Rheumatoid Arthritis
Questions + Answers
Biologics
I know we've all discussed this before, but I'm wondering how many of us have tried several biologics (for 3-4 months) without ANY luck.
I am having the hardest time explaining RA and my treatments to friends/family. Some don't understand that 20-40% of RA sufferers have a resistance to their treatments.
I had a friend tell me today that I have been misdiagnosed due to my treatments not working and my constant swollen joints/body.
It's so frustrating trying to explain it all! I do believe there may be… read more
Does anyone else feel like a whimp when they have to admit that they are just not having a good RA day?
I just feel as if family/friends/significant others don't understand when you say you aren't feeling good. I don't want to even admit out loud that I am in pain because I feel like they think I'm trying to get out of something or making excuses. Does anyone else ever feel this way?
Loss of employment???
I've noticed some individuals have posted that they've lost their jobs and wondered how often this occurs. Anyone lose their job due to RA? Was it your decision, or your employer?
Does anyone find methotrexate to work really well?
I keep hearing people talk about how intolerable @methotrexate is. I am curious to hear from people who find it to be helping. I started it 3 weeks ago and I can't believe how amazing I feel. Its like someone oiled my joints and told my muscles to behave! I wonder if it's something specific to my condition. I'm sero negative poly inflammatory arthritis. Essentially that just means I have Ankylosing spondylitis symptoms and RA. Virtually every joint is involved… read more
I have been on the injection for a while now . I find it better than the pills. It is so much better on my stomach. The pills made me feel sick. I use… read more
Does anyone have wheezing either as a RX side effect or along with RA symptoms.
I had asthma as a child and have had problems only when sick with bronchitis/pneumonia. But since my RA diagnosis (or starting Methotrexate) I wheeze frequently. I find I am extremely sensitive to allergens and will wheeze with very little stimuli. I go to the allergy/asthma specialist next week, but I feel like this is not Asthma. My instinct is that it related to the RA or a medication side effect.
Thanks in advance for your… read more
Yes! I also had asthma as a child and after being on methotrexate injections for several months I was taking my inhaler all day every day out of… read more
Just curious do you suffer from insomnia more since being diagnosed with RA?
Really have a hard time staying asleep.... I’m up and down all night. I find my I have to take Marijuan oil helps
1at winter with RA. Eeeek! Any tips?
Hi RA fam! So this will be my 1st fall & winter having RA. I live in Chicago and our winters are BRUTAL. It's only end of summer & already we have fall whether (which is killing me by the way). In the summer if the AC was too high I would stiffen up. I am so scared, absolutely PETRIFIED thinking of how it's going to feel in the winter. Anything I should know that will help me prepare? Any tips or things I should or should not do? Anything you have bought to ease the… read more
Splints with metal bars in wrist area are very helpful for hands and wrists.i have bad hands and wrists as well
How do you describe a flare to someone who doesn't have RA?
My flares aren't always exactly the same but yesterday I flared badly. I can describe it to my daughter, sorry guys most women will get this, as the overwhelming body aches and exhaustion on PMS. My entire body feels swollen and it throbs and joints ache like a fever. For my hubby and son I can only describe it as throbbing and aching in my entire body. and exhausted like I've run a marathon and haven't slept for days. And even with all that, it doesn't… read more
Hello Penelope. The only way I can describe it is as if you have proper flu and it’s never ending. If you had a bath try running quite a warm one and… read more
Outside shoulder pain and trying to sleep when you sleep on your side.
Hi Family,
I have added a new pain area and it's driving me nuts. For the last week the outside of the bone on the top of my shoulders are painful. I don't sleep well anyway and this is not helping. I sleep on my side and I can't sleep on my back or stomach. Once I lay down the pressure on the bone in my arms starts pounding. I got about 2 hours of sleep last night and that was only in the recliner, but when I tried to move, my arm I way… read more
Anxiety and insomnia
I have had insomnia for a few months and recently had shortness of breath with little exertion. I had a bad episode of aniexty last week and am now being treated for that along with my RA. Has anyone else suffered from these?
