me again ,,sorry to keep asking questions but so much i need to know about RA,,once my meds

[flowers89]

kick in does that me i will be pain free,?

[helixhelix]

It really depends how much permanent damage you have, as the meds can't fix that. But you should certainly feel very much better. I have quite long periods where there's not much pain - or none that can't be dealt with with NSAIDS.

I remember how truly awful I felt when I was first diagnosed, and was virtually bed ridden as the pain made it difficult for me even to get as far as the toilet. I really thought my life would be like that for ever. But it hasn't been as thanks to the drugs I got my life back and I'm now 95% back to normal. And yes things ache and I often have a painful joint somewhere, but it's all completely manageable. So I hope it'll be like that for you.

[Hidden]

I've heard it said that Methotrexate doesn't tackle pain. But my personal experience suggests that it can help considerably. The reality is that if your pain is bad you may need to have a discussion with your rheumy about drugs that are specifically aimed at pain relief.

I'll stick with my own experience because it can be difficult to generalise. For me most of the pain and discomfort, as well as fatigue and the notorious 'blah' feeling, seem to stem from very active disease combined with the way of life that can lead to. Once Methotrexate kicked in I gradually became much more active, ate a better diet, slept more soundly and so on. And all those things help reduce pain I think. Additionally, I do think Mtx just plain makes me feel better regardless of my own efforts.

Pain killers in general need to be treated with a certain amount of caution. That's my opinion anyway. The main thing is to get your disease under control and Methotrexate may be the way forward for that. It could be that you need something for pain while you're waiting for Methotrexate to take effect (which can be a slow and gradual process.) Or you may need help with pain longer term. Be guided by your rheumy on this.

There's really no simple answer to your question. I really believe that focusing on controlling disease is 'better' than focusing on pain alone. But of course but when my pain is bad it is harder to think that way!

[masymae]

Hi, I was diagnosed with RA, 12 weeks ago now and started taking methotrexate and I am now up to 5 tablets a week, I couldn't take any more as I was feeling really sick and dizzy on a high dose, so they put me on a steroid every day as well. After visiting the rheumy they have now added hydroxychloroquine for me to take, 2 in the morning and 2 at night every day. This is so that it can mix with the methotrexate to add more dmards, instead of taking a high dose of methotrexate. Im hoping that I do not get sick when taking these as I have just started a new job. I am still having symptoms having been on methotrexate for 12 weeks and get really dull aches in hips, feet, hands and ache all over and generally still feel unwell, not so much pain. So I think we are all different and it is trial and error with each person. You will have to wait and see how these tablets affect you. I hope you do well though.

[Rosi1213]

I am on 25 mg of MTX and Folic acid only, and it has helped me tremendously! I was diagnosed in Feb, and my pain level has decreased tremendously. I went to the rheumy last week, and he couldn't believe the change. So much so, that I don't need a biologic. I just hope it keeps up. I do have minor pain everyday, and I do get flairs sometimes, but the MTX has helped. It took 6 months for it to make a difference, but it did., so hang in there!

[beeckey]

i have had RA for 12 years been on most to meds at some time better than i was when i first took it but no where near pain free but again we are all different.That does not mean you cant so best of luck and let us know how you are doing

[flowers89 in reply to beeckey]

thanks for all replies ,,just want to be in a little less pain,,,x

[Daniela-NRAS]

Hi flowers89, please do give the NRAS freephone helpline a call on 0800 298 7650 and sorry to hear you are in pain at the moment. It might help to talk to a friendly member of our helpline team.