<p>I’m 58 - I’ve been trying to avoid taking the MTX but my Dr. led me to believe you have to take it 1st or in conjunction with a biologic. Someone at work is taking MTX and has for many, many years w/out any issues but is also on the …same pain medication I’m on for painful flares, he’s taking several a day to manage the pain…which totally confuses me because I thought the MTX got rid of the inflammation so you didn’t need pain med.</p>