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I relocated to New York. And not long after that the symptoms began showing up again. Knowing it would have been better to continue treatment, tried to find a RA doctor near to where I was now living. At the previous doctor's direction, I contacted Rheumatology Associates of Long Island, and was accepted into a treatment program there.

In 1985, my new doctor told me about a new drug that was undergoing clinical trials, and he asked me if I would be interested in giving it a try. The new drug was remicade, which required an infusion once every 4 weeks, but which had showed great promise in relieving the painful, stiff symptoms of RA. I signed on immediately! As a result of my first infusion session I was virtually a new man. It was beyond my best thoughts as to how well it would work for me. When I went to work the next day I sought out my boss (whose mom was suffering from RA) to show him how limber I now was; I was able to painlessly fold either leg up to my chest. I'll leave out his expletive comments, but suffice it to say, he wanted to know the name of the drug.

But there was a downside to this new drug, or rather to my tolerance of it, had begun to dwindle during the next three infusions; by the fourth infusion session the attendant no sooner got the needle into me that I reacted adversely to the drug. I recovered almost immediately when Benadril was administered. I could no longer receive that drug.

However, all was not lost. When I first signed on to take the drug, my doctor told me it could have long lasting affects; I might not have a return of the RA symptoms for years. As it turned out, he was correct it that regard; I was pain free and able to live a virtually normal lifestyle for several years.

By 2000, symptoms had returned and I was experiencing the same limitations as I had in the past. And again, my doctor came through, this time with a drug study program for abatacept, a new drug that eventually was renamed orencia. I signed on immediately for this infusion-administered drug, and was elated when, the very next day, I was able to resume wearing my wedding ring. I am pleased to state that orencia has restored most of my mobility and has helped me live a nearly pain-free lifestyle. I am able to resume my chief interests, including woodworking, some gardening, and writing, but I know when I've done too much, and readily "take a day off."

Learn more about this author, Christopher Smith.
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