I was diagnosed with RA and BOOP (Bronchial Obliterans Organizing Pneumonia) over six years ago and four surgeries later I still am suffering.  I have been on Remicade with Methotrexate and after about 18 months it stopped working.  I was then put on Enbrel for three months with no relief of the pain and am now on Humira.  I have had five shots and am still suffering.  You are so right, unless a person has the pain associated with RA, it's impossible to describe it.  I have been on and off Prednisone for over six years and am now on it again, albeit a low dose of 10 mg a day.  Even that's not working yet.  I try hard not to get depressed but do sometimes cry with pain when I try to get dressed or go to the bathroom.  I have a left-knee replacement and still have pain, surgery to transpose the ulner nerve in my right arm, reconstructive surgery on my left hand and lung surgery which was the first one which diagnosed my two diseases.  I have been online looking for some answers but all I have found so far is that there are others worse off than I am.  I actually was in tears yesterday after reading about the problems so many people have.  I don't believe there will ever be a cure since the drug companies make a fortune from the drugs we have to take.  Why on earth would they find a cure and lose billions of dollars.  So, it's people like us who pay the price.  I pray for either a cure or at the least a drug which will take away the pain and the damage and won't have the horrible side-effects that these drugs have now.  Good luck to you.