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fleckbass
fleckbass

I've been diagnosed with seronegative rheumatoid arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis is probable. I have been spiraling downhill. The meds I've tried have been Steroids, Sulfasalizine, Humira and Enbrel. I haven't been able to stay on any of them for long because they make my overall condition worse. Any others have this kind of experience?

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • laura333
    laura333 fleckbass

    Posted

    Hi Fleckbass!

    First of all welcome! Although I know you wish you weren't diagnosed with this awful condition I have gound these forums really help a lot.

    I have too tried Sulfasalizine and unfortunately this had no positive affect on me at all although I tried it for some time. I also had around three steriod injections a year but I think I have had more this year and sometimes the injections help and sometimes they don't. The most affective injection I had was when my knee was so swollen they had to drain fluid out and inject steriod into my knee and I felt benefit instantly the next day.

    My next medication I tried was methotrexate which I thought was helping but my RA doctor said it actually wasn't and the side affects weere so bad I was throwing up 4 days after taking it so that medication stopped.

    I am currently taking steriod tablets which I haven't seen full improvement but a little. This is just until I wait for my next medication which I should start in two weeks and that will be Enbrel with also a small dosage of methotrexate. This will be injection form.

    I wouldn't worry at the moment because you still have other options open and they're plenty of people in your boat like me where things just don't work and it's a case of trial and error. Sometimes it's not just one medication but two that work together to help you. If you do have concerns I would definitely speak with your doctor.

    Also is it tablet or injection form you take? I have had both and injection gorn definitely worked better for me. I know methotrexate works for a lot of people so that might be worth trying and mentioning to your doctor.

    Hope this helps!

  • fleckbass
    fleckbass

    Posted

    Thanks for the reply Laura. Seems youre asking about steroids Ive taken. When things started to get bad for me a few years a go. I had epidural steroid injections in the lumbar region for DDD. I also had CT guided nerve root blocks in my neck. Neither seemed to do much. I ended up with a cervical fusion that helped greatly.

    I was then diagnosed with seronegative rheumatoid and the steroids were prednisone and methylprednisone pills. Cant stand to be on them. I did get a steroid rush and was able to perform intense activity at times but this was only after increasing dosage. At that point I felt like I was poisoned and had terrible reflux.

    • laura333
      laura333 fleckbass

      Posted

      Sounds like you've tried quite a few things! Which is a pain and I wish they just knew what would be perfect to help everyone but unfortunately everyone is different and is just a case of trying different things!

      Has your doctor advised or the next steps or what the next thing is they will try?

    • fleckbass
      fleckbass laura333

      Posted

      I am going to call today and see what the plan may be
  • lucynewas
    lucynewas fleckbass

    Posted

    Hello there - don't lose hope.  The most important thing about this is to give each treatment a chance to work - and most of them take 3 - 6 months to get a therapeutic level in your system.

    Steroids in the short term will really help.  

    Look up diet and other lifestyle factors that can help you.

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