Living with RA

By teresaj

1 min read

Hello I am a 54-year-old female with RA. I was diagnosed when I was 48. My doctor has me on Methotrexate and Xeljanz. Meloxicam and vitamin supplement. I do not take any pain medication beside Tylenol Arthritis.

I stopped working in 2010. I've had one surgery on my right hand with knuckle replacements and to straighten my thumb, it has helped but was very painful. My left hand is slowly drifting to the left and both feet being my toes have gotten progressively worse. I can't walk barefoot and shoes are difficult to find. I've noticed changes in my skin and I'm tired a lot. Can anyone relate? What do you do to get through the day?

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Lauren Tucker Community Admin
Hi TheresaJ, Thanks so much for sharing your story with us! We are sorry to hear what you are experiencing. While I hope the community can provide you with support and feedback to those questions you answered I thought I would share some articles with you. The first one is on pain, a lot of our community members find this article to be hepful- <a href='https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/community-ideas-managing-pain' target='_blank'>https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/community-ideas-managing-pain/</a> Second you mention not being able to find the right shoes that is certainly a common topic talked about amoungst our community. Here's an article with some springtime sandal suggestions as well as an article on clothing (there is a mention of shoes in there too!) <a href='https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/springtime-sandal-shopping' target='_blank'>https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/springtime-sandal-shopping/</a> <a href='https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/community-tips-for-friendly-clothing' target='_blank'>https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/community-tips-for-friendly-clothing/</a> Lastly you mention skin and being tired here are two more articles that may resonate. <a href='https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/skin-issues-associated-ra' target='_blank'>https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/skin-issues-associated-ra/</a> <a href='https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/sleeping-well-wrens-5-ways' target='_blank'>https://rheumatoidarthritis.net/living/sleeping-well-wrens-5-ways/</a> Please come by again and reach out to us if you need anything. Best Wishes, Lauren (RheumatoidArthritis.net Team)
lisaball Member
Hi Teresa, I was also diagnosed last year at age 48 after having a major surgery. I am allergic to methotrexate, leflunomide came next and all that did was make my hair fall out. I am now on xeljanz 11 XR since October. It was a miracle drug at first, then i had to come off of it for 7 days for a procedure and can't seem to get it back on track yet, maybe it has run it's course. I flare about once a month and now have daily tolerable pain. My swelling is more at night after working. I refuse to go back on Pred due to my liver still not recovering from the first go around. I was on it for 5 months. For my feet, I went to a podiatrist and received some very painful cortisone shots. After 2 days I was able to walk comfortably again, he suggested another round of shots, but i'm decent now. I'll go back when the pain in unbearable again. I still work, that is how i get through the day. I get up and get moving. it's painful and slow going at first but the more i move the better I feel. I'm holding off on the synovitis surgery on my hands for as long as I can. Yoga is a good help too, (when I'm up for it) it puts me in a good mind set and a tolerable exercise. The fatigue is what it is. When i feel too flu like that is when i take a day of rest. I'm a go go person so it is quite hard having my body stop me but it does know when a day of bed rest is needed.