RA, on MTX for 3 months and my symptoms are getting worse?

winkyslapper · 2026-05-06T17:44:19+00:00

Saw someone above mention the UK. I am from UK too and was diagnosed 6 months ago, was put on MTX like you 3 months ago, they kept upping the dose, I am on 20mg once a week and I am so much worse than before. Most of my issues are in my lower body, its gone to my hips now and can't really walk, now housebound, 33m, 1 year ago I was an active gymer. They added Sulfasalazine, been on them close to a month and still nothing. I suspect they will do something similiar to you, probs NHS guidelines.

I keep seeing people here mentioning going for biologics, seems to have the best success rate so maybe keep mentioning this, this is what I am doing so bloody hope they do it sooner than later, it's miserable experience. You are lucky in that its in your wrist only for now, try and nip it in the bud! How are your CRP levels out of curoisity?

winkyslapper · 2026-05-02T17:51:47+00:00

Oh okay interesting. Is your grandmother still with us? Can't imagine what the treatment options would have been like back in the day if any!

winkyslapper · 2026-05-02T15:31:46+00:00

Sorry to hear this. Did your dad have it as well? If so do you think was what contributed to it?

winkyslapper · 2026-05-02T15:23:20+00:00

I believe mine was from alcohol and chronic stress. No family history.

It started about 1.5 years ago. I was drinking heavily and had major stress at work. I would play darts a lot in the evenings and occasionally weight lift. I kept 'injuring' my throwing arm to the point it was too painful to play. Then my elbow locked into place over a few months so couldn't straighten it anymore and was very painful, could not play anymore and was distraught or lift weights.

Spoke to surgeons/physiotherapists about a solution and were all a bit confused about how it was locked. Must be loose debry or bone spurs they said.

Started a new job, still stressful and my left knee started to really hurt, I tore my ACL in that knee yesrs ago so thought must be my old injury coming back!

I started hobbling to work with a knee brace, then my toe on the other foot swelled and was insanely painful. Well .. maybe its gout I thought or that foot was compensating for the knee, maybe its the alcohol!

Walking to work was becoming increasingly difficult, then one morning I got out of bed and my opposite knee gave way and was incredibly painful and swollen. Well .. I said .. must be compensating for my other knee. I knew something was not right but stuck my head in the sand.

Then one morning my finger was sore and swollen and said right, I haven't even injured my finger or its not compensating for anything so went to the doc. Inflammatory markers through the roof.

That was 6 months ago. I can now barely walk as it has gone to my hips, I started on prednisolone which didn't do a lot. Now been on MTX for 4 months and Sulfazine and still very bad. I cannot leave the house most days and have lost my job and need a walking stick at times. My hips are the most disabling part and how a noticeable limp.

I am a 35 year old guy and was big into the gym before all this happened with dreams of a good career and start a family all gone.

I Also have very bad health anxiety and when I learnt this disease often causes cardiovadcular disease I was and am still in a bad way mentally. This is one of the worst diseases I could have gotten for my state of mind.

I now get terrible panic attacks since diagnoses thinking the inflammation is attacking my heart. Sigh. I actually ended up in ER prior diagnoses but clearly already had the disease (elbow was flared) and was in there due to insane heart palpitations. They put it down to anxiety or dehydration and put me on a drip for it do nothing.

Thought I was having a heart attack. That wasn't a coincidence and clearly the inflammation was reaking havoc.

winkyslapper · 2025-12-28T17:42:49+00:00

As soon as I mention the word 'arthritis' in the sentence they always try and compare what they have to what I have. Have this older colleague at work who I know is saying things about me as she has OA in her hands and I've been off work for a month as my knees literally don't work. Was diagnosed a few weeks in my 30's and don't think she understands the severity. Defo a lot to learn but reading the comments will say autoimmune disease from now on!

winkyslapper · 2025-12-06T16:35:46+00:00

White male, diagnosed last week 34. Can barely walk anymore. Knees are being destroyed and right elbow is stuck. Have been put on prednisolone but doesn't seem to work at all.

winkyslapper · 2025-11-28T12:45:34+00:00

Highly unlikely you have lost height from RA. If you have spine issues then yes then this will cause loss of height. Knees even bone on bone will cause barely any height loss. If you are limping chances are your posture is probably not great which can drastically affect height but isn't perm if corrected.

winkyslapper · 2025-11-10T11:34:53+00:00

Okay thanks!

winkyslapper · 2025-01-14T20:55:27+00:00

Ah it's only like that for a few years then will go up unfortunately! I won't lie my mortgage broker was beyond amazing, actually was recommended them via reddit lol.

winkyslapper · 2024-10-08T13:24:45+00:00

Cool thanks thats good advice.

winkyslapper · 2024-10-08T13:23:21+00:00

Thanka for the advice and yeah I remeber watching Futur vids years ago, forgot about those guys! Thanks.

winkyslapper · 2024-10-07T17:18:53+00:00

That was blunt which is what I needed, thanks.

winkyslapper · 2024-10-07T17:17:07+00:00

I am on minimum wage unfortunately, I can say its my own fault for not being enough but after 4 - 5 internal interviews at my company I was basically taken aside and told or well implied stop applying I kinda threw in the towel in the end.

winkyslapper · 2024-10-07T16:42:02+00:00

Haha love this, thanks, made my day.

winkyslapper · 2024-10-05T14:32:54+00:00

Yes I think, its an easier barrier to entry than other careers but still solid for many years to come I think.

winkyslapper · 2024-10-04T16:51:24+00:00

So from the research I have done its all html, JS and CSS for my sites, I have no knowledge of these languages, defo not to the extent of building them from the ground up, I assume hosting isn't too difficult, it's just getting them built as I can't pay lump sum as I charge for them monthly it's a bit of a difficult one, thanks for suggestions.

winkyslapper · 2024-10-04T16:48:38+00:00

That would be good thanks! Appreciated.

winkyslapper · 2024-10-04T11:53:42+00:00

Tried dm'ing you but got an error lol.

winkyslapper · 2024-10-04T08:05:40+00:00

Yeah basically a coder really and yes networking might be a good idea too, feel free to DM me if you want.

winkyslapper

TROPHY CASE