Good news on Tremfya so far!

Every drug works differently for everybody, but after 6 months, not long to be sure, I’m more than pleased with Tremfya. I’m at one shot every 2 months which is a bonus after weekly injections for many drugs. The thick scale and inflamed areas of my heels and soles plus my extensive inverse psoriasis, breasts and genitals had virtually cleared within a month of the first injection. To me, it was beyond amazing. In November 2025, I had no idea I was dealing with psoriasis as cause of my disastrous skin. After the first Tremfya injection in January 2026, by mid-February, I was virtually clear of it.

Any improvement of joint and muscle, tendon pain was zero to slim for 5 months. I had a major SI inflammatory episode from left lower back to foot from March -May that was finally subdued with 2 cortisone shots. These ultrasound guided shots are slow to get around here. Not enough specialists.

With that SI joint happy, I could gradually feel improvement overall. With the last Tremfya injection joining forces, I feel I’m on the way to being more at ease in my body rather than mincing through the day on alert. Granted, the spreading effect of 2 cortisone shots may well have something to do with this, but I am prepared to give Tremfya some credit. Could be wishful thinking.

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Thanks for your good report on Tremfya. My rheumy officially decided that Taltz just wasn’t the right thing for me and seems to be losing ground. I give it a B+ for psoriasis containment but a D- for PsA. New pains have developed and old ones getting worse. The finger pain is very annoying and using a keyboard is becoming more and more painful on my index and middle finger. In 3 weeks I’ll start on Tremfya. Pain management has been getting more and more difficult. I was using Naproxin on a daily basis but after a month, my blood pressure is climbing again. The rheumy said, “All things considered, the benefit of low dose prednisone might out way the risks”. So I have a prescription for 5mg of the evil P. I have no doubts that it will help but really hate the stuff. It took me forever to get below 2.5mg without feeling awful. Tylenol arthritis helps take the edge off of pain issues but does nothing for inflammation pain. My rheumy typically blames all pain and stiffness issues on everything but PsA. My GP ordered hip x-rays and they came back stating that I little to no wear and tear or OA and that my joints and SI joints are really good. This may help convince my rheumy that my horrible groin tendon pain is actually enthesitis. So right now I just stare at my bottle of Prednisone beckoning like it wants me…

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No good choices there.

I’m hoping that cosentyx doesn’t wind up crapping out on me. I’m having gi issues that have earned me a colonoscopy at the beginning of the month. Fingers crossed I don’t need to come off it. Not that it’s so fabulous. Mentally I just can’t change again

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Sometimes we forget the mental duress from all things PsA. It’s good you mentioned it. Physical pain yells so loud sometimes but there is a constant mental aspect that just plain wears us out. We just get one test done and another is looming. The waiting for appointments and then the results of scans etc. can cause fatigue apart from physical issues. Will we regret changing biologics? What if we are worse? How long will it last? Dealing with important decisions while having many pain filled nights isn’t easy. Sleep is one of the best healers of mind and body but can be so evasive. So we march on in these battle weary bodies maintaining hope in a better day embracing little moments of laughter and joy found in healthy distractions from our reality. “Misery loves company” …and company reminds us that we are not alone even when things are at their worst. “Faith, Hope and Love, these three abide but the greatest of these is Love.”

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Amos, I’m still very pleased at how effective Tremfya is for my psoriasis. This summer’s heat waves and humidity have given it a real test. We’ve been away and more up and at 'em active in the worst summer high temps and killer humidity southern Ontario around Toronto can offer, Burlington/Oakville to be precise. House/cats sitting for family traveling in Australia on holiday and perusing the area for eventual apartment options. Downsizing, dreadful word. Moving again, worse.

Whether this explains the peculiar asymmetrical swelling parts of my mid-feet below the toes (not the toes at all) and ankles never same place, or if it’s PsA is anyone’s guess. And the swelling areas are painful as heck. Walking around one afternoon, I had shooting pain from one ankle. Never felt anything like it and I’m quite used to peripheral neuropathy nerve lightening bolts. I thought a wasp had stung me and then then the zingers on steroids. Is this the famous enthesis? My achilles tendons have virtually disappeared in swelling frequently these days. I’d say the overall joint and general muscle ache was also worse possibly aggravated by simply doing too much. Too much apartment googling no doubt explains the aggravated finger, hand and wrist pain. I have other problems in the wrist and hand department so not entirely the fault of PsA.

I am due for a shot of Tremfya next week so perhaps it’s run out of steam. Certainly, I’ve never had the weird happenings in my feet and ankles. They feel tight even when they aren’t particularly swollen. I’m hoping this is not the first signs that the Tremfya is not proving effective on the arthritis component of the PsA. I will wait to pass judgement until I recover from holiday mode and I get a hit of Tremfya into my system. It’s doing such a marvelous job on the psoriasis part.

My rheumatologist, as your’s, seems determined to explain everything as not PsA related. Is this a Canadian thing or are we two just blessed? I happily cancelled my last appointment as it was the day before we left on vacation and, frankly, I’m fed up with her. I’m having better luck with the rheumatologist turned physiatrist and sports med/ rehab doctor at Ottawa Hospital. I figure if she’s team doctor for the Canadian summer Olympics gang the past 20 years, she can probably handle me. So far so good with her. Cortisone shots as needed, phone follow-ups and timely check-ins. Refreshing change.

Sorry you’re in change of biologic mode from Taltz to Tremfya. The mental anguish is real. Change of med is usually preceded by a long period of increased pain and general angst. Then wondering if and when the next attempt will be better, worse or no different. More waiting. And, of course, rheumatologist dealings, fine if one actually works well with one’s rheumatologist. Stressful indeed if relationship is flagging.

Take care and do keep me posted on how things are going. My other online buddies are a wonderful bunch and we share so much in common , medical issues and other, but it is an RA group and not much advice or sharing of PsA though some with psoriasis. I’m grandfathered in, considered alumnae. I’d miss them.

Thanks @Janet I appreciate your post! I am a bit apprehensive if not skeptical that Tremfya will work any better than the others but have no choice but to try. My concern too is that if it doesn’t work, my rheumy doesn’t seem very objective that there is much else to try. Maybe that is why as a last resort she gave a prescription for 5 mg prednisone. That will stay on the shelf unless I get in such a bad way that I deem it better than without. I’m still experimenting with my 1973 Mood Ring to see if It can be used as a PsA Flare Early Warning device. That way we could all know what to do before the flare hits. I haven’t decided if long term staring at a Lava Lamp is a natural way of being healed but until I know, I’ll stay on the biologics and it makes some of my friends happy that I am trying “natural alternative ways”. You should see the look on their face when they tell me I should try…. and I respond with, “Thanks but I’m currently using the Lava Lamp method and I can’t mix therapies.”

I officiated a large funeral a few days ago well soaked in naproxen and Tylenol Arthritis meds. Add a good amount of strong coffee and BAM…ready to go! My biggest issue in public is all the well wishers insisting on shaking hands. Inevitably some gorilla size farm acquaintance grabbed my hand and gave it one of those “I’m stronger than you” squeezes. When I refused to shake the next cave man’s hand explaining sore fingers, he said, “C’mon, that’s no excuse.” I walked away before my mouth got me in trouble. Oh well, such is life and we press on. Here’s hoping… again! Let’s all keep laughing til it hurts. Why not? everything else hurts anyway! Peace.

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Having lived with controlled treatment-resistant depression for 30 years, I monitor my moods closely, so do my psychiatrists. I think any of us that deal with mood disorders must pay close attention to them because teh pain can sneak up on us in the form of depression. And, like the PSA, if it get s good foothold before we do anything about it, it makes it harder to treat and deal with.

My advice to anyone is to not refrain from treating the whole person. If you feel yourself getting down from the pain, don’t wait to see if it gets better unless the pain is going away. It is too easy to treat depression now to let it be part of our problems.