psoriatic arthritis

has your consultant suggested an alternative? I couldn't tolerate methotrexate or sulphasalazine so now take leflunomide plus a humira injection once every 2 weeks. My PsA improved massively when the biological was introduced. A word of caution, the 1st bio, Enbrel, appeared to cause a huge flare up of psoriasis. Perhaps a coincidence but the research I've done suggests that humira is tolerated better by us PsA sufferers.

Sorry to hear that you are suffering so much. 

Different drugs have different actions and side effects so although you had side effects with methotrexate you probably won't with something else. Try whatever they can offer you. I know how you are feeling, I've been through all the list of drugs but they either don't work or I can't tolerate them ! Good luck, hope you find something that does the trick. Lots of positive stories here.

i am also on Methotrexate as well as sulfasalazine and taking Tramadol and Co codomol for the pain. Mainly in my hands and feet. i Started on Sulfaslazine about 14/15 months ago but when that stopped working i was introduced to Methotrexate. the Problem as you said is that our bodies get used to one drug and we have to take another to help us. Yes its not what we want to do but you cant give up. it might be a case of lowering one drug to take another but this is the only way we can make our lives better, I have been lucky that neither have had much side effects. I know its not nice im starting to have anoth flare up but to ease the pain in my joints i am willing to try what ever they offer me. My advice is to have a good chat with you specialist and find out which drug he can give you with the least side effects i also been reading that some foods can inflame our condition both in the joints and on the rash. You have got it worse than i have as mine never started until i was 27 i am now nearly 52 but the condition has got worse over the last 3 years when i found out i had got the arthritis too. It is hell i know but please dont let it grind you down easier said than done i know. Look at other factors like foods you eat this might help i find if i have a lot of sugar my joints are really bad for a few days. i hope some of this might help. Keep your spirits up ........... Rob 

Not sure if this will help you but my story was I started with psoriasis when I was 37 and it quickly turned into arthritis in my neck and for six week was in agony new baby and a toddler and demented ! Parents took me on holiday and by chance we were passing a Chinese herb and acupuncture place in Cheltenham. So my mum said go and see if they can help you ? Well I sat next to this boy who said he used the herbs and they worked and he had been crippled with arthritis but it was expensive how much I said!! He said its £138 a month well that was out of the question. By this point I was about to leave when the Dr called me in . He said show me your tongue took my pulse put three bottles of herbs on the counter and said it would be £138 I said I am sorry but I can't afford that so he said well you can have a tablet form which is £30 but will take 3-6 weeks to work so my mum said they would pay and I could pay for the acupuncture. So there I was in this shop with a Chinese man Sticking needles in my neck and lighting herbs in glass bulbs and cupping my neck. I couldn't believe it 30 minutes later he took them out. I got of the bed and could move my neck I cried . I took the herbs religiously by two weeks my psoriasis (guttate ) had gone. I never went back and it hasn't bothered me for 15 years until 3 weeks ago when I started with a rash swollen painful ankles and knees sacroiliac joints and couldnt walk. Then the scariest thing happened my eye started to go red couldn't stand the light and I knew I had iritis as I had done ophthalmic nursing as a nurse 30 years ago mind !! So hot footed it to Liverpool to our eye hospital and was diagnosed with bilateral uveitis thank goodness I went as soon as possible as hopefully I have saved my sight. So am having intensive steroid drops two hoiurly and thi vs improving slowly. But yesterday I was reading an article about 75 mg of aspirin and so took a dose. Well today my swelli g has all but gone and I can mobilise can't think it's the aspirin very strange but worth talking to your gp about. I don't kjow but I was just about to drive to cheltenham well my husband was as I have been desperate and the thought of losing some sight was terrifying. Just thought I would share my journey I do hope you get relief and maybe you have tried it in the past but maybe worth a shot . Isn't it an awful disease lets hope things settle Nikki x

Ask about the injects if they keep you on the MTX

I am having a flare up at the minute and I am in so much pain. I am only on anti inflammation medication and Tramadol at the minute but have been referred to rhumatology again. Hopefully to start on DMARDS. I am also a nurse who works 3 days a week 12 hour shifts I haven't taken any time off yet but have been close. Anyone have advice on overcoming the pain and the fatigue I could sleep all day. Thanks.

I inject MTHX and haven't really had any side effects, i would ask about changing if you don't inject. My PsA isnt to bad at the momment not sure why tho! I had a check up yesterday and have 28 bad joints and 11 swollen nearly all in my fingers.I tried sulphasazine and didnt like it but you need to try them all before they will give you a biologic ( if you want to try them) which i start soon.

I'm really low at present and would appreciate some cheer. I have been off my drugs (humira and leflunomide ) since March due to severe pneumonia - the risk with immunosuppressive drugs . apparently I should have been given the pneumonia vaccine when I was diagnosed in 2011. So, for the rest of you guys, make sure you getting it from your GP. It lasts 10 years. I have been unable to restart PsA drugs as I'm getting a psoriatic big toe nail and bed removed this Fri, so have to wait til wound heals. I'm in huge pain all over, particularly hands, wrists and knees. I have no energy whatsoever. So generally feeling sorry for myself. I hhad to give up work due to PsA and pustular psoriasis but the NHS pension agency have declined my application and 1st appeal. I'm preparing a 2nd appeal but feel so despondent and fatigued that I'm losing heart. Help appreciated. S x