psoriatic arthritis

Hi, I am not a patient but have a daughter of 23 who developed Psoriasis at 20 and today is having to use a Power Wheelchair as one of her knees has given up due to severe Psoriatic Arthritis - that rapid!  Also my sister took methotrexate for Polyfibromyalgia.  I don't know if you realise but Methotrexate is a chemotherapy drug albeit used in these cases in small doses.  That notwithstanding the side effects are similiar to chemo; nausea, hair thininng etc..again very patient specific so no scare mongering.  My daughter doesn't work Thurs and Fridays now due to taking methotrexate on Wed evenings and also Embrel injections (?) following the ineffect of Humira.  What we found is she had to go through lots of medicine, inc Sulfalazine (?) as., just like depression, different meds suit different people.  Honestly, yes methotrexate has some cr*ppy side effects, BUT, my daughter uses it and increases when necessary as it is a vital component of her medication regime.  By coincidence I am in fact diagnoses clinically depressed, and at a cognitive session at least a third of the group suffered pain related chronic illnesses.  My daughter has been angry, frustrated, cried etc.. over the last 4 years.  Constant pain, combined with associated medication and pain relief is life changing.  I am not a doctor but a mother; perhaps you are depressed because at this time your illness is not in remission nor under control.  Give the methotrexate a chance but if in 3 months no better challenge your rheum clinic as there are other medications out there such as Humira, Indometicin and Enbral.  You have to fight, don't give up.  Not sure if this helps but if it hasn't...sorry.  PS My daughter currently prescription reads: Indemeticin, Tramadol, Amitriptyline, Paracetamol, Dovovbet, Xamiol, Balium Bath oil, Methotrexate and Enbral injections (both weekly).  It's not a badge of honour just saying, fight for help and manage your illness as best you can so you can 'live'. Lastly my sister found methotrexate's side effects were too much so she doesn't use it.  Again, different people, different reactions.

I just realised your post is 3 years old! Obviously you have moved on.  Sorry

I do not have psoriatic arthritis.  But I get pain from psoriatic enthospathy where the tendons connect to the bones.  I researched as much as I could, as I tend to get reactions from most medication.  I found a site that recommended ginger and tumeric.

This may not work for everyone, but I have found that it keeps the pain at a tolerable level.   All I do is use a twinings ginger tea bag with a small amount of tumeric powder stirred into the drink while it is hot. As I also love curries, I make sure that they contain a good amount of ginger and tumeric.  I hope this may be of help to  someone

hi, i tried all these too and hated them, I am now on golimumab, which seems to be doing the trick....ask about it! its a once per month injection.