Hi I take 20mg of Methotrexate once a week, 2000mg Sulfasalazine everyday, 50mg of Diclofenac 3x a day. With 30mg of Co-codamol to help

[beaubonna]

Still in pain ranging from hours to weeks with tiredness, need suggestions ie will Methorexate injections be any better

[allanah]

Think it would be a good idea possibly to ring the helpline, have u had a blood check recently? Just thinking anaemia is also common with RA? Or maybe if you need a medication change. Hope you get some answers from them. Xx

[beaubonna in reply to allanah]

Hi, thanks for reply, I still on monthly blood test nearly 2 years on from being diagnosed. Blood test seem to come back ok, but if I try to stop taking Diclofenac paIn really comes back. Have to see consultant in a month just wanted a few ideas of from anybody else before I go

[beaubonna]

Hi, thanks for reply, I still on monthly blood test nearly 2 years on from being diagnosed. Blood test seem to come back ok, but if I try to stop taking Diclofenac paIn really comes back. Have to see consultant in a month just wanted a few ideas of from anybody else before I go

[Hidden]

Metajet has less contraindications than the tablets so you may have some respite there of course you will need to inject yourself. They also may suggest Biologics although that will not be set in stone, They will rightly decide

One thing is the saying If it is not broke do not fix it. comes to mind. I always look at medications that way.Over the last several months some GP and Specialists have been withdrawing from the use of Diclofenac again that is up to your medical team. All this is me thinking so that is just me.

I am not a GP so I always bow to their ways of thinking

BOB

[beaubonna in reply to Hidden]

Thanks Bob, just seems as If it seems to working one week and I think it's sorted it comes back to remind me I still have it. On most days it's a mild pain in some part of my body to which I can live with, then other days it's quite bad, just. Thought Methotrexate and Sulfasalazine were there to take it all away. Thanks again

[Beaches2]

Hi there

I'm so sorry you are still in so much pain and suffering with fatigue. It would seem that you still have a lot of inflammation and that can cause fatigue. Once the inflammation is under control, tiredness should improve. I also have been prescribed iron tablets, so if your blood tests reveal low levels of iron, that is also an option.

I would contact your rheumy team right away and tell them that you are still in a lot of pain and need an appointment as soon as possible. They may fit you in before your due appointment.

They could increase your dose of methotrexate or add in another Dmard to push things along.......there are lots of other drugs/changes they could make to help get things under control. Perhaps I am just lucky but I get the feeling my team will keep making any necessary adjustments until I am pain free and to be honest if they didn't, I would be pestering them :-)).

I don't know about injections but I have read that they can be a way of giving a higher dose without any side effects so may be an option.

Good luck with getting things under control. X

[beaubonna in reply to Beaches2]

Hi, i think I just get a little disheartened now and again thinking the treatment is working and then it has a flare. Just not sure how good it gets or is this the way it is, thanks for reply

[Hidden]

Hello

Most of the stuff we take produces tiredness as does the RA so we are a hiding for nothing, If you are having mixed results with your medication, and nothing is stabilised they may consider your problems regarding pain and try something new

BOB

[Beaches2]

Hi

I know just what you mean by how good can we can expect to get, but I know that drug induced remission is possible so that's what I will be aiming for!

Your rheumy team won't know you are still in a lot of pain and will assume that if you don't get in touch its because all is well.

I understand that even when a drug or combination of drugs has worked well for a while, that it can loose its effect and drugs need reviewing again and perhaps that is what has happened for you.

As I said I would be contacting them and letting then know all is not well and asking for the earliest possible appt........no harm asking.

Good luck x

[tigerlover]

Just wanted to say I moved from oral to injectable methotrexate recently. I was on 25mg orally which is the largest quantity they are supposed to give you, so went to injectable 25mg (started off at 15mg) because you don't lose any of the medication through your digestive system you basically get more effect by injecting. This has definitely helped me.