Mtx and feet

[Guest guest]

I'm 31, and have managed thedisease pretty well by following these guidelines, and taking Vioxx daily.The only thing that REALLY bothers me right now are my feet. Everythingelse is great - but my feet bother me so much, I'm actually considering aDMARD. I'm going to see a specialist about this in a couple of weeks, butI'd like to get a sense from some real people out there about what finallypushed you over the edge to start taking a DMARD, and how old you were whenyou started. I've also heard people say that Methotrexate, althougheffective on controlling the overall symptoms of PA, had little effect ontheir feet. Anyone out there with foot problems and solutions - I'd loveto hear from you!!!

Hi ,

I think you will be interested to hear my experience with MTX. I am 34and have been it about 16 mos. I really resisted taking it at first but when my sed rate was in the 50's and I needed help sitting up in the morning, I knew it was time. Incidentally, my PA started in my feet about 2 years ago. It got to the point that I could barely walk and literally preferred to crawl around my house rather that stand on my feet. I became a virtual recluse. Anyway, it took a long time to get to whwere I felt well enough to go shopping or take a short walk, but I did eventually get there. I self-inject 22.5 mg of mtx weekly. i also take Vioxx, Folic Acid , Doxycycline and Darvocet for pain. My pain now is greatly reduced and usually I am fatigued and achy most of the day and only feel stiff and in pain in the evenings. I think that's because I take the Vioxx in the evening so as it wears off, I feel a little worse. I do have a life now and manage muc, much better since going on MTX. If you have any other questions I can help you with, feel free to email personally.

in FL

[Guest guest]

> I'm 31, and have managed the

> disease pretty well by following these guidelines, and taking Vioxx

daily.

> The only thing that REALLY bothers me right now are my feet.

Everything

> else is great - but my feet bother me so much, I'm actually

considering a

> DMARD. I'm going to see a specialist about this in a couple of

weeks, but

> I'd like to get a sense from some real people out there about what

finally

> pushed you over the edge to start taking a DMARD, and how old you

were when

> you started. I've also heard people say that Methotrexate, although

> effective on controlling the overall symptoms of PA, had little

effect on

> their feet. Anyone out there with foot problems and solutions - I'd

love

> to hear from you!!!

>

> Hi ,

>

> I think you will be interested to hear my experience with MTX. I am

34and have been it about 16 mos. I really resisted taking it at first

but when my sed rate was in the 50's and I needed help sitting up in

the morning, I knew it was time. Incidentally, my PA started in my

feet about 2 years ago. It got to the point that I could barely walk

and literally preferred to crawl around my house rather that stand on

my feet. I became a virtual recluse. Anyway, it took a long time to

get to whwere I felt well enough to go shopping or take a short walk,

but I did eventually get there. I self-inject 22.5 mg of mtx weekly.

i also take Vioxx, Folic Acid , Doxycycline and Darvocet for pain. My

pain now is greatly reduced and usually I am fatigued and achy most of

the day and only feel stiff and in pain in the evenings. I think

that's because I take the Vioxx in the evening so as it wears off, I

feel a little worse. I do have a life now and manage muc, much

better since going on MTX. If you have any other questions I can help

you with, feel free to email personally.

>

> in FL

Hello,

I'm 30, I just started taking mtx about 2 months ago, as well as vioxx

and folic acid. I am also fatigued and achey, but the pain is

manageable with the vioxx. that is, I can do things like walk up and

down stairs and move the covers off my body in bed in the morning,

which I can't do without the vioxx. my feet are also affected, but

the pain is manageable with the meds. I am currently taking 10 mg of

mtx/week. maybe my doc will increase the prescription because it's

not doing anything for me yet, but all I know is I have to be patient

and have not expectations. patience is an important part of the

treatment since it takes so long to figure out if a drug is working!

I ended up finally taking a dmard because I can't raise my arms above

my shoulders, have some swollen fingers & toes, stiff neck, bad

knee... you know, multiple problems. My sedimentation level is high

too. hopefully the mtx will do something. my unprofessional opinion

is try starting it now before you start to have multiple joints

affected. mtx supposedly helps prevent the pa from spreading.

I also had (and have) reservations about taking a serious med that I

may have to take for the rest of my life, but the pain and depression

and inability to do simple activities made me take the big step.

good luck,

mika