Hey guys! My wife was diagnosed with RA around 3 years ago. Started methotrexate and HCQs (both oral) and she was totally fine for the first year and a half or so ever since she started the meds. The last 6 months have been horrible though especially with the wrist and fingers, constant inflammation and swellings - the rheumatologist regularly takes blood tests to make sure everything looks okay, which it is. Are flareups common even though all the blood work appears normal? What advice do you have for this? Sometimes her hand is so inflamed she can't even lift a jug of water for herself and ..read more

So I almost certainly have RA; I had juvenile RA from 13-18 years old before it went into remission, and am now having symptoms in my 30s. It's likely been active for the last few years but I kept brushing it off as being "old" and out of shape, but symptoms recently got severe enough to see my GP and the blood test results strongly support an RA diagnosis (very high CRP, sed rate, and platelets). My GP referred me to a rheumatology practice (which, funny enough, is owned by the doctor who diagnosed and treated my JRA). They didn't have an appointment available until the end of June, so I've ..read more

I read it was a side effect, I thought I was just sick but it only happened when I laid down for bed. I skipped a week and it did eventually clear up, but is this going to keep happening? submitted by /u/sublime_guyy [visit reddit] [comments ..read more

I recently started having a lot of anxiety doing my MTX injection so my rheum switched me to the oral. I’ve only done the oral dose once and I know it has a lower efficacy than the injection but I’ve had a lot of swelling, pain and stiffness that was almost gone with the injection. Has anyone made this switch? If so, how did it affect you? Just curious if anyone else has had this experience. submitted by /u/Past_Ad438 [visit reddit] [comments ..read more

Been in n my feet for a prolong period of time and I know have moderate knee and ankle pain, as well as a mild fever and chills. It isn’t a cold or anything I haven’t been around anyone, the burning pain is making me think it’s inflammation and a flare up? Anyone else get this? submitted by /u/Walksintherainfan [visit reddit] [comments ..read more

So I was first diagnosed in March of 2023 with positive Rheumatoid arthritis was put on methotrexate which I stayed on with chloroquine until I had to change due to vomiting I then tried sulfasalazine which didn't work and now I'm on leflunomide 20mg with chloroquine and exinef 90 mg I am kind of in remission but the leflunomide isn't really working it's best so hopefully getting new meds soon I've had a bad flare when I tried sulfasalazine which caused severe pain in my hips rheumatologist sent me for an MRI in both my hips my MRI showed no signs of damage or inflammation except a labrum tea ..read more

Hi,I have had osteoarthritis for 10yrs and in the past 12 months, I’ve been showing signs of RA my dad and sister have both and my mum has OS.So they told me to go to docters,I have my first rheumatologist appt 16th May.The pain and swelling has completely took over my body,so many swollen and painful joints and it’s hard to work out which is which arthritis. I’m severely allergic to all NSAIDS,but I’m on strong painkiller that doesn’t really help. The past few months both of my hands will itch go bright red and swell especially my knuckles does anyone know of anything that will help with th ..read more

I have graves disease (autoimmune, thyroid) and developing seropositive RA, which is two autoimmune diseases - they've both been flaring up for the past few months and I am unbelievably exhausted and can hardly think or hold phone calls. It's especially awful because I'm in the middle of final exams at the moment ? Does anyone else get awful exhaustion and brain fog during flares? Just wondering if it's related to my AI conditions or if I should be looking for other factors :) submitted by /u/blueberryburner [visit reddit] [comments ..read more

I was diagnosed about a year ago, 50 F I have struggled with my weight since 2012. I have a big belly. I’m doing better with my eating; it’s my choices not how much I eat. I’m wondering if my RA and/or my medication Is causing my belly to be extended. I take a bi weekly methotrexate injection, daily NSAID, and just started sulfasalazine. Anybody have anything similar? Thank you submitted by /u/AS189 [visit reddit] [comments ..read more

Started having rheumatoid arthritis pain in elementary school. In college I drank once every other week (got super drunk like 4 times a year) for about two years. Every single time I drank, even just a beer my muscles would burn. I thought this was the “warm feeling” people talked about when they drank. I ended up stopping drinking all together after college because it hurt my body so bad. Yesterday I had half a glass of white wine, my first alcohol in 4 years. My body BURNS. Like my muscles ache and I feel stiff. Is this common with ra? Or is there something else I should look into? submitt ..read more