Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) - Introduce yourself and meet others

Yes, supps are not helping if in excess. Doc will tell u most just pass. Blood tests will show if any are needed. I had same issue with pain relief. I use topical Salonpas, very good lasting help. All nsaid pain relief accumulate in the body over time and can cause multiple issues. Keep legs elevated as much as possible, compression stockings for circulation, stress management very important. Stress can take u down, take a walk, read a book, watch birds play in a lake. Do what u need to to minimize stress. Life in constant pain is disheartening, fight back and remove stress. Regards.

When I was 1st diagnosed I was on methotrexate 12mg, hydochloquin
5mg steroids helped little but
Hydrochloriquin made my cataracts grow

I am on short time. Keep abreast of any issue with same drug. My doc has me convinced he is the best I have up to now. Let know if you get back to the Doxy. Regards.

I'm Bronna. I was diagnosed with RA in 11/2019 after being placed on biologic Dupixent for severe eosinophil asthma and discontinued after 2 doses in 7/2019. After 4 months of searching for answers to the extreme joint pain, I was finally diagnosed in 11/2019. In 1/2020 NIH reported that studies showed that Dupixent is known to cause seronegative RA. My treatment since has been: Sulfasalazine for several years, Methotrexate (1 month but discontinued due to extreme elevation of liver enzymes. Sulfasalazine no longer worked and was placed on Leflunomide. Biologic Dupixent was switched to Biologics for asthma (Nucala, then Tezspire and now back on Nucala). I am explaining this because Nucala (as some other biologics) though are prescribed for other health issues have a positive impact on inflammation which affects RA. I am also taking LDN 0.5mg 2x daily (low dose naltrexone) for RA. Since 11/2019, I have had 2 knee replacement, thyroid cancer, (need hip replacements), blood clot, collapsed veins in back of both legs to undergo VenaSeal, neuropathy esp in feet and hands, and systemic inflammation which has affected my lungs, heart, vision and of course joint pain in my hands, wrists, feet, toes, ankles, etc. There is so much more but won't tell my entire RA history all in one message. 🙂 Thank you for starting this blog.

Hi, I've been diagnosed with PMR and have been on prednisone for 12 months. (continuing to taper with the benefit of Kevzara). My sister was diagnosed with RA this week. Her Rheumatologist gave her a prescription for prednisone (10mg tablets) with the direction to simply "take 1 to 2 pills as needed". This guidance surprised me given everything I've been reading over the last year on the importance to taper slowly with longer term use. Is this a common way to take prednisone to treat RA? (ie. take 10-20 mg as needed?)

I don't think it is at all common to direct prednisone that way .. in fact I would change doctors if at all possible because clearly this one is not up to snuff.
I take two different steroids for Addison's , to keep me alive. The only way my prednisone is increased (by my rheumatologist) is when I am going through a flare. Steroids' are not a stand alone medication for RA.
I had to go through a litany of different drugs to reach an infusion medication, Orencia, once a month.
I can never be off of prednisone because of my Addison's disease ... but my RA is treated differently , not on stand alone prednisone, with very vague directions that could make your sister's illness worse.
I'm sorry I may not be wording this correctly because I am exhausted right now ... but you are right to be concerned about your sister ... she should really do some research on medication for RA .. you have to look out for yourself ... doctors make mistakes and it can be very consequential on the patient.
Good luck !

My husband takes daily injections of Kineret- along with colchicine and minimal dose of prednisone. Will try to wean off prednisone as weather gets warmer. Has been a journey- that’s for sure! I am his wife and cheerleader for 41 years now!! He has pseudogout and pseudo rheumatoid arthritis. Hang in there to anyone who has to go down this road. It’s a rocky one, but, better days are just around the corner!

My husband takes 10 mg prednisone daily. Weaned him down to 5 mg last summer. Cold weather aggravates the joints .

Hi, I'm from Oklaoma, and have been living with seronegative RA since the mid-80s. I wasn't correctly diagnosed until 2000. Currently on meloxicam, and methotrexate low maintenance dose. My Rheumatologist is amazed by how well I have responded to Turmeric, and so am I. My "markers" went from 34 to 1 within 6 months. He has a whole list of supplements that I'm on, I'm hoping I can learn from others, and maybe offer help, too.

Hi
Im seronegative RA. I have oral lichen planus. They are following up on Lupus for me. I have heard that Methotrexate is a drug that causes melanoma. My dad took it, he had head and neck cancer and melanomas just kept popping up and getting cut off. He was a lab rat in the end.