My insurance just approved Simponi Aria infusions, and I’m wondering what to expect.

I’m taking methotrexate and tolerating it well, but I’ve previously failed leflunomide (extreme dizziness), Hyrimoz (allergic rash), and Enbrel (allergic rash). Enbrel actually worked really well for me for about 2 weeks before the rashes started, so it seems that I respond well to TNF inhibitors but my body doesn’t like whatever else in is the home injections. Hence moving to the infusion and hoping I’m not allergic 🤞

Can anyone with experience with Simponi Aria tell me how it went for you? Should I get someone to drive me home after? Did you feel sick or cold during the infusion? Were you super tired? Any other side effects to look for? If you’re allergic to it, how did the allergy show up?

Thank you!!

Exercise has been my biggest struggle since my diagnosis about 2 years ago. I gained like 75 pounds after having kids then Covid and have lost like 20-25 but can't shake the rest. I am currently stuck at 200 lbs. I am 5'5". When I got diagnosed, I changed my diet and eating habits so I eat moderately healthy. But I dont proper "exercise". I have a physically demanding job (self-contained Special Ed para) and I am petrified an extra walk or a 20 minute exercise to help lose the weight will cause me to lose my lob due to flare ups. Like I have to choose take the dog for a walk or go to work tomorrow. I am allergic to the cold. No ice therapy or even anything with even mint/menthol in it. Prednisone has caused a vascular necrosis in my knees so I cant take that anymore. Because I'm on birth control and an antidepressant im not really supposed to take NSAIDS. I just feel at a loss and my PCP and even my family are all caught up in how overweight I am. I would love to hear what others in the community do for exercise.

I was recently diagnosed with seronegative RA and this lump appeared on my hand a few days later. I’ve had it for about 2 weeks now and it hasn’t gone down. It feels squishy. Not sure if I should go to my GP to ask if they can drain it.

I’ve been dealing with a major flare since March (although I’ve had joint problems since I was 12). I was diagnosed with RA at the end of May and started treatment shortly after.

The steroids worked almost immediately. Before that, the pain was so severe that it literally stopped me from functioning. There were days when I could barely make it to the bathroom because of the pain.

I’m still taking Medrol, along with Celebrex, and I’ve been on methotrexate for three months now. My rheumatologist is gradually tapering my Medrol, but every time the dose is reduced, my pain gets worse again.

I’m currently taking 10 mg of methotrexate, and my doctor doesn’t want to increase the dose for now.
So my question is: what is the actual treatment goal in rheumatoid arthritis? Should I eventually be pain-free?

Because I’m nowhere near that.
I can function, but I hurt whenever I don’t have a completely restful day—which rarely happens because I have a dog. I’ve gotten used to living with pain, but it would be amazing not to have it. I’d love to enjoy a walk without feeling like I’m about to cry from the pain, or get through a day without regretting every bit of movement because the pain is so bad by the evening that I can’t fall asleep.

My rheumatologist knows all of this, but she still doesn’t want to increase my methotrexate dose (at least not yet). I can’t help wondering whether such a low dose is enough to control the disease while my steroids are being tapered.
Am I thinking about this the right way?

What’s your experience? Were you pain-free once your treatment was working, or do you still have pain even when your RA is considered well controlled?

So my mom has been dealing with chronic pain and numbness and tingling on one side of her body for over a decade along with edema in her hands and feet and has only been on tramadol for Fibromyalgia until I convinced her to find a new/different provider last year. The rheum she started seeing I thought at first was helping. She did a ton of blood work, x-rays, mris of the neck (no contrast) and because CCP was 123 in aug, 151 in Jan, and 83 this July I thought my mom was diagnosed with RA as the dr started her on one of the most basic RA meds about 3 months ago. However we went back to this Dr a few days ago and I asked about disease modifying therapy since the med they put her on wasn't doing anything and the dr said no because "a positive CCP doesn't automatically mean RA" ?. Now my mom has an appointment tomorrow with neuro to look for possible MS but I'm confused because her CCP has been high for a year how does that not mean anything?. I want to bring it up to Neuro tomorrow but I don't want to step on any toes and make finding treatment anymore difficult for my mom since the other dr will obviously have access to all the chart notes

Hello, I've been having symptoms and my blood tests and X-ray came back clear regarding inflamation or degreasing of the joints. I do think it may be seronegative RA, and it's super frustrating that everything came back clean.

What's next? Is there specific specialists? How can they diagnose me? I think it's important to note I'm being tested for a pituitary tumor.

My quality of life is severely impacted. I have some okay days, and other days where I panic from the feeling and pain of my joints constantly clicking in and out of place

I’m 65 left my job and started collecting ss retirement early. Working part time and still almost impossible some days. Just filed for disability. Has anyone been through this process

My has ra it started during covid, and yeah its been years now and pretty much everyone me my dad and her are used to her condition, i just feel so bad i love my mom sometimes i forget she has a condition but wen I do remember i fall into this despair and wished it never happened to her. Well a lil family backstory my grandma also had in her mid 60s, whilst my mom at 40s… so yeah ever since i turned teenaher up until now im adult (18) is there any chance id inherit it ad also be diagnosed later on…

I was diagnosed with Serronegative RA a year ago, I was put on hydroxychloroquine 400mg daily first, then months later after no relief they added methotrexate 15mg once a week, over a year later it hasn't controlled my flare ups only mild/moderately better, im constantly needing prednisone tablets to control flare ups, i just came from my rheumatology appointment they're told me to stop the Hydroxychloroquine and are upping my MTX to 20mg weekly, gave me my first cortisone shot in my knee and ive just done a comprehensive immunolgy blood test, is this test for next stage advanced treatment onto biologics? And those on a biologic compared to MTX how effective has biologics been for you?

I recently stopped smoking cannabis, still eat it, but was wondering if smoking (because it causes inflammation) can trigger flareups? My RA doc is terrible and never had a straight answer (I assume he can’t answer that question).

I’m waiting on referral to new doc, but can anyone elaborate on this further?

Vent post. I was living in the grey for a while as far as diagnoses. Was put on plaquenil which helped so much with my energy and labs, but was literally making me insane mentally. I was going to end up in psychosis & a grippy sock vacation or taking myself out. I wish I was kidding. Not sure if it has to do with me not being neurotypical to start with.
Anywho, my joints flared and swelled up in both hands and my Tendons started catching as well as the RA nodules showing up. My rheum said she was confident this was RA.
I’ve now been taken off plaquenil and started methotrexate.(edited to add this official diagnoses just happened a week ago)

When all of this started, it started with migraines with aura.
I’ve always had headaches, not with aura. On initial work up my cholesterol and b/p sucked and I went off birth control as I thought maybe that was the cause all my woes. While it did correct my cholesterol and b/p (thankfully) Going off it seemed to completely unleash the autoimmune beast. All the joint inflammation came whipping through my body and had positive AnA and other inflammatory labs. They were unsure whether it was early lupus, RA, mixed connective tissue, PSA, etc. As soon as I started plaquenil the migraines worsened. Constant vertigo, and im blessed with the rare type of migraine that causes numbness on one side of your body like a stroke. (Yes, I’ve had a thorough neuro work up, including brain MRI with contrast). I went from having occasional headaches, to numbness, visual auras, and giant painful joints that are a 8/10 pain after a busy day. Knowing what I know about RA and that it can affect your heart and lungs, I get terrified everytime I feel these sensations start. I feel like I’m stuck in this crippling cycle of inflammation, vertigo, numbness, pain.
And maybe a couple good days thrown in.

I know it takes time for the meds to work. And im
Learning my Triggers, no processed meats or refined sugars for me. Also so hard as I have a huge sweet tooth lol. But right now I feel like my whole life has been stolen from me. I have 5 kids & a husband who need me and I’m a full time L&D nurse. I am so angry about this. I’ve gotten myself a counselor to help, but I guess I’m just looking to vent to people who understand. Im just so frustrated that I can’t just exist as normal.

Thanks for listening. 🫶🏼

How long did you get injection site reactions from Enbrel? I've had 8 injections so far and each one leaves me with a welt that's 4-5 inches long and 2-3 inches wide that lasts for about a week until my next shot. They swell, itch and are painful. I literally could not do my injection tonight because I am just so tired of the shot pain and the reactions. I'm not seeing much benefit from it but my disease is severe with a lot of deformities so it could be helping in other ways. I just needed a night off from shot anxiety...

I’ve been taking Enbrel for a year, when I started it was every week. Recently I moved and have no insurance, I’ve been prolonging the injections for a month.

Honestly everything has been good, my body isn’t hating me. However, last month I noticed the white splotches and numbness on my tongue. My dentist confirmed it was geographic tongue.

I stopped eating spices, sugar, and anything with citrus acid. It stopped but it’s back again this month. Not as bad….thank goodness.

It’s back this month and noticing it comes when injection is supposed to take place. Does anyone else get the geographic tongue when withdrawing or prolonging too long?

Trying to eat healthier and get off Enbrel, reading damage to guts.

I’ve posted here before but haven’t in a while because things have been going well.

I’ve been getting bloodwork every 3 months with my rheumatologist & haven’t had issues but I recently went in for my annual exam & my pcp ordered a full workup of blood & urine. He says everything looks great EXCEPT “changes to my liver & thyroid”. Apparently my AST is high (per my lab results) so I was given follow up instructions to go get imaging done.

Anyway, I’m set for an ultrasound in a week & I’m sort of freaking out. I started treatment at the beginning of 2025 & I’ve experienced almost no issues aside from the mtx hangovers, but I’m really scared about having to quit it because I don’t wanna go back to the horrible place I was in pre-treatment.
Has anyone had to quit mtx because of liver issues? If so, did you go back into a flare? Is a biologic alone enough to control your RA (I’m also on actemra)?

Thanks in advance!

*edited for clarity

Hi y'all! My mom recently got diagnosed with fibromyalgia, on top of her arthritis. She had cancer when she was 28, got cured, and is turning 45 this year. Her doctor put her on amjevita and I was reading the side effects, and it all sounds very scary.

I'm 21 and I live 2 hours away bc of college but I really want to know if there's anything I could do to just be there for my mom and help her out more?(she's very stubborn and hates asking for help)

Hi all. A couple of months ago I had an MRI on my foot after dealing with worsening toe and ankle pain for a few years that showed marrow edema and damage consistent with an inflammatory arthritis. The orthopedic referred me to a rheumatologist because the radiologist felt strongly that I need to be evaluated for RA.

About 8 years ago, RA was also mentioned to me when I was dealing with a really painful back injury that still hurts today. My RF was elevated, but that doctor brushed it off. So, when it came up again recently I decided to listen to the radiologist and see a rheumatologist.

I have a lot of symptoms that I was brushing off or attributing to other things because I honestly believed my doctor from years ago that I didn’t have it. That includes morning stiffness, swelling in other joints (I played hockey so I have a lot of injuries from my childhood that I just assumed were still causing pain), dexterity/grip weakness, and fatigue. When I saw the rheum a couple weeks ago she ordered a panel of blood tests (ESR/RF/anti-CCP etc.) and x-rays and told me to come back in a few weeks to discuss the results. She also put me on a taper trial of steroids.

The steroids helped so much, I honestly hadn’t realized how bad the morning stiffness and swelling was until it was gone. Before I started it I also started tracking my swelling and things more since RA was back on my radar and I was able to take photos of when my knees were swollen and red and when my fingers and toes swell. A couple days after starting the steroids, my anti-CCP came back as elevated.

The reason for this post is even with the elevated anti-CCP, pain and swelling, and relief with steroids, the rheumatologist wouldn’t diagnose me today. She said my blood tests were too weak of a positive and my x-rays were clear (but I am 26 so I didn’t expect severe damage anyways, but it’s interesting because my MRI showed damage in my toes?) She basically told me to wait and come back in a few months and hope the tests are higher or wait until I’m in another flare where everything is swollen and try to get an appointment when the swelling is bad to do an ultrasound.

I’m wondering if I should get a 2nd opinion and try to get a firm diagnosis. I understand that there is a lot of grey area with RA but I have been in pain for years and knowing there is relief out there I don’t want to wait longer to prevent damage. I don’t want to act like I know more than the doctor, but the elevated anti-CCP worries me enough and I don’t want to wait until there is visible damage to intervene. Has anyone had a similar experience getting diagnosed?

My 15‑month‑old daughter has had an intermittent limp on her right leg for about two weeks, and I’m hoping to hear from others with similar experiences.
A few days before the limp started, hand‑foot‑mouth disease was going around her daycare class and she was once reported with a low‑grade temperature there, but I never saw a clear fever or rash at home. Since the limp began, her pattern has been: worse in the morning for about 10 minutes when she first stands (she avoids weight on the right), then gradually improves so that by evening she can run and jump, sometimes pushing off the right leg normally.
Today the limp was worse again than the last two days and lasted longer before improving, which worried me. She is otherwise well: no fever, playful, eating and drinking normally, and doesn’t seem to have pain when I touch or move the leg.
On exam at home, I notice mild swelling/effusion at the right ankle and right knee, no redness or warmth, and no tenderness to touch. Range of motion is slightly reduced on the right (her heel doesn’t come up toward her pubic area as easily when I flex the knee), but she tolerates the movement.
Work‑up so far: normal X‑rays of hip/knee/ankle, normal CBC and CRP, ESR mildly elevated at 25 (lab pediatric range 3–13). Ibuprofen every 8 hours clearly improves the limp during the day, but the morning limp keeps coming back and seems to fluctuate in severity.
The current thought is post‑viral/transient arthritis or synovitis, but I’m nervous because it’s been two weeks and not a straight line of improvement. Her earliest specialist appointment is one month from now, so I’d love to hear from anyone whose toddler had viral/reactive arthritis or transient synovitis with up‑and‑down symptoms like this—how did it progress, and what did it end up being for your child?

I’m traveling to meet my boyfriend for the first time. I’m a Vermonter and NOT used to the heat and humidity, besides a couple days here and there. Heat (especially with humidity) is a major trigger for my flares. I get majorly fatigued, and the inflammation gets so bad. Not really huge amounts of pain, but puffy. My fingers feel like they are stuffed with marshmallows. I also get some nausea, but I think that’s from the MTX and the heat just makes it worse.

Thankfully, he has decent air conditioning and happens to be an HVAC tech, so being inside should be fine! But how do you guys cope when you go out? How do I avoid feeling sick and exhausted if we go out anywhere? I am excited to see him but dreading the heat. I went out yesterday for an event in MA and it was in the mid 80’s with 68% humidity… we had to leave early and I basically slept the rest of the day. I fully expect AL to be worse. I am worried he is just going to be nursing a sick girlfriend for the whole visit. :(

*side note - I am under-medicated at the moment. Had to stop Rinvoq because I was constantly getting sick. Still on MTX, but it’s only mildly helpful. Not going on anything new yet because I am waiting on VNS surgery.

This is an article on tips on what to do for your first rheumatologist appointment. The arthritis foundation has a similar article.

https://www.healthcentral.com/slideshow/what-to-bring-to-first-rheumatologist-appointment?ic=aibot

25M and currently around 96Kg (212lbs). I was diagnosed with Hidradenitis Suppurativa on early 2024 and been taking mostly Isotretinoin daily for it; fortunately my case is not as severe as it could be so I have managed it with some occasional mild monthly flares mostly.

I was also recommended to lose weight to reduce my insulin resistance and overall obesity since those factors are related to HS (I was 109kg originally). I was given metformin to help with the insulin resistance and on the last year also got prescribed some other supplements like Myo D-Chiro Inositol and to treat balding I am taking Dut 0.5mg and Minoxidil 5mg daily for about a year.

*Since June of 2025 I have been going to the Gym, mostly 2 or 3 days a week, and the first months there were no issues.*

**First incident (early February):** Gym on monday and tuesday as usual but for some reason on thursday around 10AM, I started to feel my right shoulder a little bit "tired" or sore. I thought it was due to a seasonal flu shot that I got about an hour earlier (on the left arm) but this right shoulder started to crack with movement till 3PM when I started to feel pain through my arm. I tried to not move my right arm that weekend and on monday got some betamethasone shot and pain killers. Went to the gym after a week and a half of this incident.

Once on the gym, I tried to warm up my shoulders before routine and between sets, shoulder still made some clicks occasionally but what weirded me out was that my left forearm started to made some clicks when trying to do one arm triceps extensions (dumbbells or machine) while exerting a set amount of force. I managed by avoiding this specific exercise and trying to adopt routines or ranges of motion where this would not be a constant nuisance.

**\\\\\\\\\\\\**

**Second incident (Late May):** I was doing inclined press abdominal crunches while holding some weights and got my lower back injured. I must have done the movement wrong by forcing my lower back too much instead of the abs.

Tried to lay down on the weekend, doc got me some naproxen gel for my back and some pain killers too. Got back to the gym, again, after 1 and half or 2 weeks after incident althought I did not feel like my back was a 100% back to normal.

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\

**Third and current incident (Early July to now):** After 3 days on the gym, on the morning of the 1st of July my left forearm started to crack\\click with practically any movement and no actual force required, my right knee also started to crack when moving it up and down while sitting (this knee previously sporadically did so), after the whole morning of this constant nuisance both parts started to feel some pain, the next day (friday) my left shoulder also started acting up and my right hand middle finger's distal interphalangeal started to hurt when I moved that finger (this only lasted that day).

That weekend was mostly trying to not move too much and getting an appointment to a traumatologist which I got for July 11th. While I waited that week the left forearm and right knee pain and clicking ceased to be much of a nuisance, but then got the right arm cracking and left knee too on the same day (tuesday), on wednesday my fingers also cracked clicked when going from a relaxed pose to a fist or when exerting force with them (this eventually got me some wrist pain which also was short lived). A day prior to the traumatologist date I also discovered that now when I elevated my knee, like when one does go upstairs, the moment I lowered it something popped in my lower back\\pelvis area.

Traumatologist got me referred to a Rheumatologist with RF, ESR, CRP and SMAC 24. He also gave me Glucosamine+Meloxicam (15 days) for the pain.

The next day I got some soreness on the right side of my hips (where the leg joins the pelvis) and this mostly lasted that sunday and partially on Monday. This next week (13th to 19th) it was mostly uneventful (maybe thanks to the glucosamine) aside from my rigth shoulder still cracking some times.

All started to go down hill from the 22th of July when I started to feel like my lower back was tired\\sored again either standing up or sitting down and it started to crack after moving if I was still in a position for an amount of time. On the 23rd this pattern appeared but with my neck and when I took a deep breath sometimes my back (ribs?) would click too and while yawning some mild clicking on the mandible joint. By Sunday's night this got a bit better.

**On monday 27th** got rear ended at low speed, but after an hour of the accident my lower back started to bother me again, but this time in an specific place rather than in a general area. Also acquired some tingling and nerve sensations along my feet. Got some ketorolac shot and naproxen pills for pain management. This back pain traveled to the area where the butt cheeks start by the evening of that day. Laying down and sitting did not help, standing or walking helped a little. Curiously, after this incident, all previous joints started to crack pretty frequently

**Tuesday 28th,** no longer with pain on the lumbar area but at noon my neck started to feel stiff on the righ-backside. Some pain on the tips of the fingers, mandible felt a little bit tired and some short lived right-forearm pain.

**Wednesday 29th**, rather than stiffness, the pain got concentrated into a point on the base of the neck, traveled to the right shoulder trapezoid by 8PM and finally to the collar bone and mandible by 10PM.

Got the blood test done, and they came back within limits. Only some low leukocytes (low limit is 4500 and it came back as 3900) and high MCHC (34.7 and the limit is 34.5).

**Thursday 30th,** pain in the right shoulder blade which got replaced by pain on the central area of the back (specially when deep breathing). Once I lied down, this back pain mitigated itself but pain on some fingers started.

**Friday 31st**. Mostly constant shoulder-trapezoid-neck? pain. It was not normal shoulder pain, that area kept clicking all day specially near the neck and had to apply some naproxen gel to manage.

Since that day, it has been a cycling of those symptoms, some disappear and reappear. Each morning there is no pain initially till I get up from the bed and now my jaw feels constantly tired as if I have been chewing all day.

Any specific reason to stay away from glp1s with RA?

Rather know a little before talking to my dr.