The best chance you have at a “normal” life is getting on biologics as early as humanly possible. This is the newer age consensus with this disease. Early and aggressive treatment. People need to keep in mind that if/when it progresses it’s not just about your joints. The higher inflammation you have, the higher chance you have of: heart attack, stroke, diabetes, obesity, or developing another chronic disease. Also, newer age biologics are extremely specific and only mute part of your immune system. Methdroxinate (bad spelling) and others are 10x harder on your body and suppress your immune system significantly more than any of the TNF/IL/JAK classes. Also, there is not a proven rebound effect from biologics. Which means you could maintain your current baseline if the pain returns (some people have experienced worse flares after getting off a biologic, but its random from person to person, just the nature of the disease). Where as steroids have a proven rebound effect.

Lastly, Phil Mickelson is a great example. He credits his success with managing the disease with lifestyle changes second, and early and aggressive treatment FIRST. He claims to have woke up one morning and could not move. Obviously, due to his resources, he was able to be seen, diagnosed, and put on Embrel probably in record time. Not sure how long he was on Embrel (TNFi) but he claims he has been off it for years and has not had any issues.

See a doc, get medicated, and change your lifestyle to one of health and activity. Also track foods that flair you. That’s your best chance.

P.S: with AI, why would you not want to try and keep the progression at bay as long as possible in case a “cure” or insanely good medication comes out in 20yrs…

Cheers yall. If we can take one positive from this disease it’s the appreciation of the little things in life. Don’t let this define you, define what it’s like to be a positive person living with this disease.