Hi again Eloise,
I think the others have really answered your question.
I was started on Plaquenil (as a baseline treatment for lupus) 10 months ago. As it does take a long time to kick in, I had to add prednsiolone to that mix as I couldn't walk at that time from pain.
About four months ago imuran was added to the mix. It started working two months later enabling me to start reducing (with a view to eliminating) the prednisolone dose I was on. I then continued to improve and have now been what I would describe as really well for about three weks
All that really just to say that it does take time and that there are different treatment options (far more than I mentioned) if your symptoms are not suficiently controlled. I felt like it would never end too but it did (10 months later) and although I will always be a bit tireder and slightly more achy than someone else, I can certainly live with the way things are now compared to what they were like.
You will get there! Give the plaquenil a chance to start working. If it gets too bad in the meantime, make sure that your doc always knows exactly what your symptoms stop you doing. Saying "it hurts" is rather a vague notion for them. Saying "I can't do X because of the pain" tends to work better.
all the best,
Katharine