Hey there!
After about a year of reading forums and blogs I finally joined… Sometimes it’s hard to find answers on specific questions and I figured this would be a great place to find advice. Thank you for the add.
My name is Shane, I’m 26 years old and suffering from PSA. I was a very active guy and still try to be, but pain in my knees, feet, back, wrists and fingers sometimes prevent that. After about 4 years of battling pain and other symptoms, I was finally diagnosed with PSA after about referral to a rheumatologist. I’ve had lots of sports related injuries/surgeries over the years, and all of them came back to haunt me almost at once. After MRI’s, x-rays, specialists, and surgeons, my primary doctor referred me to the local rheumatologist. Quickly from one psoriasis spot on my elbow she found the problem. I had never heard of PSA, or met anyone else with the same disease.
At first I tried Diclofenac, which helped with swelling and stiffness a bit. But no big difference. After that methotrexate injection, which after 6 days a felt so terrible a didn’t leave my bed for a few days. Before I could try anything else I had to drop my insurance because I couldn’t afford it. For the last 10 months I’ve really just drank a lot, almost instant help. But now I’ve purchased a new insurance plan, saw my Dr again, got lectured about my self treatment methods, and am waiting for my insurance to cover most of EMBRAL.
I’ve tried the special diet, quit chewing tobacco for good, and tried vitamins/supplements. Very little luck. Though I will say, the tobacco part did make a slight difference in stiffness.
Has anyone ever had any luck with EMBRAL? My doc says it’ll basically cure everything quite quickly.
I want to feel better. It’s getting to the point that after sitting for a decent period of time I almost can’t walk once getting up. My hands are so weak I can’t grip tight. I’m 26, 215 pounds of mostly muscle. Any advice would help!
Hey welcome! I’ve never heard of embral… it sounds like enbrel though could it be that? Not that i know much about enbrel though other then that it’s a biological.
It might take a while to find the right drug for you but most people do find it! And they live pretty much normal lives. (You don’t find them on the internet much though so don’t get discouraged from reading around)
Hi Shane, sorry you had to look for us, but welcome, and glad you found us!
Like Cynthia, I’m guessing you mean Enbrel, which is a biological DMARD (Disease Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drug). Give it a good research (use the search here, its great and you’ll find plenty of info).
In summary though, trials show that it provides good relief to 60 - 70% of people, and greatly slows progression of the disease. I found it great - and it was effective very quickly (obvious results within 4 weeks), and I too got little relief from methotrexate (I’m on Humira now because Enbrel didn’t address some tummy issues most don’t have, but it was great for pain, stiffness and fatigue).
I’m really pleased your Rheumy is taking it seriously and you seem to be on the right track. Only thing I’d add is that 215 pounds of mostly muscle is going to get pretty hard to move around as you lose condition - so do everything in your power to prevent that! Get on an exercise program, even just a small one, asap, particularly addressing muscle building (as functional exercise like sport which requires balance and control is much harder to do whilst your joints aren’t very stable and with fatigue). Once you get on a medication that works for you, you’all be able to return to near-normal levels of sport and functional activity, but it will be harder if your muscles are weak.
Hope the site helps you as much as it did me, and remember we are always here for support
glad your rheumatologist is trying to get you on Enbrel. It’s a total bummer that you’re much less active right now. Hopefully, though, you’ll regain your energy and can return to some of your activities soon. Often members of the site are around when they’re in the doldrums but kind of fade away over time as their treatments help them regain a more typical life! Here’s hoping that you’ll quickly be back to the things you enjoy.
Thank you! I hope it works out. Next in line if it doesn’t was Humira. I do still try to keep active. Naturally I maintain muscle mass which is nice… Its mostly my Joints that are preventing me from regular activities. I do try to eat healthy, very little sugar, zero fast food, minor grains/dairy. My main activity that would work with my wrists was biking. Id bike for about 1-2 hours days a week up until about 2-3 months ago. My knees really starting disliking it.
