New to R.A.

Recently diagnosed with R.A. After 5 weeks on methotrexate - my final dose being 20mg- I suffered so badly with chronic fatigue and chronic muscle and possible bone pain (sometimes difficult to breathe deeply as it hurt so much) that I was taken off it and hoping to go on sulpgasalazine next week. Has anyone had similar effects on methotrexate as the muscle pains not listed as a side effect.

[Andrew12]

I do but it's only for 24-48 hours after taking it

[Hidden in reply to Andrew12]

Thanks for getting back - hoping the sulfasalazine will suit me.

[Hidden]

Yes the same then offered the sulpgasalazine it was even worse I just have to keep trying different things but having a break from it just on pain control at moment but have to say after three years trying and failing I feel much better without the nasty drugs they do work for most people it's getting the one for you

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for getting back and pleased to hear you're feeling better at the moment. I will see how I get on next week when I start on the sulphaslazine but not holding much hope. Will keep trying until hopefully something suits me. Gets you down but I make sure I keep smiling.

[Frankiefarr]

Not muscle pain but severe stomach pain at even a low dose. Now waiting for methotrexate injections. Since being diagnosed 4 months ago I've been unable to tolerate any of the drugs including sulfasalazine

[Hidden in reply to Frankiefarr]

Thanks for getting back - will update once I start on the sulphasalazine next week. Not holding much hope but I must try.

[-inca]

I struggled with Methotrexate, but with terrible sore throat, mouth ulcers and fatigue. I felt awful pretty much all the tim. i now take Sulfasalazine and I am finding it much better. Hope it works for you.

[Hidden in reply to -inca]

Thanks for getting back to me - fingers crossed sulfasalazine suits me - should be starting on them next week once I've seen the rheumatoid nurse.

[Hidden]

Thanks for your responses - much appreciated. Will let you know how I get on with the suphasalazine next week.

[Hidden]

I took the MTX - 20 mg / week, and remember clearly that every time I gave myself my shot, I could feel it moving through my system. When it hit my brain, I would go to bed.

The fatigue and pain are such a major part of RA that would have been hard to say they were worse than usual with the shot. But, I do know that nothing good happened with the MTX until I had been taking it for about six months. Then I started to gain periods of remission, short though they were at first. And I have to say that at that time, I loved for those short periods of time.

I am hoping the sulfasalazine works well for you as this disease is a hard one on many levels.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your kind words. I had t realised how nasty this disease can be. I currently have jount damage in my right hand on the index finger but I'm still not sure whether it's the MTX which I stopped over 2 weeks ago or the RA which is causing these strange muscle pains which differ in place each day. Hopefully the nurse on Monday can tell me more as the consultant made nothing of it when I saw him last week and my doctor is unsure what it is. Whatever it is I need help with as it's making me housebound and rather low. However I do manage to keep smiling as hard as it is. 😀😀

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Your last statement has been the battle flag for most of us with RA - we keep smiling no matter how hard it is.

It's odd - so few people in the world (relative to the general population and other diseases) have RA, so I suspect until we get diagnosed with it, or we know family members that have it, most don't know much about it. I surely did not..

Here's hoping that you start feeling better soon. It sucks to feel that bad.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for your kind words - you have to keep positive otherwise it can rule your life.

[Claudiaboscamp]

I hurt all over, nauseated too, inside of my mouth little sores, sick of it, feel like my body was invaded

[Hidden]

Feel for you I really do. Hoping you have better days

.

[Hidden]

It happened to me on sulfasalazine, it was worse than the RA! That said, it really suits some folks. We are all so very different.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

Thanks for responding- MTX was worse than the RA for me but hoping I won't be so bad with the sulfasalazine but then again I am preparing for the worse. See my nurse Monday.

[nomoreheels]

Hiya houkd2a & welcome. I haven't had muscle pain, not on MTX anyhow, but I did on my first statin though it is a common side effect as is joint pain. Hopefully you'll start SSZ & tolerate it better. Unfortunately it wasn't the med for me but leflunomide double therapy with MTX seems to work. Keep in mind that we all respond differently to DMARDs so it can be a bit hit & miss I'm afraid but fingers crossed it'll work well for you.

[Hidden]

Thank you for your kind words. Hoping to start on SSZ tomorrow after I've seen the rheumy nurse - will let you know how I get on. Glad you've found the medication that works for you.