Re: psoratic arthritis anyone?

[Guest guest]

I have psoriatic arthritis it started two years ago with sores all over, i

have been on metho almost two years.

Jolene

In a message dated 6/11/2009 3:17:37 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

stanpfister@... writes:

From what I know it's very much like RA excluding that it does effect the

condition of your skin a lot more than RA and it's not uncommon to create a

lot of problems with your upper and lower back. Rheumatologist treat it

and they use a lot of the same medications they use for those of us with RA.

Personally, I think he should be accepting the treatment.

Stan

Seattle, Sun!

Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2009 12:00:57 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific

Subject: [ ] psoratic arthritis anyone?

The past Sunday my truck driving brother came to our area. We took

him out to eat and he talked about most of his health problems. said

he first got psorasis then it spread to his fingernails which was very

uncomfortable. Eventually he ended up with psoratic arthritis. His doctor

wanted

to put him on MTX and Humira but he refused them.

I would be interested in knowing how your psoratic arthrits is so I can

understand 's better.

Thanks,

Debbie L

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

**************Download the AOL Classifieds Toolbar for local deals at your

fingertips.

(http://toolbar.aol.com/aolclassifieds/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000004)

[Guest guest]

From what I know it's very much like RA excluding that it does effect the

condition of your skin a lot more than RA and it's not uncommon to create a lot

of problems with your upper and lower back. Rheumatologist treat it and they use

a lot of the same medications they use for those of us with RA. Personally, I

think he should be accepting the treatment.

Stan

Seattle, Sun!

Sent: Thursday, June 11, 2009 12:00:57 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific

Subject: [ ] psoratic arthritis anyone?

The past Sunday my truck driving brother came to our area. We took him out

to eat and he talked about most of his health problems. said he first got

psorasis then it spread to his fingernails which was very uncomfortable.

Eventually he ended up with psoratic arthritis. His doctor wanted to put him on

MTX and Humira but he refused them.

I would be interested in knowing how your psoratic arthrits is so I can

understand 's better.

Thanks,

Debbie L

[Guest guest]

Well the methotrexate put me on my feet so for me its been great

Jolene

In a message dated 6/12/2009 9:39:36 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

dlohf@... writes:

Thanks Stan and Jolene for your responses. Based on all the talk about MTX

here I'm not sure I will encourage him to take that med.

Debbie L

--- In _ @groRA-SUPP_ (mailto: ) ,

Jolenefive@., Jol

>

> I have psoriatic arthritis it started two years ago with sores all over,

i

> have been on metho almost two years.

>

> Jolene

>

>

> In a message dated 6/11/2009 3:17:37 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

> From what I know it's very much like RA excluding that it does effect

the

> condition of your skin a lot more than RA and it's not uncommon to

create a

> lot of problems with your upper and lower back. Rheumatologist treat it

> and they use a lot of the same medications they use for those of us with

RA.

> Personally, I think he should be accepting the treatment.

>

> Stan

>

> Seattle, Sun!

>

>>

[Guest guest]

Thanks Stan and Jolene for your responses. Based on all the talk about MTX here

I'm not sure I will encourage him to take that med.

Debbie L

>

> I have psoriatic arthritis it started two years ago with sores all over, i

> have been on metho almost two years.

>

> Jolene

>

>

> In a message dated 6/11/2009 3:17:37 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

> From what I know it's very much like RA excluding that it does effect the

> condition of your skin a lot more than RA and it's not uncommon to create a

> lot of problems with your upper and lower back. Rheumatologist treat it

> and they use a lot of the same medications they use for those of us with RA.

> Personally, I think he should be accepting the treatment.

>

> Stan

>

> Seattle, Sun!

>

>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>

>

>

>

>

> **************Download the AOL Classifieds Toolbar for local deals at your

> fingertips.

>

(http://toolbar.aol.com/aolclassifieds/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000004)

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Debbie,

I've been taking mtx for 10 years now, 3 pills once a week and I have no

problems with it. No fatigue, no stomach issues. I have a very good friend who

also has RA and would say the same, she takes the same dose I do. It was a

lifesaver for me.

in PA

[ ] Re: psoratic arthritis anyone?

Thanks Stan and Jolene for your responses. Based on all the talk about MTX

here I'm not sure I will encourage him to take that med.

Debbie L

>

> I have psoriatic arthritis it started two years ago with sores all over, i

> have been on metho almost two years.

>

> Jolene

>

>

> In a message dated 6/11/2009 3:17:37 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,

> From what I know it's very much like RA excluding that it does effect the

> condition of your skin a lot more than RA and it's not uncommon to create a

> lot of problems with your upper and lower back. Rheumatologist treat it

> and they use a lot of the same medications they use for those of us with RA.

> Personally, I think he should be accepting the treatment.

>

> Stan

>

> Seattle, Sun!

>

>>

[Guest guest]

MTX works wonderfully well for some people, with few adverse side

effects. It's the old stand-by RA med that rheumatologists often try

first. He might not have any of the side effects mentioned here.

Besides, he would be monitored by having blood work done periodically.

Sue

On Jun 12, 2009, at 9:38 PM, deebs87 wrote:

> Thanks Stan and Jolene for your responses. Based on all the talk

> about MTX here I'm not sure I will encourage him to take that med.

> Debbie L

>

[Guest guest]

Based on what you have said I would encourage him to follow what ever treatment

his " professional " health care provider recommends. In fact I would strongly

recommend he follow an aggressive treatment and try the MTX if that's is what is

recommended. I lot of us have to try with different medications to find out

what is the most effective treatment for our individual conditions. Plus, there

are certain insurance protocols to go up the medication ladder for them to cover

it. I take MTX every week and I don't like it but I can't live without it. There

are some that have found Methotraxate to be very effective with little to no

side effects. Yes we do complain about all the medications we have to deal with.

However, if you hang around here long enough you'll discover we eventually

complain about everything!

Stan

Seattle, Sun almost every day!

Sent: Friday, June 12, 2009 6:38:34 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific

Subject: [ ] Re: psoratic arthritis anyone?

Thanks Stan and Jolene for your responses. Based on all the talk about MTX here

I'm not sure I will encourage him to take that med.

Debbie L

>

> I have psoriatic arthritis it started two years ago with sores all over, i  

> have been on metho almost two years.

>  

> Jolene

>  

>  

> In a message dated 6/11/2009 3:17:37 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time,  

> From what I know it's very much like RA excluding that it does  effect the

> condition of your skin a lot more than RA and it's not uncommon to  create a

> lot of problems with your upper and lower back. Rheumatologist treat  it

> and they use a lot of the same medications they use for those of us with  RA.

> Personally, I think he should be accepting the treatment.

>

> Stan  

>

> Seattle, Sun!

>

>> [Non-text portions of  this message have been removed]

>

>

>

>

>

> **************Download the AOL Classifieds Toolbar for local deals at your

> fingertips.

>

(http://toolbar.aol.com/aolclassifieds/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000004)

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

I have been hanging around here for almost 3 years now so do know people tend to

rant about any med or other things.

Debbie L

>

> Yes we do complain about all the medications we have to deal with. However, if

you hang around here long enough you'll discover we eventually complain about

everything!

>

>

>

> Stan

>

> Seattle, Sun almost every day!

>> >

> >

> > **************Download the AOL Classifieds Toolbar for local deals at your

> > fingertips.

> >

(http://toolbar.aol.com/aolclassifieds/download.html?ncid=emlcntusdown00000004)

> >

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

Stan,

I don't write but I've been here. I, too, have PsA. I was dx'd about 13 years

ago and it's rough. We thought it was RA but when my nails began to look like

crumbling spoons, the fingers seemed to have splitting callouses with little

lumps, and my knees and elbows had psoriasis on them, the dx changed to PsA.

Since then it's spread to my eyebrows, palms, and under my feet. The pain and

destruction of my upper and lower back is definitely there. I have joint pain

in many joints... neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, 'fingers' (which is a bummer

since I braille for a living), hips, knees, ankles, and feet. I have this in

addition to OA and FM so it's rough to tell one dx'd area from the next.

They first treated me with steroids since my numbers were up and NSAIDS. My

stomach can't take the NSAIDS and I ended up with ulcers. I had been on just

about every NSAID with little success in the past... before official dx. I was

on MTX for a long time with terrible headaches that hit about 36 hours after the

injections. Yes, it was easily timed. The MTX also brought on infections that

caused my resistance to go even lower.

Next came the Enbrel with the MTX. That worked best and at times brought the

psoriasis pretty well under control. My dermatologist told me to stop brailling

as any trauma to the fingers made the psoriasis worse. But that is my

livelihood so I couldn't really do that. I also use topical treatments. I went

off the MTX part when the infections came back. The problem was that after

several years I started getting tremors and cramping. My rheumy thought it

could possibly be the beginning of MS and took me off the Enbrel. There is a

very very rare chance of MS caused by the Enbrel but that is usually right

away... not years later! Things calmed some but never went away. My hand and

foot were turning and I couldn't straighten them. After stopping the Enbrel,

they didn't turn in but the cramping is still there as is the tremors.

So she put me back on MTX and once again, the infections hit with a vengence so

I went off of it. She put me on Difusinal and I'd get so nauseaus I couldn't

hold my head up so I went off of that. When she saw that I wasn't on anything

she put me on, she told me I didn't have to come back unless I wanted to.

Personally, I'd like to go back on the Enbrel but she said that is worse than

the MTX for causing the infections. I don't fully agree. I'm the one that was

documenting things. But the strange thing is I don't get much swelling.

Occasionally, my knee or knuckles swell but I usually have the apin without the

swelling.

So here I am, solely on Prevacid for my stomach, a 25mg Metroprolol for mild

high BP, and 8 Ultrams a day for pain. The psoriasis is a mess but I'm treating

it only with the ointments.

If he has this and is driving a truck, I would bet that the fingers get so bad

at times that simply holding the steering wheel will cause them to bleed. Mine

do. His back and neck must be in constant pain. Has he tried the Lidoderm

patches for the back and neck pain? I know some don't agree with me but I find

" Super " Blue Stuff to help a lot. Not just Blue Stuff. It has to be the Super.

I use it, according to directions!!!, and it does help me.

So in a nut shell, the Enbrel along with the MTX with pain pills (Ultram) and

pain patches and SBStuff was the best. Without the biologicals, I'm just making

it through.

I wish him luck in finding a good rheumy and the right cocktail to get him

through each day.

God bless,

Suzanne

[Guest guest]

That's quite a history, sorry you had to go through it. I'm having one of those

days when even laying down is tough, that's really pathetic when you think about

it. I've already had dose issues with MTX and some stomach issues. I can't take

any of the biologics until I do a TNF because I tested positive for TB exposure.

I'm willing to bet dollars to donuts my Ex had something to do with that! Years

ago she planned a trip to visit her relatives in Mexico. Not the Mexico where

you sit on a beatiful beach and some pretty girl (or confused young man) serves

you rum and Cokes, it was the Mexico where you sit in a home-made shack,

sweating and watching the locals admire the latest in bucket technology. Now I'm

wondering if you live in a shack , is it home-made, or is it " made at home " ?

Anyway, it turned to out to be the #1 worst two weeks of my life, and being

raised with little to nothing and serving in the Army for eight years I've had

some pretty bad worst weeks! So, we'll blame the Ex, works for me. If I ever get

the opportunity I'll claim a cure for PsA before a cure for Ex's on your behalf.

And, I think we're in agreement, the least he could do is get a good

Rheumatologist and start on an aggressive treatment because from what you have

indicated he need to do whatever he can so he'll be as good as he can later (if

that makes sense).

Stan,

Seattle, morning clouds - afternoon sun!

---- Original Message -----

From: " iwannafly " <iwannafly@...>

Sent: Sunday, June 14, 2009 6:35:07 AM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific

Subject: [ ] Re: psoratic arthritis anyone?

Stan,

I don't write but I've been here.  I, too, have PsA.  I was dx'd about 13

years ago and it's rough.  We thought it was RA but when my nails began to look

like crumbling spoons, the fingers seemed to have splitting callouses with

little lumps, and my knees and elbows had psoriasis on them, the dx changed to

PsA.  Since then it's spread to my eyebrows, palms, and under my feet.  The

pain and destruction of my upper and lower back is definitely there.  I have

joint pain in many joints... neck, shoulders, elbows, wrists, 'fingers' (which

is a bummer since I braille for a living), hips, knees, ankles, and feet.  I

have this in addition to OA and FM so it's rough to tell one dx'd area from the

next.  

They first treated me with steroids since my numbers were up and NSAIDS.  My

stomach can't take the NSAIDS and I ended up with ulcers.  I had been on just

about every NSAID with little success in the past... before official dx.  I was

on MTX for a long time with terrible headaches that hit about 36 hours after the

injections.  Yes, it was easily timed.  The MTX also brought on infections

that caused my resistance to go even lower.

Next came the Enbrel with the MTX.  That worked best and at times brought the

psoriasis pretty well under control.  My dermatologist told me to stop

brailling as any trauma to the fingers made the psoriasis worse.  But that is

my livelihood so I couldn't really do that.  I also use topical treatments.  I

went off the MTX part when the infections came back. The problem was that after

several years I started getting tremors and cramping.  My rheumy thought it

could possibly be the beginning of MS and took me off the Enbrel.  There is a

very very rare chance of MS caused by the Enbrel but that is usually right

away... not years later! Things calmed some but never went away.  My hand and

foot were turning and I couldn't straighten them. After stopping the Enbrel,

they didn't turn in but the cramping is still there as is the tremors.

So she put me back on MTX and once again, the infections hit with a vengence so

I went off of it.  She put me on Difusinal and I'd get so nauseaus I couldn't

hold my head up so I went off of that.  When she saw that I wasn't on anything

she put me on, she told me I didn't have to come back unless I wanted to.

 Personally, I'd like to go back on the Enbrel but she said that is worse than

the MTX for causing the infections.  I don't fully agree.  I'm the one that

was documenting things.  But the strange thing is I don't get much swelling.

 Occasionally, my knee or knuckles swell but I usually have the apin without

the swelling.

So here I am, solely on Prevacid for my stomach, a 25mg Metroprolol for mild

high BP, and 8 Ultrams a day for pain.  The psoriasis is a mess but I'm

treating it only with the ointments.  

If he has this and is driving a truck, I would bet that the fingers get so bad

at times that simply holding the steering wheel will cause them to bleed.  Mine

do.  His back and neck must be in constant pain.  Has he tried the Lidoderm

patches for the back and neck pain?  I know some don't agree with me but I find

" Super " Blue Stuff to help a lot.  Not just Blue Stuff.  It has to be the

Super.  I use it, according to directions!!!, and it does help me.

So in a nut shell, the Enbrel along with the MTX with pain pills (Ultram) and

pain patches and SBStuff was the best.  Without the biologicals, I'm just

making it through.  

I wish him luck in finding a good rheumy and the right cocktail to get him

through each day.

God bless,

Suzanne

[Guest guest]

Debbie,

Try to keep in mind that it is likely that our group isn't

representative of the general RA population. It is likely that the

majority of group members have more problems than average. Also, most

posts deal with problems rather than positive experiences.

As in RA, methotrexate is a very effective treatment for psoriatic arthritis.

Not an MD

On Fri, Jun 12, 2009 at 8:38 PM, deebs87 <dlohf@...> wrote:

>

>

> Thanks Stan and Jolene for your responses. Based on all the talk about MTX

here I'm not sure I will encourage him to take that med.

> Debbie L

[Guest guest]

My daughter will more than likely be going on MTX for her psoriatic arthritis.

Her rheumy has been hesitant but the dermatologist feels this is the only way to

stop nail destruction.

I had a horrible experience on MTX but that would not stop me from allowing my

daughter to start. It works.

*~ Kami ~*

Re: [ ] Re: psoratic arthritis anyone?

Debbie,

Try to keep in mind that it is likely that our group isn't

representative of the general RA population. It is likely that the

majority of group members have more problems than average. Also, most

posts deal with problems rather than positive experiences.

As in RA, methotrexate is a very effective treatment for psoriatic arthritis.

Not an MD

.

[Guest guest]

, I am wondering why you think this group is not representative of normal

course RA? Just curious... MicheleBB

-- In , <Rheumatoid.Arthritis.Support@...>

wrote:

>

> Debbie,

>

> Try to keep in mind that it is likely that our group isn't

> representative of the general RA population. It is likely that the

> majority of group members have more problems than average. Also, most

> posts deal with problems rather than positive experiences.

>

> As in RA, methotrexate is a very effective treatment for psoriatic arthritis.

>

>

>

> Not an MD

[Guest guest]

Michele,

What I said is that our group isn't necessarily representative of the entire

RA population.

I think that people who seek out and stay with a support group like ours

usually have more health problems than average, so, in our group, people who

aren't doing well are likely to be overrepresented. Women are probably also

overrepresented. Full-time workers may be underrepresented.

Also, only a minority of members post at all. Posts come from a very small

sample of RA patients from which to draw conclusions. There are only about

2400 people in our group (most of whom never post) and probably in the

neighborhood of 1.3 million people in the US with RA.

So, if five group members declare than Arava is awful, other group members

should keep the nature of our group and the numbers in mind before they

arrive at a conclusion.

Not an MD

On Tue, Jun 16, 2009 at 12:31 PM, Michele <michelebrooks04@...> wrote:

> , I am wondering why you think this group is not representative of

> normal course RA? Just curious... MicheleBB

[Guest guest]

Works for me....)

>

> Michele,

>

> What I said is that our group isn't necessarily representative of the entire

> RA population.

>

> I think that people who seek out and stay with a support group like ours

> usually have more health problems than average, so, in our group, people who

> aren't doing well are likely to be overrepresented. Women are probably also

> overrepresented. Full-time workers may be underrepresented.

>

> Also, only a minority of members post at all. Posts come from a very small

> sample of RA patients from which to draw conclusions. There are only about

> 2400 people in our group (most of whom never post) and probably in the

> neighborhood of 1.3 million people in the US with RA.

>

> So, if five group members declare than Arava is awful, other group members

> should keep the nature of our group and the numbers in mind before they

> arrive at a conclusion.

>

>

> Not an MD

>