I would love to hear how you are doing...I am so sorry that it's been so bad, especially after the Cimzia!  I hope the Simponi works for you and I pray the neuropathy will eventually resolve on its own (or with the help of Simponi).  I wish I had other answers for you....I know someone who went into adjusting after years of roofing/construction caused many physical ailments too.  It doesn't require the physical demands, anyway. In the meantime, I hope SSI comes through and quickly!!  This disease is just awful!!   Obviously, you are of strong mind and heart and I pray that that continues.  You really have to be strong on the inside with RA....and it's hard!.  I wish you the best on Simponi....please let me know how it goes.  Thanks for the info on side effects on Cimzia too---the docs talk like these are the latest and greatest, but it doesn't sound so great to me....obviously it's been H*@! for you...God bless and I wish you all the best!

God bless 

Hi, I came across my own original reply while searching for cimzia issues...funny..LOL.... thank you for thinking and reply to my reply. You sound like a very caring person. I'm really not doing any better. The Simponi did not work; it only caused another month of serious nerve pain. With the exception of the pain and throubbing was half as bad with the same effects that Cimzia did. As of this day, I do not and can not take any type of TNF blocker or infusion. I finally found pretty good relief from, muscle relaxers (Norflex for daytime and Flexeril for night time), norco (hydrocoden), Methotrexate, and especially from Lyrica. I always have a pain level of 4 out of 10 though. There are various other meds that take for other small issues. I have been sleeping on the couch downstairs for the last 3 months because my bed was bad for my back and neck thus again causing serious headaches. I also learned that my cervical (neck) it the main culprit for my headaches and I learned how to control my headaches for the most part. I get nerve blocks for both cervical and lumbar which help tremendously, but the only way I'll do the nerve block procedure is through a physician whom uses x-ray guidance to direct a needle to the sympathetic plexus of nerves, that way you get precise nerves that are causing pain and this is a pain clinic that I attend. (they try to find a way to control your pain through meds and surgical (blocks and related, not surgery) which takes a little bit of time but if you stick with it, you'll find something that works. My Neurologist is the one that got me going on Lyrica though. Hope is going well for you and I pray that you'll find a way to have no pain.

It is now sept 25th, 2010.  I am now trying the newest (I guess) med for RA. it's called Actemra. it's an infusion. after my third infusion (3.5months now), I'm not getting any relief what so ever. My doc says that we need to let it try till 6 months. Actemra is a once a month treatment.  My nerves still pound or pulse or feels like electricity flowing through them with about 1/3 the 120volt punch, and it's with every heartbeat, every second of the day. Every heartbeat is a hit of pain through my whole body and it's been about a year now since this first started while first taking Cimzia (I would have to say the Cimzia did it). I'm scared to go on trying any meds anymore, but I've applied for social security disability a year about now and I cannot refuse any treatments or else!  So between the RA really taking over now and that nerve pounding/pulsing/electrifying torture treatment from hell, I have lost all control of my life. My marriage has suffered tremendously and of course the financial part of this is even rougher. I cannot figure out why I'm going through all of this. Did I kill someone or something??  I'm I being tortured to see how much and how long I can take it before I explode??, I give I give< but you know how us Americans are....C'mon, give me some more, what are you trying to do?? tickle me??, is that all you got??, lay it on me brother, let's dance!.......funny, but really I give, I give........I still have faith in Jesus and I figure I'm taking the load for some others that would ordinarily not be able to take it. I wish I could get paid for it though. I would really, really appreciate even just one prayer from one person out there, even just one prayer could make the difference. I'm a good person, hard working (30 yrs), family with 4 kids with the last one leaving the house for college next yr. beautiful wife who deserves better than this. Just one prayer please