Your story sounds so much like mine.. except I didnt have the nausea like u do... I bet that, in itself is worse than the pain you get with PsA....
I have been on Enbrel since Dec 16th.... and it is a wonder drug for me.... I dont have the severe dehabilitating pain in my lower back anymore.. that was the worst.. i can handle the day to day arthritis... lol.... but with me.. i have had no side effects at all... except a bruise here and there and a red rash... which goes away before the next shot comes due... so for that little bit... I can trade it... for sure...
I waited two months before taking the Enbrel because i was scared of needles... geez.. now that I look back on it... why did I wait... I had one dr. tell me... and it really made sense to me.. in all aspects of this dreaded disease... He said very emphatically - DON'T BE AFRAID TO BE AFRAID!! It really hit home.. because every day I was afraid to move.. because I was afraid because of the pain.. I would hurt myself somehow.. does that make sense?
Now - I am almost pain free..... and with having Fibromyalgia too - I think I'm in pretty good shape - for the shape I'm in.. lol...
The "Hysterics" are the ones who don't try to manage their disease..... ("You don't understand, I hurt too much to exercise, if you felt like I did, you'd understand") They miss any improvement (and opportunities) because they are so busy sitting on their hineys waiting for a magic pill they never fight back.)
Naltrexone (or Vivitrol, Revia and Depade)does work for some folks, but its USUALLY because the source of their pain is not inflammatory disease related but rather the result of Hyper-analgesia. Another way of saying poor treatment early on. This would be treatment that concentrated on SYMPTOMS not disease. Naltrexone saved my life. BUT it was a small piece of the puzzle. It was two years of pure hell rebuilding my body and my "pain management abilities" that had been nearly destroyed by years "pain management" (opioids)
There are some autoimmune uses for lo-dose Naltrexone primarily Fibro, MS, and HIV. No studies have found an effect on inflammatory processes. Years ago we had one of our spectrum kiddos using it, but it has been replace with a more effective beta blocker since.
Its worth a try, but PAIN is only a piece of this puzzle.
Thank you to all that replied...I am learning so much from you, and appreciate that you have been there, and are willing to pass on your experiences. It's so nice to know that there are options, esp. now.
Tues. I went to the Rheumy, and got my first injection of Enbrel. I was excited to try something new (I know, that doesn't sound quite right, but I'm a little desperate), and thrilled to have the MXT suspended, at least, for now. On our way home, I turned to look at my mom, who was driving, and felt this pull on the back of my head. Afraid to move my neck, I reached back, and to my surprise, found an incredibly distended tendon,/ muscle stretching the skin, from the back of my scalp down into my shoulder. It looks like I'm growing wings, one at a time. I always thought I'd get my halo first. Haha. Dx...Torticollis. Side effect. Rare. Of course. So, my search for Tx continues. But the weather is beautiful here, in No. Calif., I have so much to be thankful for, and life is looking WAAAY up, since I went off the MXT...I will certainly ask about these other meds, and so appreciate all of your help and strength. I hope you're having a wonderful day! Kris
I am about to move on to Humira...Mtx worked well for me for several years; it doesn't work so well anymore. I have high hopes for this new move...even if it is self-injected, and I'm phobic of needles.
PinkCamoChick (love the name!), you won't believe how easy it is! Self inj. is not painful, really...The needles are small. I prefer it to the auto inject, where you have no control of how fast the solution goes in. Believe me, it's a breeze! Good luck, and if you think about it, will you let me know how it goes for you? Thanks!
PinkCamoChick said:
I am about to move on to Humira...Mtx worked well for me for several years; it doesn't work so well anymore. I have high hopes for this new move...even if it is self-injected, and I'm phobic of needles.
There are studies that show that people create antibodies to the biologics. When the antibodies are produced the drug stops working. As far as I have been able to find (believe me, I looked for several hours) this process is irreversible. There are a finite number of biologic drugs at this point, so there is a real upside to taking MTX with them. Methotrexate helps prevent the formation of antibodies to biologic medications which is why they are often prescribed together. Also, patients who take both have better success in stopping progression of joint damage. Studies are below.
Just took my fourth dose of Mtx, I know it takes several weeks to kick in, I’m only on it, nothing else. By the sounds of it no one has had any success with Mtx alone? Has anyone had success from just taking Mtx, I’m hopeful I don’t have to progress to Biologics, but it sounds like that is probably the case.
If Mtx doesn’t work why is everyone still taking it with Biologics, why not stop that and only take Biologics?
Thanks for the info! I'm going to toughen up and just do it. I refuse to be in the shape I'm in right now this summer. No more swollen Achilles and pain! :) So you use the needle rather than the pen? I was thinking the pen would be easier with my "dumb fear."
4hooves4me said:
PinkCamoChick (love the name!), you won't believe how easy it is! Self inj. is not painful, really...The needles are small. I prefer it to the auto inject, where you have no control of how fast the solution goes in. Believe me, it's a breeze! Good luck, and if you think about it, will you let me know how it goes for you? Thanks!
PinkCamoChick said:
I am about to move on to Humira...Mtx worked well for me for several years; it doesn't work so well anymore. I have high hopes for this new move...even if it is self-injected, and I'm phobic of needles.
Right now, I use the pen, I liked the regular syringe better...You can control the flow, and it was virtually painless for me. And it's not a "dumb fear," I live on a ranch, and had given inj. for years, to others...I shook like a milkshake, the first time I had to do it to myself. But the fear soon went away, when I realized how easy it was... :)
PinkCamoChick said:
Thanks for the info! I'm going to toughen up and just do it. I refuse to be in the shape I'm in right now this summer. No more swollen Achilles and pain! :) So you use the needle rather than the pen? I was thinking the pen would be easier with my "dumb fear."
4hooves4me said:
PinkCamoChick (love the name!), you won't believe how easy it is! Self inj. is not painful, really...The needles are small. I prefer it to the auto inject, where you have no control of how fast the solution goes in. Believe me, it's a breeze! Good luck, and if you think about it, will you let me know how it goes for you? Thanks!
PinkCamoChick said:
I am about to move on to Humira...Mtx worked well for me for several years; it doesn't work so well anymore. I have high hopes for this new move...even if it is self-injected, and I'm phobic of needles.
You have really calmed my fears! When I go to my rheum. in a couple of weeks, it will be with bravery! :) Thanks!!!!!
4hooves4me said:
Right now, I use the pen, I liked the regular syringe better...You can control the flow, and it was virtually painless for me. And it's not a "dumb fear," I live on a ranch, and had given inj. for years, to others...I shook like a milkshake, the first time I had to do it to myself. But the fear soon went away, when I realized how easy it was... :)
PinkCamoChick said:
Thanks for the info! I'm going to toughen up and just do it. I refuse to be in the shape I'm in right now this summer. No more swollen Achilles and pain! :) So you use the needle rather than the pen? I was thinking the pen would be easier with my "dumb fear."
4hooves4me said:
PinkCamoChick (love the name!), you won't believe how easy it is! Self inj. is not painful, really...The needles are small. I prefer it to the auto inject, where you have no control of how fast the solution goes in. Believe me, it's a breeze! Good luck, and if you think about it, will you let me know how it goes for you? Thanks!
PinkCamoChick said:
I am about to move on to Humira...Mtx worked well for me for several years; it doesn't work so well anymore. I have high hopes for this new move...even if it is self-injected, and I'm phobic of needles.