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[Maddon]

Hello everyone I have rheumatoid and osteoarthritis. I was diagnosed about 11 years ago after ra came on seemingly overnight. It was the weirdest and frightening experience but it took about a year to get to see a rheumatologist. I was put on methotrexate and it made such a positive difference immediately but as the ra worsened, the methotrexate was increased and a variety of different drugs were added. After about six years nothing was working at all and I was relying on NSAIDs and steroids to keep on working. I was eventually put on humira which again worked brilliantly in terms of keeping the worst pain at bay. I was advised to continue with methotrexate but I really couldn't, even using injections it was too difficult to tolerate. But I have been able to keep working fulltime. Last year my mobility was really impacted with pain in knees. I needed a knee replacement in one knee immediately, so spent a lot of time on crutches and work made a number of arrangements to support me. Got the new knee this January and am recovering now. I went off the humira in expectation of the surgery, and was off it for about 3 months. I honestly thought I was in remission but last week all of a sudden it came back again with a vengeance so injected again this weekend. Look forward to chatting. Sorry for the long intro.

[KittyJ]

Hello and welcome Maddon, I'm glad you have found us 😊

Don't apologise for the long intro (it's not long by the way), it's great to find out about people's RA journey that brought them here. Feel free to contribute, I'm sure you have a wealth of knowledge over your 11 years with RA.

[Maddon in reply to KittyJ]

Thanks kitty looking forward to getting to know everyone

[janmary]

Welcome - you've had an 'interesting' journey so far, hope you're heading for an easier stretch of the way now.

I find it so frustrating that just as you think you're almost 'normal', getting on with life, and wondering what on earth all the drugs are for, the inflammation can return like an unexpected thunderstorm - good to be able to share it with those who understand - it can be hard to explain it to other people

[Maddon in reply to janmary]

Thanks for replying, I am off work for next few months and if I can afford it will try to make it more. I am making a great recovery from the knee replacement just a pity the ra decided to return. I have got to the stage where I say nothing about ra to other people, I dont think others really want to know and I hate those comparisons with their 90 year old grandmother who had arthritis.

[janmary in reply to Maddon]

I keep quiet about it too - those who really care can see how I am, those who don't notice probably don't really care, and if anyone else starts to tell me about how they've cured the arthritis in their thumb by this diet or that supplement .....................

[Hidden]

Ra drugs such as MTX aren't just about relieving pain, although that's the effect we all long for. They also control the disease by preventing joint damage and disability. Just because you have a new knee, doesn't mean you no longer have RA. You will still get inflammation in other joints and organs, and of course the fatigue, so you will need to continue taking the drugs your rheumy prescribes you.

[mads1 in reply to Hidden]

Oh I know poemsgalore, it's the biologic Humira that I am on. I was off it for about 3 months with no flare ups at all and I was secretly hoping I was one of those lucky ones where the biologics sent the ra into longterm remission but not to be. Both my knees are quite badly damaged so happy to get one new knee and looking forward to the next one. Unfortunately thigh is showing signs of damage as well. I have both osteo and ra,

[Hidden]

Me too, and Osteoporosis . 🙄

[Paisley58]

I am so sorry to hear that things have been so rough, I truly hope it improves soon.

Don't worry about the length, I have left some pretty big novels on this site LOL!!!

Like you I had hell with MXT, stomache aches, vomiting so severe it led to internal bleeding, hairloss, fatigue, metallic taste and off quite a few foods; Rheumy changed it to injections and the same thing. In the end he gave up giving me MXT and have been on Leflunumide ever since and it's great.

I have all my stiff joints crossed that they find the right combination for you.

Get well soon, love and light.

[mads1]

Thanks for replying hope everything is all right with you all re corona. I have limited myself to 10mins of corona news in the morning. I am on biologics now and they are great, was going to try and stay of them til this virus wasnt so virulent but again the pain was too intense so have kept on it .