RA Medication

Sandgrownen

Hi all.

I am new to this forum but have read some of your posts with great interest.

I was diagnosed with reactive RA which apparently was caused by a virus which triggered my immune system to attack my joints.

At the time I could barely walk. When I had a face to face with the consultant, he gave me an injection of prednisolone. (Pre covid). Before I got home from hospital I was able to walk again. Seriously! The following day everything seemed normal.

This lasted about 2 months before I started to struggle again. So they put me on Sulphazalamine. Within a few weeks I noticed my feet and ankles were swollen, my hands stopped working and my fingers swelled. Coupled with loss of grip strength, it was difficult to use a knife and fork. I could not get my shoes on so could not go out.

I thought, this is not good. So fter months of perseverance I decided to ween myself off these drugs.

Fast forward, I am due to start on Methotrexate next week, which if you Google it is apparently the first dmard suggested for RA suffers. Even on the NHS website. Funny that. Maybe it's more expensive than Sulphazalamine.

I hope the Methotrexate works because my knees, shoulders, elbows and hands are getting worse. Thank god for regular 500mg of Paracetemol which eases the pain.

Reading others posts, it seems I am not alone in my experience. And there is no quick fix for RA. I too have the nodules on my wrists. Also, I sometimes feel my wrist joints get hot, which I was told is a sign of a flare up. As you all know, every day is different.

I hope the Methotrexate works. But it should be a few weeks before I find out. I will keep you posted. Sorry for the long winded intro.

Stay safe.

Steve

jeddison1985

Hi @Sandgrownen firstly let me welcome you to the forum I hope you find the information and support you are after from our wonderful community.

I can see from your post that you have recently been diagnosed with reactive rheumatoid arthritis due to an infection. I can understand the journey you are on as I and my brother both went through the same journey and eventually the reactive arthritis led to inflammatory spinal arthritis.

With good news though it is possible with treatments and lifestyle changes it can be under control and even remission. My journey also started with Methotrexate before graduating to biologics.

The site is full of information and I wanted to signpost you to some information that could help, linked to the main element of your question around Methotrexate.

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/treatments/drugs/methotrexate/

https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/2019/may/common-questions-about-taking-methotrexate/

Also here is a link to general information on reactive arthritis.

https://www.versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/reactive-arthritis/

Please feel free to search the forum for others with similar experiences and I am sure that some of our community will be able to help offer some useful suggestions.

Take care and I hope you get some relief and answers soon.

Thanks

Joe

Wendolyn1

Hi Steve,

I too have RA, I was diagnosed about 7 years ago now. It came out of the blue really, I was told it might have been triggered by a virus but they didn't really know for sure. I had a lot of pain in the beginning and felt like I was walking on knives, also as I enjoyed Ceroc dancing at the time if a partner wanted to hold my hand it was like torture, it felt like my hands were in a vice, not good. Anyway I wanted to say to you once I got seen by the specialist and put on Methotrexate and Hydroxychloroquine my body gradually settled down, and touchwood the majority of the time I am ok now and more or less pain free.

I wish I didn't have RA of course and don't like taking any tablets full stop, especially one's that suppress your immune system, but if it can control the aches and pains which unfortunately are part and parcel of this disease especially in the beginning, then it must be worth it.

I shall look forward to hearing how you get on, and hopefully you soon will be pain free and able to enjoy your life again.

Take care,

xx

Kitty

Good morning, I was diagnosed with RA in 1987 when I was 36 (I'm 70 now) I was started on Sulphasalazine, which was like a miracle drug for me and I loved it. Sadly my consultant emigrated to Australia and his replacement "forgot" to send me an appointment. So my GP took me off all my drugs, put me on Prednisolone and re-referred me. Safely back in the care of a new Rheumatologist, I was put on MTX. It worked thankfully. So I stayed on it for several years until a diagnosis of cancer and the much needed chemotherapy. I was told to stop taking MTX but by this time I was also taking Leflunomide. Which I was allowed to continue with. Post cancer I developed Rheumatoid Vasculitis and Osteoporosis. So now I take a low dose of MTX with permanent Pred and Leflunomide. Plus Bisphonates for OP. I can't stand or walk without support, due to fractures in my spine and Osteoarthritis in both hips. Basically I'm in limbo!

I wish you all the best with MTX. KathleenT (Kitty Kat)

Peonie

Hi

I have been taking methotrexate along with Hydrchlorinequine (not sure that is spelt right ) I have no change this week I am going for injections so hope they work

Then I am going on a different drug

hope it works as I feel for you I’m in pain exactly the same areas

CCM

I'm just back from an induction session with the rheumatology nurse, as I am due to go on Adalimumab (any on else worried about trusting medication you can't pronounce?).

From original diagnosis of RA in 1980, treated with Methotrexate and Hydroxychloroquine for three years followed by almost total remission until 8 years ago, I am now told that the Sulfasalazine and Hydroxychloroquine I have been taking is no longer effective, though the pain is not noticeably worse and that Adalimumab is now the drug of choice.

The side effects are certainly scary, but why we hear so much about them is I suspect as much down to current attitudes to risk as to real, significant danger. Certainly when I was treated in the 80's there was not nearly as much monitoring as there is now.

I am writing this post mainly to help me decide on whether to go for Adulimumab or not. On balance I will trust the professionals and be grateful for any improvement.

tamsb

Hi sandgrownen

Your post really struck a chord with me as it’s so similar to my RA story. I’m also just starting methotrexate and had a bad reaction to sulphasalazine so am hoping MTX will help with the pain. Good luck to us both!

Sandgrownen

Hi tamsb

Thanks for your comment.

The Methotrexate seems to be working, albeit very slowly.

I have no pain now, just stiffness which is very frustrating. I am on the metoject pen now which gives a bigger hit. Hope you are doing well on the Methotrexate.

Cheers