do you return to normal ?

[snoopy29]

good morning, i am wondering if people on methotrexate for ra go back to their former selfs once the medicine kicks in ?

[KittyJ]

Some may do but some may not, it depends on the damage done to joints I think but people can still have a good quality of life it’s just a different life.

[helixhelix]

My life is a bit different from pre-diagnosis, but 95% normal. I have to be a bit more conscious of what I plan to do, have to make sure I get enough sleep and so on, but most is possible. I have developed something new recently, yet to be identified, but until the last couple of months my painkillers and anti-inflammatories were gathering dust on the shelf.

Now one can tell you how you will be affected, but look after yourself as best you can, take exercise where you can and give yourself the best chance of normality.

I am of course older every year too....and sometimes I think I might blame RA instead of age!

[snoopy29 in reply to helixhelix]

Thank you so much I was afraid to ask the question but that's good to hear , hope you get to the bottom of your problem 🙂

[Beanie1971 in reply to snoopy29]

Hi Snoopy 29

I was wondering the same, I'm relatively new to taking Methotrexate also (week 6 now).

😊

[snoopy29 in reply to Beanie1971]

Are you feeling any different?

[Beanie1971 in reply to snoopy29]

Pain is not as bad but still ache a lot in my hips and ankles also taking steroids, follow up telephone appointment tomorrow

[snoopy29 in reply to Beanie1971]

Hope you get relief soon, I only take nurofen but could do with something stronger , I dont get any relief from cocodamol.

[Beanie1971 in reply to snoopy29]

Thank you hope you do too 😊

[D_aisy]

I'd say it's a new type of normal. I have finally realised the mtx has kicked in and I am feeling joint wise a lot better. The stiffness and pain is usually bought on by me doing too much or not enough. There's a definite balance to be found and that is different for all of us. I am just grateful that I can function better now.

[Gnarli]

As with anything in life, there are no guarantees. What suits one may not suit another. I've been taking Mtx for over three and a half years now and I'm doing really well. In the horrible early days I was taking lots of painkillers but not now. Maybe the occasional paracetamol if I've overdone things. As HH has said, ensuring you get enough sleep, plan ahead, eat well and avoid stress are very useful habits. Wishing you well

[medway-lady]

If it works yes, if it doesn't then no. For me it didn't work but LEF did and life was completely normal for a very long time. I took no pain killers and went in total remission.

[snoopy29 in reply to medway-lady]

what is lef ?

[medway-lady]

Lefludamide

[allanah]

Yes many do !!

[Aliceeliza]

Thank you for asking this question as I've wanted the answers to this myself!!

[snoopy29 in reply to Aliceeliza]

I was scared to ask as we have all our Hope's on one drug but fingers crossed we will feel alot like our old selves , just a better version 😃 who will fully appreciate being able to put socks on without frustration lol

[cass24 in reply to snoopy29]

Just wanted to say, I think you've really hit the nail on the head with being able to "appreciate" things more...

I was diagnosed with RA in the early part of this year, have now been on mtx for about 8 months and added hydroxy to that just recently. I guess it took about 9 weeks or so to really start feeling the effects of the mtx and I'm still quite far from what I would define as "back to normal" BUT I am undoubtedly a hundred times better than I was before I started taking the drugs... and every time I feel a bit down that things aren't "moving fast enough", I remember that I could barely walk, get dressed or even move my arms in January and I'm actually hugely grateful to modern medicine and all those who have helped me to get this far...

Of course, that's not to say I don't still hope there may be room for more improvement yet (indeed, I suspect I may still be somewhat in denial about whether or not I'll ever get fully back to "normal") but let's just say I'm pretty happy with progress so far, especially knowing how much worse it *could* be...

Good luck and hope your "new normal" is a pretty good one too x

[snoopy29 in reply to cass24]

thank you for your reply it really does put my mind at rest that everyone has seen some improvement which is all we can hope for.

wishing you well

[Pognose123]

I felt a lot better on mtx and hydroxychloroquine- but after six months I’ve had to reduce dose as side effects were causing issues so it’s been two Two steps forward and one back. I had a Facebook memory the other day from when I was first diagnosed a year ago and I realise that despite this current hiccough I am much better than I was. But as many say, we are all different so treatments working for one doesn’t always work for another. Hope you can start to feel better with it 👍

[snoopy29 in reply to Pognose123]

thank you you too

[Neonkittie17]

I returned to zero inflammation and a lot lot more mobility. Once Mtx kicked in late 1990s I was able to fell walk again and went up Snowdon and back down about 5 months after starting Mtx so that tells you it was a big success for me. It can’t reverse any osteo damage that has already occurred and that was my problem, but it is an excellent solo med for many many people and also as a combo with other dmards/biologics. I hope it works great for you.

[snoopy29 in reply to Neonkittie17]

Thank you