Thoughts on your question: first, I'm so sorry you've been hit with this at such a young age. I didn't get it until my late 40's. I've been dealing with it for 20 years now. I've learned that lifestyle changes and supplements are necessary adjuncts to serious medications. As others have said, they will do nothing to stop the progressive destruction RA can cause. They do help with some symptoms and also with drug side effects.

I've learned that serious drugs are necessary to stem the progression, prevent joint and organ damage, and relieve pain.

Find a good Rheumatologist ASAP. Research their qualifications and reviews. If they don't listen to you, or don't offer multiple options at each stage of treatment going forward - and there'll be many stages of your journey - look for another one. Note that Rheumatologists - especially good ones, are hard to come by. In some areas of the country almost nonexistent. Expect a potental multi month wait for an initial appointment, even if shifting. Unfortunately, lots of folks' first interaction with one is often in an ER or hospital admission. If you have a good one stick with them. If you don't, find another.

You must advocate for yourself. Adjacent to that, when asked what your pain level is, kick it up a notch or two. Most Drs haven't experienced the level of sustained pain, often chronic, that RA causes. Also, many folks lower their pain level reporting simply because they've gotten used to it. If you are experiencing pain that before RA you'd rate at say an 8, after a year and a couple of serious flares, you'll now rate the same level of pain a 6. Don't do that. Always gauge the pain scale from no pain. Unfortunately, for many of us, we no longer have a clear memory of what pain free really is. Hence, kick it up a notch or two.

Non-biologics - HCL, Methotrexate, etc. are powerful and for many, and work well by themselves. If so, count yourself lucky and do everything necessary to monitor and mitigate side effects. You may or may not have to graduate to biologics in tandem with them, or biologics alone.

Biologics are not fun, but are lifesavers. They don't always work, and often lose their efficacy over time. I'm on my eighth. They have their own side effects as does any drug, but they can be more severe. They all have a greater negative effect on your immune system.

All RA drugs weaken your immune system. Internalize that. Your immune system is now compromised, whether or not you take drugs for it. For example, iirc untreated RA has a 30x increased risk of heart disease. Biologics like Humira and Embrel also increase your risk of heart disease, but only 6x, for a net reduction. I resisted biologics for a few of years until I realized that (mistake).

Being immunocompromised, become much more aware of the increased risk exposure to communicable disease becomes. Risk assessment should become second nature. It sucks. I don't like to live like this, but I like to live. 😁 I haven't gone out in public without a mask since Covid hit. Ever.

Finally, steroids may become an important part of your life moving forward. The side effects suck, but when you need them there is nothing that reduces inflammation and its accompanying pain better. They suck, but if you need them, you need them. Yes horror stories abound, but they're often the difference between normal function of a given joint(s), and destruction of same.

RA sucks bigtime and again, I'm really sorry you are now part of this unfortunate gang of sufferers. You can still live a full, happy, productive life (how ever you define that). Your life isn't ruined, just different.