DMARDs for Arthritis Q & A

I am on remicade and methotrexate and need a total knee replacement are there any information on this, and should I stop the remicade and methotrexate before i have the surgery and how long before since the drugs make you more prone to have infections.

I am 57 and I have RA.  I am currently on the drugs remicade and methotrexate. I need a total knee replacement I wanted to know how well other patients on these same drugs have done with a knee replacement.

I have AS and Enbrel worked brilliantly for one year. It has suddenly stopped being effective. Prior to being on Enbrel I was on Remicade, that too, after a year or two started to become less effective and I also developed an allergic reaction to the infusion. Would it be worth trying Humira, or is it exactly the same thing as Enbrel?

Does Leflunomide increase the suceptibility to infection to tuberculosis? Should it be used in persons having chronic infections like Tuberculosis?

I take a relatively low dosage of methotrexate once a week. I feel weak, tired and slightly sick for a day and a half after each dose. I also take hydroxychoroquine. I stopped the methotrexate for a couple of weeks and felt great but towards the end of the two weeks my RA symptoms returned. My blood work is normal. I don’t want to get 5 days of relief for two days of feeling sick every week. Are there other DMARDS that I should try?

I am a male on Enbrel with Methotrexate, is it safe to start to have children?