Friday, August 24, 2012 Pink_Moose_Princess asks

Q: Is it time to ask my rheumatologist for a biologic? I need pain relief...

I hope someone can offer some help (or hope - at this point I feel pretty desparate). This flare has been going on since February 2012. I normally flare for weeks at a time - not months. I have been on Celebrex (400 mg), Plaquenil (400 mg) since first of June. In July my rheumatologist added MTX (starting at 15 mg / week by injection). In August he raised my dose to 20/ week and then 25/ week. The MTX helps the pain and swelling for about 72 hours and then the pain and swelling return with a vengence. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated - I am just in so much pain.

Also - has anyone else had MTX work only a few days of the week? I feel so incompetent - like my body is just this anomaly of nature. My cousin takes 10 MTX/ week and it does fine for the full 7 days. Happy for her, sad for me.

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Answers (3)

V, Health Guide

8/24/12 7:13pm

Hi, Pink,

That is the thing with RA and meds. Everyone has different symptoms and different problems with RA, and we all react differently to medications. Some people can get by with MTX and anti-inflammatories. Many of us cannot. I am one who cannot. Perhaps you are, too, and the sooner you adjust your meds, the sooner you may find relief. So sorry you have been suffering for so long. Has your RD brought up the subject of a biologic? How often do you see your RD? I take 300 mg of Tramadol every day for pain, and Soma ( muscle relaxant ) when I need it. I also tried Humira, and it didn't work well for me, but it does work well for many. I started Orencia six weeks ago. It is already working better than Humira did, but I have the same problem...the swelling goes down for a few days, but then comes right back. My RD says it takes 3 mo for Orencia to reach its full potential. That is another thing about RA meds. They take a while to work. Please hang in there, and don't give up hope. There are a lot of medication options out there.

Blessings,

Pink_Moose_Princess

8/26/12 12:07pm

Thanks for the input. I am going to call the RD on Monday. I am currently relying on Medrol to get me through the week and I do not want to do that. RD has mentioned that there were 'other things' we could try. I assume he ment biologic. He is a good doctor and I trust him. I see him every 6 weeks. I am sorry that you are dealing with rebound pain and swelling too. I hope your Orencia kicks your RA's backside soon. How is your energy? Most days I barely function I am so exhausted. Has your Orencia done anything for that? I seem to have more energy when my pain and swelling are less, but the energy drops as the pain and swelling return. Again - thanks for the response. Pink

V, Health Guide

8/26/12 9:10pm

Hey, Pink,

Yes, the more pain and swelling I have, the more fatigue I have. That is why I am going to have to resign from my job soon. My job drains me and I sleep all weekend making up for it, and then I get nothing else done. And, I do not feel well. So........things will be changing for me soon. Orencia does help the swelling a fatigue for a few days of the week, but I haven't bee on it long enough for it to work at its maximum benefit. Hang in there, sweetie. Finding the right meds takes time.

Blessings,

Pink_Moose_Princess

8/27/12 5:15pm

I am sorry you too are dwelling under the crushing fatigue. I hope that you are able to find relief from pain / swelling / fatigue and a whole boatload of other symptoms of RA soon. It does take time... wish it didn't. I'm all for a magic pill that works 100% of the time with no side effects. Good luck to you and thanks for the encouragement. Pink

angie

8/24/12 10:01pm

If you feel you're not improving or at a stale mate, its your body so by all means ask your RD about it. You are your own advocate and you know your body. As V said all these RA meds take forever (it seems) to work. Patience is something we all with RA, I know for sure,lol we have to have..... But what I'm trying to say is you should have good communication and feel confident with your RD. Not that we always agree but thats where the patience comes in. I really feel your pain. No joke. My RA is movin along faster than any of us thought. It's a miserable thing and life changing event. Keep plugging away and don't give up. Keep us posted. God Bless you.

Pink_Moose_Princess

8/26/12 12:17pm

Thanks for the input. I just get so frustrated - I want a life so much I just am having a hard time with the patience thing. To quote a Shirley Temple film "One minute of waiting is a century to the hopeful." I do feel like I have good communication with my RD and I do trust him. I am just anxious to feel something other than exhaustion and pain. I know it has taken a long time for me to get to this depth of sickness so I ought to realize it will take time to come back to health. I am tired of being tired and sick of being sick. And I despise prednisone.

I am sorry to hear that your RA is so agressive. I hope you can find something to shut it down. God bless you too. :) Pink

Leslie

9/ 8/12 4:41pm

I would definately talk to your RD about a biologic - sounds like you could use some help! Any way you could take a medical leave from your job for a short time until you reach a more even keel? Short term sick leave would let you find some extra time to rest and reduce your stress and maintain your medical benefits while you try to find a med mix that works better than what you now have. Let you Dr. know its not working and ask for help!

Pink_Moose_Princess

9/10/12 11:03pm

I am going in tomorrow morning. I will ask RD for biologics. I really need to get back to life. Thanks for the suggestion re: job. That is a good idea (although with biologic costing so much...) I appreciate the response!

Pink

Q: Is it time to ask my rheumatologist for a biologic? I need pain relief...

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