DMARDs for Arthritis Q & A

My RA is not under control yet. I am taking NSAID, Prednisone, and MTX. I know when I am going to flare. I flare every three months without fail. A few days before I get realy bad I get tired and the pain increases every day. Since I know when I am going to flare is there any thing that I can do to prevent the flare from happening or atleast reduce the amount of pain and swelling? I was thinking about increasing the Prednisone and get alot more rest. Any ideas?

I just started treatment with methotrexate. Since my first dose, I have been having terrible stomach pain, nausea and diarehha. Will this eventually subside, or this is part of the treatment. I would rather have the pain with my PMR than the stomach ailments that is is causing.

I have been on methotrexate for 8 years 12.5 mg per week. The last couple of weeks I have had a very strange thing happen. About 5 hours after taking may medication, I have these very quick shock-like sensations over my whole head…some are more intense than others, maybe 10 total within 30 minutes, each only lasting a second. What could this be?

My rheumatologist told me that my RA is still very active and he was concerned about my hands and feet due to the swelling. My next appointment is in August and he wants me to start Enbrel. I am already on NSAID, MTX, Prednisone and Plaquenil. Are there any medications that are biological and don’t have to me injected?

can i take birth control pills as a form of contraceptive if i am on methotrexate

I have very active ra in my fingers. I type or write for 8 hours a day. So far the medications are not working very well. While I am typing my hands freezes up and I can’t move them. Then I take a break and have to run warm water over them to get them to start moving again. I might have to do this three or four times while I am at worrk. I s there any other thing that I can do besides the warm water and alot of breaks?