Newly diagnosed and new to the website

Hello everyone, I was diagnosed a month ago and started 15mg of Methotrexate yesterday.  I don't know where to begin, I have been fatigued and in pain for about 4 years, my hands, knees, elbows, fingers.  I had a left total knee replacement a year ago, but my pcp did blood work and said it was OA.  Finally after going to a podiatrist for what I know now is Charcot neuro-arthropathy in both feet, I was sent to a Rheumatologist and he found it in my bones and on an mri.  My life has been altered negatively for 4 years, I cannot work in the house or yard for more than 2 hours and then I will sleep for 12 hours at night.  I just hope this MTX gets me into remission.  I do not know what to do to begin to help myself, I am 20 pounds overweight due to being afraid to exercise.  I need someone to give me a good swift kick in the behind to get me going. I am having a really stupid pity party here.

I am new here also.   Sorry to hear that you were not dxd. sooner and that you have Charcot and a knee replacement already.  RA should be aggressively treated as soon as possible with DMARDs such as Methotrexate to encourage remission and NSAIDs such as Aspirin, Celebrex to help decrease inflammation and pain.  Easy muscle/joint strengthening exercises, Physical and Occupational Therapist visits, lots of rest, blood tests and Rheumy visits every 2 months are also important parts of treatment and so on.  Patients differ, so it takes time to get the drug combination that is correct for each Patient.

I think it is fair to say that we all have had a "few" pity parties of our own because of RA.  Hopefully your treatment will bring you relief and remission soon, so you can have your Happy New Year.