I'm 39 y/o and was diagnosed with arthritis in late 2006 or early 2007.  At the time, I was waking up, stiff and sore, hunched over like my maternal grandmother was for most of her life.  I just attributed it to a need to exercise more and "lived with it" for several months, despite increased exercise. 

Then, my fingers and wrists would be sore and stiff, not constantly, but periodically and often quite severely, especially if cold air blew on my hands. (I was living in Dallas, TX at that time and A/C in my car was a necessity, but I had to keep it away from my hands.)  So, I talked to my PCP, who referred me to a rheumatologist.  Lab results where mixed, plus, I almost always test positive for inflammation, because I have Crohn's Disease, which has been in remission for a few  years.  Of course, he said that it could be related to the Crohn's Disease, but he put me on Prednisone when the symptoms were worse and a regular course of Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil).  I also got treatment in the hand therapy clinic at the hospital where I worked.

Later in 2007, I moved to California, got a new rheumatologist            (Dr. R) and generally was feeling ok (relatively minor joint pain). However, a few months later and the pain was much more intense and my symptoms clearly were consistent with Rheumatoid Arthritis (even with the mixed lab results), so Dr. R put me on Methotrexate and I adjust my prednisone from 1-4 mg, depending on how I'm feeling.  In the past few months, though, I've had to take a Medrol pack due to intense pain in several joints.  When that didn't seem to help, Dr. R recommended the Humira pen, which I started on Monday of this past week.

Since then, my joint pain increased dramatically (along with a sudden drop in barometric pressure and increase in humidity, which I'm told stirs up symptoms sometimes) and I got very depressed. So, Dr. R gave me a Cortisone shot and another Medrol pack, then told me to take the next week off from work, so we can assess what's going on (is it Humira side-effects>  the weather? stress from ongoing pain? all of the above?).  I see her again this week and she said she may switch me to another TNF inhibitor.

Has anyone experienced increased RA symptoms and/or depression after starting Humira?  (I am so thankful I have insurance... can't believe the  price of that drug.  Amazingly, it got approved by my insurance company within 24 hrs.)

Also, I've had to be more open about my arthritis at work because I work in a hospital and need to limit my exposure to infection. (Fortunately, my office is in an adjoining buidling and I see patients less often than I used to, so it wasn't hard to cut back on that.)  Then, when I had to suddenly take a week of medical leave, some of it without pay, more people had to know.

I have mixed feelings about this. On the one hand, I have a very supportive  colleague who has known about my RA for a while and who has polymyalgia rheumatica, so he can sympathize. My employees, adult students, some colleagues, and my boss have been very understanding as well.  However, one student who hasn't liked the feedback I've given her in recent weeks took the news of my RA as an opportunity to dismiss my feedback as "mood problems" due to my pain.  Granted, I feel cranky, tired, and irritable quite often, but I don't like someone using my pain as a way to minimize or disregard what I do or say.  I've also had a previous employer marginalize me after I was on intermittent FMLA, the ADA notwithstanding. So, I'm wary.

My wife Stephanie has RA and would like to meet with others who have the same disease for mutual support and encouragement. We live in Atlanta (Dunwoody) and would like to organize a monthly meeting. If you are interested, or know someone who would be, please let me know. My name is Simon and I can be emailed at simonmenkes@yahoo.com. Or you can call our home at 770-394-9898. Thanks!

Could someone tell me about these shots i keep reading about?thanks

I have seen 8 doctors with the pain,swelling,6 E.R.visits(always at night) in one months time untill....finally i was sent to a rheumatalogist who went abouve and beyond the normal blood tests.Normally numbers are 20 and below for rhematoid?!My numbers came back as 283.I cried.....because i wasent going crazy and finally a diagnose's and hopefully treatment and relief.I have rheumatoid arthritis in my joints but also in my tendons(wrists)where my wrists would swell so much on the inside and my hands fingers along with my wrists hurt so bad,like they are gonna explode and some nights i wished they would.I would wake up with pain in shoulder,by night i couldnt move my whole arm.This happens with both shoulders,arms elbows,wrists,hands,knees,ankels and feet.I am 42 years old,i thought the elderly only got this and how in the world would they handle SOOO much pain.At a resturant,one night i felt it comming on in my right ankel/foot and within an hour i could not walk out of the place,or into my house.My husband has been the biggest help,i try not to show to much of the pain to my 9 year old sonhy because he worries and it upsets him.I am still in the process of meds,right now i am on Napumetone 750mg..3 a day,hydroxychloroquine 200mg,and 4 vicadin a day(2 to get out of bed and 2 by mid-afternoon)sometimes i could use more for bedtime but vicodin seems to keep me awake.I am just kinda getting over the "feeling sorry for myself/useless/cant do anything attitude.....but i still really cant DO anything,lifting is impossible,standing/bending/walking....next to impossible,especially if i didnt have pain pills.I cant work and not having that second income is starting to effect our way of life.Does any of this sound familar?How do you deal with the pain,deppresion/financial issues?What does a 42 year old suppose to do all day?I have to have a test done on my hands in a couple weeks to see if there is nerve damage,has anyone had this done?I am bored,in pain,and tired of hearing my supportive husband tell me to "sit and relax today"or "dont do alot today"...He means well,i know and appreciate but i cant still....its driving me crazy.....HELP,any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.I read some exercise/swim?Sounds good but that would send me off to MORE pain pills and sitting around the next day.Thanks for listening,helps to voice it sometimes.