I spent a lot of time at Mayo learning more about the biologics and the DMARDs
I was told that the biologics will not help me with my pain.
DMARDS slow down damage but really do not have pain relief properties - or good
ones at least..
Corticosteroids reduce inflammation really fast and that alone helps you to be relatively
pain free. You will feel better all the way around.
You will have existing pain that was there before you started the DMARDS or the
Biologics but new pain must be addressed and that's what you are watching for -
that's the stuff that you will want to highlight in your pain diary... it's important
because if that is going on or your existing pain gets worse then a switch in
medicines is the new treatment plan..
You need good pain medicine for pain.. sometimes it's a "mind" medicine that does
actually work great on pain but sometimes you need a prescription pain relief and if
your doctor refuses then you need to really do some homework or ask the doctor
how you will get along without "something" and it's likely that together you will find
a good pain reliever that isn't always a narcotic. I' m doing studies right now that are
telling me that some of the antidepressants work just like narcotic pain relievers do.
Drug free RA treatment
Early RA treatment - Hydroxychloroquine?
cancer treatment and RA
Advise for RA treatment 
RA treatments re mycoplasma
Yikes, this may be misconstrued as some do things which get lost in UK/US interpretation but IMO you're preaching to the converted. Most here would think who have inflammatory disease & lived with it for some time understand what does what & how some which were traditionally used & licenced for a different condition entirely can also be useful for autoimmune conditions. GP's in the UK are under obligation as part of the NHS directive to inform a patient of the drug being prescribed, whether they do or not is their decision but I would think most would wish their patient to be fully informed of the ins & outs of the meds we take, both my Primary & Secondary care doctors do me & would think I'm not alone.
Regarding pain relief, I'm treated dependant on the level of pain I'm experiencing, one of which is a controlled drug, or as you prefer to refer to them narcotic, & another originally an antidepressant so feel well placed to reply. The only drug type you mention I don't have experience of is biologics thankfully but judging from the members here who do have need of them they are informed why the need for them & the possible effects, positive & negative.
I'm pleased you understand & are doing your own studies, educating yourself according to your disease, it's suggested we all do if for whatever reason if it's not explained when any new med is prescribed, it can be very helpful to know what we're taking & what for. Hopefully newly diagnosed members will find your post helpful though & I would recommend that everyone reads the patient information leaflet of each new prescribed med too, as is suggested before we take our first dose, that way all bases are covered & any known intolerances can be reported before they're experienced.
It all helps towards greater understanding, it's just that some of us here have had the disease some time & done what you're doing now.
Please accept my apology for insulting anyone at all. It was not my intention to offend. In the USA we are subject to too much advertisements for prescription drugs and according to the commercial advertisements and posts in magazines the biologics promise to rid the body of pain and then you will see people actively moving about looking like they never suffered a day in their life which is so false and unfair to make people believe that they will be able to do such things like sitting on the grass playing tug o war with a strong dog. People expect to find that same thing and when the biologics fail to restore their bodies to pre damage state then people quit taking the drugs and switch up the drugs after such short trials. We do ask our doctors for prescriptions of certain drugs that we see advertised. Anyway, I forgot that our systems are running differently so I will kindly step back and listen to what everyone talks about on here to learn...
Maybe we will be in the same exact boat with Obamacare? The future looks like it will be a mess for Americans. If we are too poor to buy health insurance, the IRS fines us - quite a hefty fine. XX Karen
No need to apologise Karen & I for one didn't think it insulting, please don't think I'm shallow or unwilling to learn something new it's just from a longer term RD'er perspective you were stating the bl%&@#g obvious.
There's a considerable difference between our two countries regarding advertising. No prescription-only meds are allowed to be advertised & any OTC, herbal or "natural" ones have to adhere to strict guidelines re advertising whether on TV or written media. I've noticed since being here that many members in the US use alternative treatments alongside traditional meds & would think some of that is attributed to ads & differing thoughts of treatment from Rheumies. Also insurance, or lack of it if in trying circumstances must make such a difference. Here the costs of some of our meds are heavily subsidised, others we pay over the top for as we're charged per prescription though savings can be made by paying in advance if wished. Some illnesses receive free prescriptions, lifetime illness generally & a moot point with many of us here as we are required to pay for our meds, unless we have one of the long term health conditions then our RD meds are included & are free of charge, quite different to the US & other countries. No co-pay, which I've had experience of & know can get very costly.
So really not having a go just saying it's not something most of us here don't know, having lived with the disease some considerable time you learn along the way, you've learnt that, passed it on & I replied.
I must say though your view of your health system is pretty general though quite different from one of our other US members who has told us that everyone is informed & nothing is left undiscussed, I did think it a sweeping comment..... UK patients "lied to" I think was the term used. The choice of words may be unadvisable as it inferred our medical profession doesn't tell the truth, a difference of opinion of a class of med & couldn't or wouldn't accept that in the UK it's different so accused our medics as lying. Silly really but it just goes to show that one person's view of the healthcare system isn't necessarily another's.
I can't believe that the IRS fines you if you can't afford insurance, though I know the father of a friend of mine has fallen foul but didn't know the whole story, I've an idea now because he was struggling to pay for expensive treatement for his aged mother. Just when you need help you're expected to be able to pay a fine, because you can't afford insurance, you've little money right? Oh, by the way I don't mean you personally!!
So anyway don't you think you can't contribute whatever, that's the whole point, we all have a common bond, a reason for being here & differences of opinion will arise, it's not the law that we we all have to have the same opinion & your post will be helpful to the newer members here, I'm sure be along & they'll tell you so. x