Question/Comment:

73 yr old female undergone angioplasty twice ,on atorlip, stromix-a, losaar, betaloc, niacin recently became seropositive for RA with high value of Anti CCP. Rheumatologist put her on Prednisolone 20mg, OHCQ 400, Neotrexate 10 , Pantocid DSR. With so many drugs what will be the side effects and which are the tests to be monitored regularly ?

Question/Comment:

I have had burning pains in all my joints, plus knobs have appeared on a few fingers where the joints are, and my left hand and fingers go dead. I had tests and do not have Carpal Tunnel Disease. Further tests and scans, xrays etc, I was diagnosed two and half weeks ago with Osteo Arthritis and Rheumatoid Arthritis. The Rheumotologist prescribed once a day taken together, Celebrex and Plaquenil. I am a heart patient and often feel flutters in my chest, I become nauseous and feel like falling over. Is this the right combination to treat both these painful diseases? I heard about Humira. I will read up after this posting about it. The Doctor told me not to take Brufin or painkillers, but added this cocktail he prescribed will only start showing signs of relieft after six weeks. I cant wait that long, the pain is terrible, plus its affecting my mobility and quality of life. Can you kindly advise me how to cope and which is the best form of medication for this bearing in mind I am a heart patient, although its not giving me problems.

Question/Comment:

I have been diagnosed with severe ra along with diabetic neuropathy.I lost the ability to walk overnight. The doctors cant explain why it happened the way it has. I was in the hospital for
eight days and have been in a wheel chair since. I was inflamed throughout my entire body.
So now I am on Methortexate 2.5mg four tabs once weekly,prednisone 30mg once daily,folic acid and vicodin for pain.In all it helps somewhat but I still have a lot of problems and cannot stand but for more than a minute. It is as if my muscles in my legs aren't there and my ankles and knees hurt so bad .If what the doctor is trying doesn't work he is going to try some kind of
injections
55 yr old male
posted 2008-08-27

Answer/Reply:

Hopefully he will give you one of the biologic drugs; Humira, Enbrel, Kineret... I started off using Kineret, then went to Enbrel and now have recently started on the Humira. Until I started on the shots I could not even get out of bed. I take 6 - 2.5 Methotrexates a week , 2 - 5 mg's of prednisone daily, 2 - 500 mg naproxem daily along with folic acid and an anti depressant. I think you should ask your doctor for the shots.

Answer/Reply:

First I am sorry to hear about your situation. I have had RA for 33 years now. Only recently they have started me on a BRM (biologic response modifiers) after about 5 weeks now I am starting to see some relief from the pain and swelling. I would suggest you talk to your rheumologist about the muscle pain also, since RA can also effect the connective tissue from your muscles to the joints (tendon's and ligaments).

There are a lot of support websites out there that a lot of us with RA belong too, we share experiences and help support each other even if it is just to have someone that understands these diseases and lives with them daily.

Good luck to a speedy recovery.

Question/Comment:

I take Orencia monthly, after trying Remicade. I also take methotrexate, folic acid, prednisone 10mg daily, Vicodin. Still continue to have pain and swelling...Pure exhaustion daily. So now my dr. has diagnosed me with Fibromyalgia as well as RA/OA. He is going to start me on medication for FM as well. Hopefully this will help, and maybe I can get off of some of these other meds. Do you think that is a good possibilty?