r/rheumatoidarthritis

I'm being screened for Biologics following about a year on a combination of hdx and mtx. I kept having flares and so, all being well, I will move to a Biologic. The Rheumatologist put me on 5mg a day prednisolone meanwhile because of the flares, and to protect my joints until (hopefully) the biologic works.

But I find that even a low dose of 5mg is preventing a lot of pain. Normally my neck, knees, wrists/hands and feet will be hurting pretty often. And so it surprises me that for the past 6 weeks with just 5mg the only thing that hurts is my left hand, and that's bearable. (My left hand has always previously been pretty bad.) I am wondering if the mtx and hdx might have started working so my question is: does anyone else get similar pain relief from just 5mg????? I am tempted to ask the Rheumatologist if I can stop the steroid and see how I am. Or am I being ridiculous....

Hi, I've been on Imraldi (a Humira biosimilar) for 9 weeks, and I'm experiencing some “cycles” that I haven't seen mentioned here. I’ve read many times that it’s normal to feel worse as your next dose approaches, but in my case, the pattern is this: I feel terrible for the 5 days following the injection, and from then on—until the day before the next injection—I start to feel better and better. Has this happened to anyone else? Is it because the medication hasn’t taken full effect yet? Is this normal?

Do here’s my current struggle.. I resigned from my position as a nurse here in NYC this July. My new “job” is being a nurse to my aging cat and trying to complete the intense disability paperwork from the Social Security Department as well as uploading numerous documents for the benefits application for Human Resources Administration. I was a day late on the HRA uploading, and now 10 days late on the Social Security paperwork, but the disability lawyer said there is a 10 day grace period. But the fact that I’m late because I’m struggling physically (and as a result, emotionally)is frustrating me. My back pain from degenerative disc disease/scoliosis has increased to the point that I now wear my back support when sitting up at home (a year ago, I only used it at work because I was active), my hips hurt while sitting, so I have to lean back a little with a pillow when I’m on the sofa to avoid a 90 degree angle on my hips, and I have to be mindful not to bend my left knee with the OA as it triggers stabbing neuropathy. If that wasn’t enough, my dominant writing arm now has sharp pain in the shoulder/bicep area despite having a cortisone injection a month ago in addition to the discomfort of one of my “witchy looking” RA-affected fingers. So of course , writing is now a challenge!! And yes, I’m diligent about my gabapentin, meloxicam, Voltaren gel, Salonpas and Capsaicin patches, yet to try and find a comfortable position that also allows me to write is close to impossible!! But my cat loves when I try to sit up on the sofa as he loves to snuggle!!! 🐈

Well, that’s it for now…time to focus on mapping out a typical work day minute by minute for these forms!! 🤪

Upset because I think my dentist is annoyed with me. I am UK NHS and he's been my dentist for 16 years. Before I got ill he was pleasant enough although could be blunt. When dealing with my rheumatoid arthritis though, I feel he just doesn't get it.

He has said things like

'Just use an electric toothbrush. It does all the work for you. ' Fair, for a person without RA. For one who does though it felt simplistic and like why would you mot just do this?

He has described plaque as 'really bad' and said I needed to be coming in more. He supported me through 4 monthly cleanings and again, some visits ok, others not.

This incident prompted me to write in though. He said 'Your plaque control is much better, since when have you been using an electric toothbrush?" He knows I use one as has asked me a few times before so this felt loaded. Also when I mentioned I was still concerned about my jaw clicking he had his back to me and said 'Well if its not hurting dont worry about it then.' and sounded impatient. I felt upset at his response.

I went home and wrote an email saying

Please update my medical records to reflect that RA is a fluctuating disease.

That better plaque control is not down to better effort or motivation and it wouldn't be accurate to say otherwise.

That I am naturally more worried about changes in jaw joints as I have RA

That I find it challenging dealing with ra, colitis and dental health.

All I got back was an admin response saying 'Good morning. Thank you for your email. This has been passed on to Dr Malik and noted on your records. '

Honestly feels like a eff you. Now I am worried about my appointment early next year and whether he's even noted it or she has. 😔

Had an appointment today with my PCP. She says I need to go on Crestor due to high LDL & Triglycerides & borderline high to high BP. According to her my Framingham Risk Score is 23% which apparently puts me at high cardiovascular risk within 10yrs. My age, gender, family history, BP + latest bloodwork data is what spiked my score. Having RA, which increases CVD risks, wasn’t included.
My concern is that the most common & ongoing side effect of Crestor is muscle & joint pain🫤 I have Fibromyalgia (pain symptoms are very well controlled), OA & seroneg RA. I’m anxious about a)generating more pain as if my body isn’t dealing with enough of that & b)being unable to determine whether the joint pain is being caused by the Crestor, fibro, OA or RA🤦🏻‍♀️
On the other hand I’m all too aware that
cardiovascular issues aren’t to be ignored. So, I’m wondering if any other RA warriors have any experience with taking Crestor and if so, what advice or feedback does anyone have?

What 3 good things happened to you last week? They can be anything at all!

⭐ If you are thinking "my week was terrible", then please give this a try. If you can only think of 1 or 2, that's excellent.

If you don't want to share, try it on your own. I did this during a difficult time in my life, and it was helpful to "make" myself think about good stuff. Reading other peoples' good things might make you smile, too! I thoroughly enjoy it

This post will be pinned to the top of the sub tomorrow, so you can share any time, all week long.

Does anyone have any experience from trigger finger from RA. I’ve been told I need surgery to correct the damage that’s been done to my tendons. Or should RA medication help reverse that damage?

Quick backstory- I was diagnosed 4 years ago with nothing but a CCP test of 30 and some vague symptoms. Doctors were actually ruling out connective tissue disorders and happened to put it in my blood panel. My rheumatologist at the time explained that I have a family history, so if I wasn’t experiencing symptoms yet, they were coming. We started me on hydroxychloroquine and I’ve experienced what I thought was slowly growing mild RA ever since (things that I was previously brushing off as part of aging and my body being generally defective.)

Since then I got a new rheumatologist who suggested we check the CCP level again since I’m doing so well. Well, it went from 30 to 17- normal range!

Obviously I’ll call her later today, but since that was the only objective diagnostic measure- I’m wondering if I’m in remission because the hydroxychloroquine is working, or if the first CCP was a false positive and I’ve just been popping Plaquenel for funsies for the past 4 years. I don’t really think that’s the case, but I’ve never heard of elevated CCP going back down to normal range. My first rheumatologist told me that once that marker goes up it never goes down again.

I get these blisters on my hands when I wear gloves or work or have to grip things for a while. Still undiagnosed but gp and rheumatologist suspect RA and Sjogrens.

Hi everyone! Could use some emotional support that this amazing community is legendary for. Thanks in advance :)

I’ve had a horrible RA journey. Diagnosed in Oct 2024 by blood tests with my PCP and started methotrexate. I was in really bad shape at the time, had to get a wheelchair, was using a cane, and cried getting out of bed due to pain. I was in increasing levels of pain for 2-3 years before being diagnosed but no one took me seriously due to weight/age.

Saw a rheumatologist in Jan 2025 and have been on 5 other medications since:

- Methotrexate made me so sick, I had to stop.
- Lefluomide was next, failed that for neuropathy after 2 weeks
- Abalimumab/Humira biosimilar was next, it didn’t do enough.
- Actemra was after that, it was amazing for my pain. My cholesterol shot up, but I gained my mobility back. However, I still didn’t get enough full relief, but it was a lot. Insurance took me off it at the beginning of 2026.
- Tyenne the biosimilar was next, that did nothing for me.
- Kevzara is what I’m on now for the past 2.5 months I’ve been on Kevzara and my CRP is shooting back up, my pain is going up week after week.

I complained to my rheumatologist about how I can feel my body starting to fall apart again and she set an appointment with me last minute last week. She basically said she didn’t know what else to do, and asked me if I wanted to try to insurance to approve Orencia (they’ve already rejected it in the past) or do infusions of some kind. Despite her being a rheumatologist at a top 20 university hospital in California, she’s giving me awful care. I’m waiting on a new rheumatologist appointment at a different hospital, but it’s still a ways away.

Has anyone else failed a lot of meds? Not looking for medical advice, just looking to commiserate with others who have hard to treat RA. Appreciate it, thanks all.

Hi all, I was recently diagnosed with RA, it all started with pain in my foot and after a long line of doctors , I ended up with a rheumatologist who diagnosed me.

I am still very confused by this disease. No matter if I have a calm day where I do nothing or if I am active, every day something hurts. Either I can't close my hand, or it hurts to bend my fingers, my knee hurts when I walk or I cant move my shoulder. No matter what, every day I have pain somewhere. This used to happen before but I always thought it was related to my physically demanding job, and it was not an everyday thing.

After the flare in my foot, I could not work anymore and I've been at home for almost a year. However, I keep getting this type of pains. My rheumatologist says my RA is controlled, and all my values are "normal" she also says, because this pain only lasts for 1 or 2 days, the cause is not RA. She says is because I haven't been moving enough since I stopped working so when I do move, I get these pains.

I honestly don't think that's what it is. I've been going with a physio for 3 months. I'm doing all the exercises and I am getting more active, and yet I still struggle every day with something new. I guess I just want to ask if this is normal and it happens to more people or if I should do further research and see if maybe I have something else besides RA. Sorry for the long story, I just don't really know where else to go and my doctor is not being very helpful.

TL;DR: I have pain everyday eventhough my docotr says my RA is under control. Is this normal?

I have an interview over the phone, tomorrow, to start the disability process. Again.

2 years ago, I had papers from the dr that I was seeing, to get it started. I spent hours filling out the online application....at the end, despite saving along the way, it said that less than half was saved. My hands were so swollen from typing, that I chose to save to finish later.

A few weeks later, I received a denial letter, and it said it was final. I was feeling defeated, plus at the time, had shifted my focus to my dying mom and dying mother-in-law. (Yes, same time.)

Anyway, I have periodically tried to sort out applying. A few months ago I was able to get someone on the phone and they said I had to start fresh and with a phone interview.

That is tomorrow.

Any tips? I'm self-employed. According to their system, I do qualify. I haven't worked for almost 2 years...

I'm in SoCal, Inland Empire area, if it makes any difference.

UPDATE: For anyone else using this program, here is what worked this last time: EOB, Pharmacy Receipt, Picture of Enbrel box with Rx label, and an Itemized Statement of Account from the Pharmacy.

I switched to the Amgen Direct Manual Reimbursement program three months ago for my Enbrel prescription. I have been submitting the proper documentation (pharmacy receipt, EOB, and image of box) that they request each time, however the past two months they have asked for additional documentation and it's always something a little different than the time before. While I appreciate the fact they have this program, I find I am spending a lot of time on the phone trying to meet their requests when I've already given them everything they said they originally needed. Is anyone else having this or other issues with the Amgen DMR program?

Hi all,

I had an experience today I need to get out. I am HR at a company. I bend over backwards for our people. I have RA and gastroparesis. I am also 4 weeks out from a cervical spine fusion. Hard collar and all. Not released back to work but am doing so anyway because there really isn’t anyone to take care of our staff of 250. Today I was walking down the stairs from my office and slipped and fell to the first landing. Terrifying!! It wasn’t far. Im ok. The pisser is, two adult employees stepped right over my sprawled body on the stair landing like I was an inanimate object along their path. Never said a word. Never offered a hand up. Just walked on by. I mean what is wrong with people?

Please let me know your experience with this medication. My rheumatologist prescribed Cymbalta to me for generalized pain since my RA is under control (confirmed with ultrasounds) but all I hear are horror stories about this med and how it’s impossible to get off of. She says I don’t have to take it if I’m uncomfortable but I am miserable.

ETA: thank you everyone who has shared your experience. It really means a lot that I can come on here and talk to others who are dealing with the same thing as me. ❤️

Healthy adults need 7-9 hours of sleep for healing and a healthy immune system. For us, it's even more important because our immune systems are asshats and we're always healing.

There are endless reasons that we don't sleep well; chronic pain, dxs like sleep apnea, and environmental factors all make it difficult to fall and/or stay asleep.

And, who's woken up exhausted after a full night's sleep?! Check out the link about the importance of restorative sleep.

Do you get enough sleep most nights?

Do you use a health tracker (Fitbit, Oura ring) or apps to help with sleep?

What do you do to get the best sleep you can?

I have lost faith in my current doctor and am ready to attempt to find a new one. I’m in central IL but I think I need to go to a larger city for better care. I will travel anywhere and have decent insurance, so please give any suggestions for anywhere in the state. Please and thank you.

My RA has been very well controlled for a couple years. I was on methotrexate, enbrel, and hydroxychloroquine. My doc suggested I try going off methotrexate. It's been 1.5-3 weeks and the hand, elbow, and shoulder stiffness and pain is creeping back in, so looks like I'll be restarting it.

I have terrible veins that like to roll and collapse. At my last blood draw, it took 4 tries to get enough blood. I was really looking forward to fewer of those.

Anyway, when I first started meth, I had the usual nausea and mouth sores, but those went away after a few months. Should I expect them again?

Words cannot describe how life changing this support forum has been for me since I found it. Over time it has helped changed the trajectory of my emotional state, I no longer feel isolated & alone, I understand the disease better & how it affects all of us similarly and also differently. Reading other’s journeys & personal challenges has given me a much broader persecutive with which to gage my own experiences (for better & worse)… as opposed to solely relating with friends & relatives who (although they might try) have no clue what this is like from one day to the next. Being a part of this community made it possible for me to grasp that trying to explain what it’s like, or for one example, how I’m feeling during a flare, is kind of futile because they tend to look at you thoughtfully—but with that deer in the headlights expression. Having such a large & diverse community in here changed that exercise in futility however, because I can come here for understanding, solace, support, uplifting and sometimes funny feedback, etc… from Vets & Newbies alike. Thus I stopped feeling the need to try to “explain” how I’m feeling physically to my normie friends - I learned to Keep it Simple… and in doing so, they no longer avoid me because they don’t know how to act around me or what to do. As such, I no longer feel totally abandoned by my real life friends the way I did prior to treatment, during the height of my intense Acute Onset.

Being part of this community, learning from it, listening to people, being listened to, all the caring sharing has by far been my biggest, most healing medicine! (Well… the anti-inflammatory meds DO help… but you get the drift😊). My attitude, mood & outlook is improved since I joined this community.

Grateful & feeling the love😁❤️✌🏻