Adalimumab - what improvements should I be seeing

HG80

3.5 years diagnosed RA, worst affected in joints of feet, MTX & Sulfasalazine for past 2, now on Adalimumab.

Hi all - looking for some advice for people who have moved onto biologicals please? Everyone I have spoken to 'in the real world' said biologicals will change my life almost immediately so I was very excited to start these 3 weeks ago.

Positives - all the non-joint RA issues seem to have significantly improved, the fatigue etc.

BUT - there is no difference to my foot pain. Should there be, will this be coming? I realised I don't actually know if my current foot pain is here forever and biologics stop it worsening, or if they should also be stopping the arthritis pain altogether?

Some guidance to manage my expectations would be gratefully appreciated, thank you x

jamieA

Hi @HG80

I think everyone is different and their reaction to medication is similarly different. I have PsA and initially was reduced to walking with elbow crutches and couldn't close my hands or move my shoulders much. I was initially started on sulfasalazine and when that didn't work MTX was added 4 months later and the combination didn't work. 9 months in the adalimumab biosimilar Amgevita was added. About 3 weeks into the triple treatment - so a week after my 2nd injection - I started to feel a bit of a difference. After 2 months on Amgevita I was able to hand back my crutches. I'm not cured by any means but almost 3 years after starting the triple medication I can walk my dog 50-60kms a week. My rheumatologist always asks that on a scale 1 - 10 with 10 being it's worst what I'd estimate now and my response is either a 1 or 2.

I hope it works for you.

HG80

@jamieA that sounds really good, thank you for responding. I'm glad you have seen so much improvement!

I was more than prepared to wait to see a result, I just realised I wasn't sure what kind of results I should be seeing in the future. But that sounds like there is hope for my foot pain yet - yay!

Fif

I too have seen a lot of improvement since starting on amgevita. I was on methotrexate initially, which helped quite a bit, then sulfalsalazine was added and made no difference so amgevita was prescribed. I've been on amgevita since last July and the pain and swelling are significantly better and when I saw the RA nurse earlier this year she considered me to be virtually in remission. The change wasn't instantaneous but things seem to keep on getting a bit better. I can now go back to wearing my wedding ring and wristwatch and my overall strength and flexibility have also improved. It's definitely worth persevering. Good luck.

HG80

That's really good to know, thanks @Fif 😊

Arciere

Not sure if this helps; When I started the Adalimumab injections they said it would be 3 to 4 months before the full benefit is realised. I still have pain in feet, hands and the damn fatigue, but I am certainly moving more freely and I am two months in.