# My journey with enbrel

**URL:** <https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/my-journey-with-enbrel/1580>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [March 1, 2013, 9:39pm UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/my-journey-with-enbrel/1580 "2013-03-01T21:39:38Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![carle38](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/carle38/32/886_2.png) [@carle38](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/u/carle38)\
**Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 9:39pm UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/my-journey-with-enbrel/1580/1 "2013-03-01T21:39:38Z")

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Hello,

Today I started enbrel. After years of ibuprofen, my symptoms got much worse. I then tried mtx for 3 months with no results. So today I went t dr office to get my first shot. It was in my abdomen. No pain at all. It was a bit unnerving to give myself a shot but Im sure Ill get used to it.

Ive read a bunch of personel experiences with enbrel, so I know results vary quit a bit. However, Im placing allot of hope in enbrel. Im not taking mtx with the enbrel by the way. My big symptoms are upper spine and neck, rib cage, sternum. Pain and stiffness. I also have tendon involvement in hips, shoulders and jaw. Plus a thumb and a few toes.

Its horrible. Sleep is a nightmare. Cant move at all without pain.

Im taking 3200mg of ibuprofen a day. It scares the crap out of me. Im hoping the enbrel will allow me to stop the nsaids. Is that a reasonable expectation?

So Ill keep updating this post with my results. Wish me luck.

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**Author:** ![GwynnethP](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/gwynnethp/32/382_2.png) [@GwynnethP](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/u/GwynnethP)\
**Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/my-journey-with-enbrel/1580/2 "2013-03-01T21:45:33Z")

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Good luck! I had my first enbrel injection last Wednesday so I understand your hopes for the future.

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**Author:** ![Karen1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/karen1/32/768_2.png) [@Karen1](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/u/Karen1)\
**Post date:** [March 1, 2013, 10:22pm UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/my-journey-with-enbrel/1580/3 "2013-03-01T22:22:19Z")

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Ive been on Enbrel since December... it has done wonders for me..... I do have some other issues.. but I dont have pain constantly... so it is like night and day.. if you would like to add me as a friend.. I will give you more information...

Sincerely

Karen

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**Author:** ![Chris](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/chris/32/887_2.png) [@Chris](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/u/Chris)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2013, 4:44pm UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/my-journey-with-enbrel/1580/4 "2013-03-02T16:44:50Z")

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Did you use the Sureclick? Or did you use the actual needle?

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**Author:** ![carle38](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/carle38/32/886_2.png) [@carle38](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/u/carle38)\
**Post date:** [March 3, 2013, 3:47pm UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/my-journey-with-enbrel/1580/5 "2013-03-03T15:47:04Z")

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Hi chris - I used the needle. It really wasnt bad at all.