Finally, please check out Cathy’s short, but poignant post and try to keep remembering it will pass:

http://thelifeandadventuresofcatepoo.blogspot.com/2010/05/like-storm.html

Hugs,
Maya (www.lovingwithchronicillness.blogspot.com)

I’ve never taken DMARDs in any great quantity. I’ve had juvenile RA since I was 12, I’m now 46. Pain is a constant but not often overpowering. Depression is a far greater enemy. But I’ve found it’s OK to have a bit of a wimp-out here and there, then come back later when if feels a bit better.

I take slow release paracetamol for the bulk of my pain management – it works well to give me back the important bits of my life. I also take serrapeptase (dietary suppliament) for inflamation and extra pain relief. I know dietary supplements are frowned upon by the medical profession, but this one has 35 years of research in Germany and is currently a prescription drug in Japan where it is used for post operative pain relief and anti-inflamatory purposes in particular for women suffering from mastitis. Anyway this combination works as well as large doses of Celebrex without the nasty side effects.

I’ve seen a number of rheumatologist and doctors, tried a lot of different drugs and I’m just over all the side effects.So effectively I self medicate (neither of my medications requires a prescription) and I’m much happier and feel much better.

I’ve accepted that the deformities will continue, I’ve already been lucky to have almost 15 years of remission, I’m not expecting any more.

I don’t know exactly what methotrexate does to alleviate pain, or help RA. I’m having a hard time understanding from various blogs, because I don’t read many positive write ups from RA users. Perhaps someone can let me know exactly what it does to help, from the point of view of someone with RA, rather than a clinical perspective?

Cheers

Tracey