I really don't like the idea of being on medication all the time. I can't help but think that there must be another option to manage and ensure PsA doesn't get worse or spread. I worry about medication making me more sick or causing other health problems. Mtx made me brain dead...I couldn't do anything right, especially at work and I felt like I couldn't think straight. No excuse for it since I've been doing the same type of work since 2003. Now that I've been off the Mtx for a few weeks now I feel so much better but my hand is a little more stiff and swollen. I worry the only solutions that doctors care about is to give me more medication. I have to believe for me there is another way to control it.
My son was diagnosed with colitis over a year ago. One drug the doctor kept insisting he take, my son refused. He now is controlling his colitis through is diet....something the doctors all said wouldn't help.
Amazing when I now I find myself looking to my son for understanding and inspiration :)
I am so glad your son is doing so well with no meds on diet alone.
I have 2 TKR's( thats total knee replacements) and more joints that are eroding. The meds I take are helping. Like Humira. The 5 weeks off humira taught me that one.
Is your brain fog better off MTX or are you just feeling better because you are not suffering the SE's of MTX? You indicate that your hand is more stiff and swollen. Was this a problem prior to starting MTX or something new? I fear the disease and not the meds. I have 2 joint replacements because of PsA . I will be in the future having other surgical procedures. I am realistic about this, it is going to happen. Because I am on meds I lead a relatively pain free life. Off meds and I need help dressing, walking, holding a book, washing my hair. I wish you could talk to my rheumatologist for 5 minutes or my biologics nurse. thats all I got to say about diet to control PsA. good luck to you
I’ve tried the anti inflammatory diet and gluten free and neither did as well as just cleaning up my diet. I control my pain with working out. If my hips hurt I walk and jog to loosen everything up. My shoulders hurt, I do some kenpo/boxing, it’s a bit painful at first but once everything gets warmed up there’s a huge relief! The weightloss has been a huge plus too!
I do feel better on a wheat free diet, but my pain and stiffness is not improved by it just the fatigue…but I hate the fatigue! I agree with shutterbug on the exercise, I’ve had to cut down on my swimming as its aggrievating my SI pain but I walk a lot and go Shibashi Tai Chi everyday (taught to me by the OT dept at my hospital) and this keeps me moving…looking into buying a pushbike too! I also dance around my kitchen…much to the amusement of my 2 sons (19 and 26) and their mates, who think I’m having a mid life crisis! But it does wonders for my mood I’ve asked them for a disco ball light for my 50th but they think I’m joking! Lol
I haven't been off the Mtx very long....but my brain definitely works better without it. I don't know if I can control some of PsA with diet but I need to try. The swelling is occasional....I have a physical job and some days it irritates my hand and tends to well up the next day.
I do have irreversible damage since I had this problem for a long time before is was actually diagnosed properly. Due to this I find myself trusting the medical professionals a little less. The pain was gone on Mtx ...though it would still swell up some days. But I permanently have an enlarged finger and knuckle which I'm sure is nothing compared to the problems other people have.
I did find the day after I had pasta my had swelled up...not sure if the issue is related but I'm definitely going to try Gluten Free. I've started to take Glucosamine. I know it's only proven to help osteoarthritis but I figure it's worth a try. I'm just terrified of PsA spreading to other areas.
How are the side effects of Humira ? Are you having any ?
Thanks for the input. I'm going to try that too. I do exercise the area and try to use it as I normally would. I only have trouble with that when trying to turn some door knobs and carry heavy grocery bags etc...
Shutterbug said:
I've tried the anti inflammatory diet and gluten free and neither did as well as just cleaning up my diet. I control my pain with working out. If my hips hurt I walk and jog to loosen everything up. My shoulders hurt, I do some kenpo/boxing, it's a bit painful at first but once everything gets warmed up there's a huge relief! The weightloss has been a huge plus too!
I understand...my son is 21, he thinks I'm crazy too ! The fatigue on Mtx I found incredible. I was so out of it, it took my a long while to understand that it was the medication...not me. At times I couldn't even carry on a conversation properly. It was like all my knowledge of the English language was gone. Alzeimers runs in my family, so this scared me to the point I can't even describe. It seems like many people find wheat free to help. That's next on my list. Thanks so much.
Louise Hoy said:
I do feel better on a wheat free diet, but my pain and stiffness is not improved by it just the fatigue.......but I hate the fatigue! I agree with shutterbug on the exercise, I've had to cut down on my swimming as its aggrievating my SI pain but I walk a lot and go Shibashi Tai Chi everyday (taught to me by the OT dept at my hospital) and this keeps me moving.......looking into buying a pushbike too! I also dance around my kitchen.......much to the amusement of my 2 sons (19 and 26) and their mates, who think I'm having a mid life crisis! But it does wonders for my mood :) I've asked them for a disco ball light for my 50th but they think I'm joking! Lol
For years I didn't take meds and tried to control my (then undiagnosed) pain, swelling, and fatigue through diet and other things.Paraffin wax treatments work well on my hands. Finding a balance between movement and rest seems to be key for me.
My PsA advanced to the point where it was doing major damage to my joints, and started involving just about every joint in my body. That's when I finally got my diagnosis (and canes, and wheelchair) and decided to go on meds. That was the point where I started fearing the disease more than the medications. Eventually I ended up on Remicade, which was life-changing for me. I then had to go off of it because of possible complications, but am hoping to go back on it asap.
The two ti es I went offMTX for my surgeries my sed rste went up to 48 and 68. At 68 I was positivly ill. I love my mtx brain fog or not. Off the meds I cannot think. Ican always tell if my sed is up even afewpoints. As for Humira I have hd no SEs whatsoever. So far my sed rate is usually between 4 & 9. Dini said:
I haven't been off the Mtx very long....but my brain definitely works better without it. I don't know if I can control some of PsA with diet but I need to try. The swelling is occasional....I have a physical job and some days it irritates my hand and tends to well up the next day.
I do have irreversible damage since I had this problem for a long time before is was actually diagnosed properly. Due to this I find myself trusting the medical professionals a little less. The pain was gone on Mtx ...though it would still swell up some days. But I permanently have an enlarged finger and knuckle which I'm sure is nothing compared to the problems other people have.
I did find the day after I had pasta my had swelled up...not sure if the issue is related but I'm definitely going to try Gluten Free. I've started to take Glucosamine. I know it's only proven to help osteoarthritis but I figure it's worth a try. I'm just terrified of PsA spreading to other areas.
How are the side effects of Humira ? Are you having any ?
Hi nym....thanks so much for telling me how you are doing. I am afraid of these crippling effects too. I'm sorry it's gotten so bad for you. I will be talking to my doctor about my options. All I know now is that Mtx isn't for me. I sure hope I can find something that will help and still enable me to keep my job. I'm disappointed that the doctors didn't talk to me about PsA when I was diagnosed with Psoriasis. I would have been more prepared and watching for signs of PsA.
I’ve asked them for a disco ball light for my 50th but they think I’m joking! Lol