Hello all,
I am new to this RA, and have so many questions. My hips hurt, my hands hurt, and I have psorisis along with it. The rhuemtologist put me on methotrexate and now Embrel. I guess my biggest question is why do my hands burn and itch, before starting to swell?
I am so tired all the time, is it from the meds? :confused:
Right now, my neck feels like I can't hold it up any longer. I find it hard to stay at the office all day without coming home for a nap.
Any advice?
Thanks
Soldtw

The fatigue is probably from the RA itself and not the meds. Sometimes though they do seem to make it worse in some people. It is definitely something to mention to your doc. I'm not sure how long you've been on the Enbrel but in may case it helped an awful lot with the fatique.

Hello there:
I hear you :rolleyes: This is a miserable disease...it causes alot of fatigue,swelling and pain. Your hands burn and itch because they are swelling-it is called inflammation and is sort of like when you get a blister and it fills with fluid to protect the skin----only in an auto-immune disorder it is trying to destroy the joint not help it. Sorry for the bad news!
I also have Psoriatic Arthritis whose characteristics are a psoriasis rash-other than that it acts alot like RA and the treatments are almost the same. Often Rhumy's use the terms interchangably...
Take those naps if you can it can't hurt-whatever it takes to get you throught the day...Good Luck!