well controlled with Methotrexate and Remicade.

When I go to my RD the receptionist usually asks "How are you?" and I usually reply "Pretty good." One time I was having troubles so I said, "Terrible, thank you. And you?" My reply must have gotten around the office pretty fast because everyone was extra solicitous of me that day. Make sure to tell the doctor how you have been feeling and don't try to be a hero by hiding your pain. Also keep track of any changes in how you feel (either better or worse) because it may be related to when you take your Methotrexate. Good luck and God bless.

----- Original Message -----

From: kmoore1020

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Sent: Wednesday, May 21, 2003 12:22 PM

Subject: Doc says if won't get worse

Hi All,I was diagnosed with RA in Nov 2002. I currently take Methx 12.5, Vioxx, folic acid and tylenol. I hurt in my feet, knees and hands all the time, but am able to tolerate it pretty well. My doc said it takes about 6 months for the Methx to work. He also says it will not get any worse. Have your doctors every told you this and do you feel this is accurate? Sometimes I don't think my doc knows how bad I feel sometimes. I have no swelling when I am in his office but my tops of my feet(near my toes) and some of my fingers swell almost everyday. You know how it is--your body appears well whenever you go to the doctor lol. Thanks, Kathy

[Guest guest]

Hi Kathy,

Are you seeing a rheumatologist? I'm pretty surprised that your doctor told you it won't get worse -- there really isn't any way to know that. My current meds are: Prednisone, Azulfidine EN, Methotrexate, Remicade, Folic Acid, and Ibuprofen. It took about 2.5 months for my metho to work. The Remicade has improved my bone density results over the past several years.

I agree that there is a "bubble" around the doctor's office to make your symptoms lessen!

Take care,

in VA~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

>Hi All,

>I was diagnosed with RA in Nov 2002. I currently take Methx 12.5, >Vioxx, folic acid and tylenol. I hurt in my feet, knees and hands >all the time, but am able to tolerate it pretty well. My doc said it >takes about 6 months for the Methx to work. He also says it will not >get any worse. Have your doctors every told you this and do you >feel this is accurate? Sometimes I don't think my doc knows how bad >I feel sometimes. I have no swelling when I am in his office but my >tops of my feet(near my toes) and some of my fingers swell almost >everyday. You know how it is--your body appears well whenever you go >to the doctor lol. Thanks, Kathy

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