I am 41 years old, athletic, and a hard worker.  I drive 2 hours a day back and forth to work, do all my own yard work (which consists of cutting grass and weed eating approximately six to eight hours every Saturday).  I also play tennis about 4 hours a week.  My 13 year old son is also into sports so I stay on the road with him.  I started having foot pain around the first of the year and just blew it off as being "over 40".  By June I was in pain every day; having pain in my fingers, toes, and hands.  I finally made a decision to go to the doctor, explained my symptoms to him, and they did blood work.  Four days later they contacted me and told me I had Rheumatoid Arthritis and that I needed to see a Rheumatologist (my RA factor was 252 - range is 4-59, CCP was greater than 100 - range is 0-5, and Sed Rate was 10 - which is within range).  Two weeks later I met with the Rheumatologist and began treatment.  I'm currently taking 2,000 mg. of Sulfasalazine, 1,000 mg. of Naproxyn, 40 mg. of Prilosec, and will start 7.5 mg. of Methotrexate after Christmas.  Sometime after the first of the year I'll start injections (either Humira or Enbrel).  I haven't played tennis but about 4 times since June (I just don't feel like it), and I did have some problems adjusting to the Sulfasalazine.  Now, I'm really uneasy about starting Methotrexate but I want so much to "feel normal again".  I just want my "active life back".