I have been diagnosed with RA last year after having pains in my hands
for years, and a doctor just saying the pains were carpel tunnel.  So
maybe it could have been caught years before.  The doctor started me on
Enbrel which I had a serious allergic reaction, moon face, rashes
popped up all over my hands and back.  Enbrel did not help with the
constant day to day minute to minute paid in my hand.  I was taken off
Enbrel and put on Prednisone which helped a little with the pain but
not enough, it also caused moon face like the Enbrel did.  Next I was
placed on MTX which made me extremely sick to my stomach, I was sick
everyday (Flu type symptoms), and the MTX did not help with the pain
one bit.  Really the Prednisone was the only steroid that reduce the
pain a little bit.

The past four weeks, I have weened myself off the MTX and other
steroids and started taking Minocyline.  I am feeling some relief now
after four weeks of taking it, but how long does it usually take to
kick in?  Also I have been taking the minocyline with food because it
was giving me a tummy ache taking it by itself..Is that fine?

I wake up every day squeezing my hands daily in pain, I can hardly open
dresser drawers without pain.  Some days the pain is so constant that I
wish my hands were cut off.  I am 49,  and I hope the minocyline helps
me with the pain.  Please provide advice for me, other drugs that you
are taking, I am currently on minocyline alone now, and do not want to
resort back to the steroids.  In addition, the moon face swelling in my
face has started to go down after I weened myself off the steroids, but
it has been lingering after a month, how long does it usually take to
get rid of the swelling?  Thank you, I look forward to responses.

Dot