I’m only taking the Tylenol because the new rheumatologist said I couldn’t take the naproxen and told me I could take 1,000 mg of Tylenol twice a day. It seemed strange to me, especially since I was having the wonky Hep B labs. She also lowered my MTX from 15mg down to 10mg. I’m not taking the Tylenol anymore as of a couple of days ago. It’s really not helping and probably doing more harm.

The first day I took the naproxen, the pain in the leg was very improved. I lowered my prednisone to 5mg and took the naproxen again but it’s not touching the leg pain anymore. I don’t have any diagnosed back issues, but I’m also beginning to wonder about sciatica. The pain is beginning to creep into the low back and buttocks, as well as down the calf. These past several months of pain and impaired mobility has not been good for my body. My chiropractor is out of his office until the 21st, so an adjustment is out for now. I don’t have faith that my pcp will be helpful. I’m going to the therapy pool this afternoon, maybe that will help.

I’m also looking into going back to my old insurance company so I can get back to my old drs who know me. Just the thought of figuring that out makes me cringe.

To say I’m over this nonsense is an understatement.

Thank you all who have chimed in and supported me. I know that you understand the incredible value of having someone who understands.

I hope you all have a great day!

Hi there again it is difficult to find good doctors of anything. I have been through 2 doctors and now I’m on my third. Living near Dallas I have better options. For me I pray about everything. I had my gastric bypass surgery in April hon. The 28th. I could no longer lose weight on my own. So my stomach is a little bigger than an egg now. I have to be sure and get my protein in. But I have lost almost 40 pounds and the pain from my osteoarthritis has gone down.

Rachael, I took both for many years. I was still working and couldn't function without taking both. My rheumatologist and PCP were both aware of my situation and did not advise against it.

DinaDee's suggestion of asking about a muscle relaxer is a good one. Would your PCP refer you to a pain specialist? So many are afraid to prescribe pain medications in today's world and prefer referring to a specialist.

Hopefully getting back on Simponi with give you some relief soon. The day to day dealing with RA is plenty to deal with without suffering through a severe flare. Please be careful to keep a close eye on your liver enzymes with taking both methotrexate and Tylenol. I would up with liver damage and it took several years of being off of both to get my enzymes down to a decent number. Now, more than 15 years later if I take any (even 1 or 2 doses) Tylenol my numbers stay elevated for a couple of months.

Do you think it is possible your knee, thigh, and outside calf pain could be coming from your lower back and/or sciatic nerve pain? All three areas become extremely painful when my lumbar and SI areas flare up. My lower back is a mess and I hope yours is not. Just a thought from my own experience.

I hope your pain settles now that you're back on your meds.

I’m coming out of the worst flare I’ve ever experienced since I was diagnosed in 1996. I had to stop taking my Simponi due to an unexpected change in insurance in April. I was able to restart my Simponi on 7/5. My current regimen:

Moved today from 10mg down to 5mg prednisone daily
400 mg Plaquenil
10mg MTX SQ per week
Simponi monthly
Tylenol 1000mg twice a day
Folic acid 3000mg
Leucovorin 5 mg after MTX

My flare is improved, but I’ve got a ways to go. Right now I’m suffering with a swollen, stiff and painful posterior L knee and posterior L thigh problem. It’s extending down into the sides of my calf now. I went to the ER Friday to rule out DVT and they said it’s a hamstring strain (after not laying a finger on me or even visualizing my leg). I’m relieved that there’s no DVT, but the pain is real. My mobility is difficult. Neither Dr (new PCP nor new rheumatologist) have assessed my pain although I have asked for help with it all along. My PCP flat out said no to pain medication and offered up nothing else. My rheumatologist has taken away the naproxen as long as I’m on prednisone (which makes sense) She also lowered my MTX due to some strange Hep B results for which I had to see a hepatologist to get sorted out. It’s now sorted and that’s why I’m able to restart Simponi.

Sorry for the long answer. It’s nice for someone to ask me an interested question and understand my answer about what I’ve been going through.