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• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 16-20 years >> Interview 03 >> Having the anti-TNF infusion every 8 weeks in hospital is a good experience, she enjoys meeting the other patients.

RA diagnosed '86. For 10 years chose NSAIDs/pain killers and complementary therapies. DMARD treatments started 1996 (various). 2 replacement shoulders 2000. Started Infliximab 9/02. Less pain/tiredness but pre-existing damage means hip replacement '04.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 0-5 years >> Kate - Interview 52 >> She attended a five weeks course organised by her hospital about the practical side of living with arthritis.

None of her previous non-biologic treatments have worked long-term. Her condition deteriorated to such an extent that she was housebound and needed help with most things. Currently she is on Enbrel and Methotrexate and her condition is much improved.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 0-5 years >> Charlotte - Interview 55 >> Finds that magazines and books give confusing advice about lifestyle and RA and prefers to look at the ARC website. She is attending a meeting at her

Charlotte was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in July 2007. The first time she saw her consultant was as a private patient because on the NHS there was a waiting period of three months. She is on Methotrexate. She feels more tired than before her diagnosis.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 0-5 years >> Janet - Interview 56 >> A meeting with a multidisciplinary team at the hospital was much more helpful to her than looking at websites.

Diagnosed in 2006. Janet takes Methotrexate 15 mg but experiences severe sickness and nausea. She will start taking Methotrexate in injection form and hopes this will reduce its side effects. She also takes: Tramadol with paracetamol; folic acid and amitriptyline at night when needed.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 16-20 years >> Melissa - Interview 50 >> Her local hospital say that they don't have funding to provide ongoing physiotherapy. A specialist hospital has offered her physiotherapy and hydrothe

Melissa was first diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and later with rheumatoid arthritis. She was on Methotrexate for about eight years. She has been on two Anti-TNF treatments: etanercepts (Enbrel) and adalimumab (Humira) and expects to be started on influximab soon.

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 6-10 years >> Tara - Interview 53 >> Talks about the antenatal care she received with her second pregnancy. She felt very supported and reassured.

Following her diagnosis Tara was put on Methotrexate and this controlled her illness very well. She came off Methotrexate after deciding to have a second child. She describes her antenatal care as 'excellent' and felt safe and reassured. She is currently on anti-TNF treatment: Humira.

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• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Other hospital specialists >> Other hospital specialists

Other hospital specialists

• Bones & joints >> Rheumatoid Arthritis >> Disease duration 16-20 years >> Melissa - Interview 50 >> Her local hospital say that they don't have funding to provide ongoing physiotherapy. A specialist hospital has offered her physiotherapy and hydrothe

Melissa was first diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis and later with rheumatoid arthritis. She was on Methotrexate for about eight years. She has been on two Anti-TNF treatments: etanercepts (Enbrel) and adalimumab (Humira) and expects to be started on influximab soon.