I am wondering if joint supplements help with PsA ? Anyone have any suggestions, what works and what doesn't?
The type of joint damage from PsA is not generally the same as Osteosrthritis for which the bulk of claims for the supplements are made. We get a lot of Joint-space narrowing and akylosing. adding to cartlige isn't necessarily a good thing, and CAN be a bad thing. (assuming they work at all)
Chondroitin is a carbohydrate (usually made from cow cartlige) which runs counter to the anti-inflammatory diet......Glucosamine supplements are derived from shellfish shells, I only say this because my wife had a reaction that put her in the hospital being allergic to shellfish.
Thank you, I not only have PsA I have fibromyalgia also. Because I can not hold down a job I have lost insurance, I have tried to keep a job but when it storms I get so bad it is hard to get out of bed, if I stress I have the same problems. I thought maybe if I took some joint meds just maybe I can start feeling better so I can get back to work. I also go into a fibrofog and can not think or remember things as I use too. When I was on meds like remicade, I was sick half way through the month and found myself in the bathroom more then anywhere else, this did not eliminate all the pain because of the fibro, I was not diagnosed with fibro until right before insurance ran out.
Where are you at Charley? Are you getting assistance with meds? Or even getting them prescribed? There are assistance programs for uninsured on the meds and most state have a voc rehab program to get you up and ready to work or retrained for an appropriate job. As I recall you doing personal care were you not? Pretty brutal stuff with fibro or PsA...... I may have some contacts (or know someone who does)
I am in Montana. I am at a loss as to what I can physically do for work, I just tried to work as a secretary and found myself having difficulty remembering things when I was having a bad day. I have thought about moving somewhere where the metric pressure wasn't so erratic in hopes that this might help. I do have a family dr. who is helping me with the prescriptions of pain meds and gabapentin, It would be real nice to be able to take embrel again, I know that it help a lot at the very beginning. It is really hard to find a job when you limp and have scabs all over your body. I have been turned down for work because I can not move. I have had ssi tell me why can't I just get a job at walmart as a greeter, that was so humiliating and it does not give me medical nor can I stand for that long to even do that kind of job.
I have a college education and have been reduced to nothing because of these diseases. I can't remember things, I can't move and I am in pain 24 hours a day at the age of 39. I have had to give up everything, I no longer own any horses or ride because I can not physically get on them nor feed them without help. I feel like my body has become an 80 year old person.
charley said:
I am in Montana. I am at a loss as to what I can physically do for work, I just tried to work as a secretary and found myself having difficulty remembering things when I was having a bad day. I have thought about moving somewhere where the metric pressure wasn't so erratic in hopes that this might help. I do have a family dr. who is helping me with the prescriptions of pain meds and gabapentin, It would be real nice to be able to take embrel again, I know that it help a lot at the very beginning. It is really hard to find a job when you limp and have scabs all over your body. I have been turned down for work because I can not move. I have had ssi tell me why can't I just get a job at walmart as a greeter, that was so humiliating and it does not give me medical nor can I stand for that long to even do that kind of job.
Where at in Montana? Just so happens I have a few contacts around and about.......
Voc rehab in Montana is AMAZING
For enbrel go here: http://www.encouragefoundation.com/index.jsp Download the forms, fill out what you can take them to your Doc and have him finish and fax in for you. (along with the script of course) You can call the number on the site and they are very helpful. It only takes a few days.
charley said:
I am in Montana. I am at a loss as to what I can physically do for work, I just tried to work as a secretary and found myself having difficulty remembering things when I was having a bad day. I have thought about moving somewhere where the metric pressure wasn't so erratic in hopes that this might help. I do have a family dr. who is helping me with the prescriptions of pain meds and gabapentin, It would be real nice to be able to take embrel again, I know that it help a lot at the very beginning. It is really hard to find a job when you limp and have scabs all over your body. I have been turned down for work because I can not move. I have had ssi tell me why can't I just get a job at walmart as a greeter, that was so humiliating and it does not give me medical nor can I stand for that long to even do that kind of job.
Thank you so much your are an angel. I want to work even if it's only a few hours a day, it gives me meaning. It is hard to change your life around PsA. I am so thankful for this sight.
I live close to Billings MT and my Dr. is in Laurel MT
The SSI people are pretty much jerks as you have found out.
Call ■■■■■■■■ after you go through this: http://www.dphhs.mt.gov/detd/vocrehab/documents/mvrapplicationpacke... and see if it works for you. They will get you to the right docs on the right meds and all the adaptive stuff you need assuming three things (copied form the site:)
- You have a physical disability
- Your disability prevents you from getting or keeping a job
- You want to work and you need VR services to help you get or keep a job
Jeez, Charley! I’m sorry you are having such a horrible time. I want to help you, but there is a small issue of distance! Do you have family or friends who can help you get through some of the processes that Lamb mentioned? You could use some support, especially with your lapses in clear thought, in completing paper work and getting things correctly submitted.
I do have some great friends, they have been there for me and they don't question the pain I can get in. They use me as a walking weather person, I can always tell when the storms coming almost down to the min lol. Thank you for your concern and help. It can be so frustrating going from being active to being stuck in side, I fought it for years by overdoing it and suffering. It has been worse for me this year then last and I think it is because of all the storms. Last year it was a real dry year so I had an okay summer, this year it has stormed almost every night so there hasn't been much relief. I have thought about moving to a climate that does not change so much even though I love it here in Montana it might not be the best thing for me physically.