When I was first diagnosed I was put on SLZ and took slow release antil inflammatories for pain relief. Two years later MTX was introduced. I use Boot's prescription service (they do all the running around, I just go to the chemist once a month to pick up meds). When I went for my first lot of MTX the computer showed up that I should not be taking MTX and ianti inflammatories together. They were very reluctant to give me my MTX, but I assured them I would check with hospital before I took it.
Phoned specialist nurse to ask, was told that technically speaking you should not take them together, but the benefit of taking them was far greater than the risk. Any problems should be picked up with the monthly blood tests. I suppose in an ideal world no pain killers at all would be the best option, but I'm afraid that most of us with RA do not live in an ideal world.
You may be one of the lucky ones and once everything is sorted and meds are working well, you may not need to take any pain killers at all. Before my liver went haywire I was doing so well, I had halved my antil inflammatories, was thinking of stopping them all together and just seeing if paracetamol would work, but it was not to be.
Take Care
Paula x
