I have been seeing my second rheumatologist, the first was a joke, my tests come out neg for RA. The pain started in my thumbs and wrists, then ankles and big toes, then elbows, shoulders and now knees. all in a 2 1/2 year span. I have minimal swelling but the pain is horrible. My new rheumy put me on plaquenil almost 3 months ago, one a day at first then 2 per day plus ultram and lidocaine patches. He won't diagnose me, I guess he's monitering what the meds do for me and keeps sending me for x-rays and bloodwork. The plaquenil is starting to help, I actually have days when I feel good and can function with minimal pain. I was having alot of difficulty walking and for the past week or so I am walking much better and I can hold things and turn things with little pain. I am very excited to feel better but what does this mean as far as a diagnosis. I am a person who used to live in the gym, work, raised 5 kids, hobbies, just going all the time and then all this joint pain progressing to a point of couch potato and relying on my husband to do trivial things for me cause it hurts too bad to be awake. I am very hopeful that the meds are helping and I will continue to improve and maybe be able to do all the things I used to do, but also scared , my rheumy writes RA on all my ordered tests and mentioned possibly putting me on methotrexate. Does anyone have any idea where this may be going?
RF NEGATIVE/PLAQUENIL HELPING JOINTS
I take placqunil in addition to Arava and Remicade IV treatments for my RA.
There was a time that Placqunil was the only drug that would give me any relief.
Be sure to get your eyes checked every 6 mos or so while on this drug as it can cause retina damage.
I found that by starting treatment agressivly from the start I have less deformity. I was originally diagnosed in 1976 5 mos before my 30th birthday. In 1977 I was told that at the rate the disease was progressing that I'd be in a wheel chair within 2 years if we didn't find something that worked. That's when I started of the DMARD's and eventually the biolegic agents were added. Here it is 33 years later and I'm still getting around by my own steam although it's getting more and more difficult due to back problems affecting the sciatic nerve.
I tried metotrexate and it made me extremely sick so I was switched over to the arava then. About a year later Arava was approved for use with the remicade. Usually you take metho and remicade together as a treatment.
Good luck with your jouney. I once compared RA to riding a roller coaster. Sometimes your at the top of the track and all is well but then all to soon you can be down in the valley and become afraid you'll never stop hurting.
There is pain relief and the drug companies are working on new meds all the time.
Take care
My last RA Factor was 250
Mary in Texas
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I dont know what it means ... I just wanted to show some support as I am having the exact same problem as you. I am also taking the same medication
and it too has started to help. There were about 3 days I felt normal but I went overboard and now I had to spend another 3 in bed. That will show me! But from what I can tell it is a big improvement. I guess we will just have to wait and find out. My next appointment is next Thursday.
The waiting for relief is difficult. Do your research on methotraxate. It has harsh side effects but can offer relief. I took high doses in the beginning and then they were tapered down. You might be put on prednisone also. Again you have to deal with side effrcts but feeling better is the goal. The key is rest, taking your medications properly, and eating well. I figure I'm a toxic dump but chose an aggressive treatment plan that allowed me to continue to work. I retired last Nov. 6 years into my diagnosis. Just gave up to the brain fog and fatigue.