anyone not on meds for Rheumatoid arthritis??

I did not take the meds because they told me I'd have to be on them the rest of my life. It took about 9 months but eventually the swelling and joint damage and other weird symptoms stopped and haven't returned for six years. My inflammation markers are very low. The doc had told me diet had nothing to do with it but I thought it was worth a try. So far so good.

From August 2024 to July 21, 2025, I was on prednisone, then methotrexate, then kevzara, then humira. Nothing alleviated my horrible pain. I now take Tylenol Extra Strength daily 2,000 mg and Tylenol PM at night. Barely takes the edge off the pain. Due to bone deterioration (a shingles shot kick started this horrible adventure), I had my left shoulder replaced 4 weeks ago, with my right shoulder to follow asap.

I begged for Rinvoq but rheumatologists said NO WAY. I will pray your physician can find the right medicine to help you. Please post how you are doing.

I hurt, especially in our hot veeeeeery humid summer weather that we are getting now. hope she can come up with something. I feel its like " if the illness doesn't get you the treatment will.

@llmartin , Hi, what kind of diet are you on? 79 and just got RA, what a surprise. Hope it would go away as fast as it appeared but no luck. Have BE and MAC, so could not use regular RA meds. Took a while but I found a good RA doctor on sulfur, hydroxychloroquine and low dose prednisone. Low pain level in hands. Like to try diet instead. Thanks, remission is my goal.

I was totally off meds for 40 years, until I stopped being gaslit I August 2023, and I took a break from January to August this year. Methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine and Humira had not helped at all, and I wanted my immune system functional for a cruise. My symptoms didn't worsen. I'm on low dose naltrexone now, and it works very well.

Hello! Well, nowadays there's a lot of info out there on anti-inflammatory foods. I changed what I ate slowly and found ways of making them easier to manage (e.g. using frozen vegetables, an instant pot and storage containers for prepared foods). Eating a big salad for lunch every day has been a good base practice for years. Once I knew what to eat, I found my own way and pace, and am still tweaking it today. I'm not great at sharing links, but there's a National Institute of Health article that goes into into painstaking detail regarding each food group and the way it helps lower inflammation. Best of luck to you!

I have been on different drugs for arthritis: leflunomide, methotrexate, prednisone, methyprednisolone andbthey all made me feel eorse. Cant take NSAIDS but Tylenol helps some as does gabapentin and noth Intook for MS. Lidocaine helps with pain. All the test me sick. Have seronegative RA w inflammation but without rheumatoid factor! Frustrations with all we tried. I quit! Too sick. Goid luck! I wd like to know whycsome of us succeed and others nothing works!! Any ideas! I just am told they are sorry and we dont kniw what the autoimmune diseases are. They care and try hard to help.

I ended up in the emergency room two years ago due to acetaminophen toxicity. I was taking two Excedrin Migraine per day which did not exceed dosage. I was in the hospital for three days on a drip to detox. I was in serious danger of liver damage. Please watch your Tylenol intake and make sure your liver is not being impacted. I have R/A and now have serious osteoporosis after 12 straight years of medrol. It took me 14 months to get off it with help from endocrinologist. I had to restart medrol this June and now am again under endocrinology care to get off it. I was not getting relief anyway. I fortunately did not develop the other steroid danger of diabetes. I get along with light exercise, and deep tissue therapy from P/T. Gabapentin helps and I tolerate it. I hope you find relief as I understand how we all muddle through therapies.

@susanlf Why on earth would your doctor not give you RINVOQ?? I’m on it and it’s doing miracles for!! Maybe a new Rheumatologist???

Not on meds now for nearly 5 months after HCQ gave me bad side effects at 10 weeks use. Very reluctant to go on MTX which is what they want to do because it strips your gut lining and I don't want be be susceptible to every bug going.

Just had a short relapse, possibly due to a big lot of steak, but blood scores are good on a combination of supplements all clinically proven to relieve RA. MSM, liquorice root, curcumin, cats claw.

Waiting on current blood scores but feeling very good.