Hi
I began the symptoms of RA last August. Painful hands, feet, wrists and ankles. I found myself breathless. Swollen glands under neck. Flu symptoms. My ankles swelled. Following blood tests and physical examinations, I was put on MTX late November. I don't know how well its controlling my 'early' RA - but I seem to be able to get out of bed easier. Two months ago, it was a serious undertaking going to the bathroom in the middle of the night.
I also have cervical spondylothis/osteoarthritis in neck and spine. That has been managed with cortisone epidurals every eight months or so - Vioxx, muscle relaxants - and Advil.
I understand from the net that Advil interferes with MTX elimination through the kidneys. However, the paracetymol (sorry about spelling) the doctor prescribed doesn't do much for the pain.
Lastly, I find my right wrist much more painful than the left. I'm a painter/illustrator. And right-handed... I try however to do things in the house with my left. Do 'splints' exist for wrists... Any advice about making one's own??
I'd be really grateful for any thoughts/ideas about any of the above.
B

When I was on mtx, I also took daypro, vioxx, naproxen and celebrex. (Not all at the same time!) I dont know why advil would be any different. Why cant you just call doctor and ask him? I never used splints but I did find elastic bands that wrap around thumb and wrist that seemed to give support to the wrist. I bought in drugstore, not very expensive.

Hi - Thanks so much for reply.
I was wondering same thing about Vioxx versus Advil...
And would love to know what sort of experience you had with MTX? Did it help you - or did you just stop taking it. And what sort of side effects did you have?
On my end, I finally made myself a paraffin wax bath to dip my hands into. Used it last night while watching this very very long film on TV... And I think today that my hands feel better.
B

I took mtx for about a year. It helped somewhat but I didnt really feel great. I had no side effects. I stopped it because I go out on weekends for a few drinks and you cant take alcohol with mtx. Some people get great results with mtx. You shoiuld try it. I take enbrel injections now and it is working very well. I usually fell pretty good. Not like before the RA, but pretty good.