Before and after medication

[ircmannj]

Hello everyone, I'm 30 years old and I was diagnosed with inflammatory arthritis about 1.5 months ago, which was about 2 months after my symptoms started. On my visit to the rheumatologist, he wasn't sure what kind of arthritis I had due to my symptoms and prescribed me with 7.5mg methotrexate weekly. Before and during my first 2 weeks on methotrexate I took 5mg Prednisone for aches that I'd been having in my fingers and knees, which really helped a lot. After 2weeks on Methotrexate I discontinued Prednisone and only took Naproxen, as needed for pain.

Right now, I'm on my 5th week of Methotrexate and my rheumatologist hasn't increased my dosage, even though I still have some knee/hand aches and have noticed some deviation on my DIP joints (nails facing slightly to the right). As of today, my symptoms remain mild, just like they were before I was diagnosed, no swelling or morning stiffness and only mild tendon pain on hands and knees are my main concern at the moment. I know it may sound like it's all going well but I'm still thinking about what's to come, since my symptoms haven't worsen or improved.

Does it tend to get better or worse after starting the medication? Sorry if it doesn't make too much sense, since the right medication is supposed to make you feel better, but at the same time we're dealing with a degenerative disease and at the moment I don't know what to expect, and I'm especially worried since I'm about to start a new job in the next few weeks and of course, I would like to have some control over these symptoms...

Thank you!!!

[ruth_p]

The speed of improvement really does depend on your body so everyone is different. It took a long time to get my JIA under control when I was diagnosed as a teenager but then when I had a massive flare in 2015 the tocilizumab started working after 24 hours. The doctors usually say medication can take up to 12 weeks to work so this is probably why they haven’t increased the mtx yet. Have you tried contacting the rheumatology team to ask for an increase? It’s always worth asking. They might ask you to continue at the same dose for a few more weeks or they might increase it, you never know. Good luck

[helixhelix]

If the medication is right for you then symptoms will get better. However the drugs modify the disease, not cure it, and it is a progressive disease so even when totally controlled there could still be some slow progression. It can be pretty slow tho’. I’ve been diagnosed 10+ years and have been largely in remission, and only have a tiny, tiny bit of damage.

[springcross in reply to helixhelix]

Long may that continue. x