need advice; need more treatment?

[Guest guest]

I've posted before about DMARD's and trying to understand

the rationale for using one drug over another...

I've been on MTX since mid-October and currently on 0.7ml

injected once per week with no improvement. I have gradually

been increased from 0.25 in the beginning and had a slight

drop in dosage at one point because of problem with labs.

Then they added Leukovorin which quickly cleared that up.

At this point I definitely feel no better and am losing some

function. I was not working when I started MTX but I am now,

and I have difficulties there as well as at home (dressing,

food preparation, etc).

How much time do you give a drug to show some positive effect?

When to add another drug? I really like my rheumy... how to

persuade him that I am ready to give up on MTX and try something

else? In the past, the only med that helped was Placquenil,

but then I became allergic.

I am diagnosed with severe inflammatory arthritis. RA is

negative but I have the typical nodules seen in RA in my

fingers but not on the knuckles, tho the knuckle joints are

shot on x-rays and qualify for joint replacements. If I can't

get a drug for reasonable pain relief, the next step is more

fusion surgery on fingers, which I'd like to avoid or at least

postpone for awhile. I am not liking the idea of fusing my

fingers which will permanently limit function! I've already

had two joints fused in my right thumb last spring.

What would you do? Anyone here have finger-joints fused?

Joanne