I hardly ever take NSAIDs on account of how I generally get little serious pain. However, thanks to a great holiday in Paris last month - I walked & walked & felt very proud of myself - my knackered knees are now that bit more knackered & sometimes hurt like hell so the Naproxen comes in handy.
What strikes me is how well this medication suits me. One 500mg tablet a day is enough to improve just about everything: my taste buds come alive, I sleep deeply for a change, my mood lifts - it's as if I've been living in gloom and suddenly someone switches the lights on.
I used to find this before PsA when I took the occasional O/C Nurofen tablet for a hangover & entered a state of low key bliss that lasted all day.
I'm half wondering whether I should take Naproxen daily just to enjoy life more! That would be daft though ......... wouldn't it?
I'm wondering whether others have a similar experience. And also in any ideas why this happens. Is it perhaps because inflammation that blood tests don't detect still lurks and brings me down?
Hi sybil, That's interesting. If Naproxen makes you feel better and can do more things than why not. If you can just take one a day...I think that's great.
I took Naproxen years ago on occasion for pain and it worked really well for me. Now for PsA, it doesn't help me at all. I need the Ibuprofen to get any relief and even with that I need at least 2 a day of the 600mg pills the doc prescribed me.
I try to ignore the pain at times too and just carry on with what I need to do but it I need to use my hands it can get very difficult. You need to do what makes you feel comfortable and happy. I agree....bring on the PsA info, the more the better :)
I was thinking after reading the link you posted. Maybe it's a good idea to take one a day anyway....or at least part of whatever your doc told you to do. If we have inflammation and don't even know it because it's our organs. I don't know...maybe it's a good idea. You've got me thinking on this one.
I'm feeling pretty good today without my ibuprofen but even my son, who has a autoimmune disease himself and is studying kinesiology...he told me I should take it anyway. I'm wondering if he's right.
Interesting article, thanks for sharing. I have been wanting to take celebrex daily as it helps with increased pain, however my rheumy and doctor are saying to take it only when needed. I find it really takes off the edge and allows me to function fairly well and would probably allow me to get back to work full time. I too show no inflammation in my blood tests, even when a joint is completely swollen. From what I have read so far, it's fairly common and both my doctor and rheumy are not concerned with this. It's strange that it has only been elevated slightly a few times over the years. I told my doctor my immune system is just too good!
My rheumy said if there is pain the disease is not managed. I am also trying to ignore the PSA and get on with daily life, however also learn as much as I can so that I can advocate for myself. My goal is to find a treatment that will allow me to have a functioning life with as little side effects possible. I'm also confused as biologics are the last option, yet the only thing that can stop the disease from damaging....so why not just give a Nasid rather then a dmard?
Or whatever works to keep functioning....I look at the flow chart on page 86 of the book Psoriatic Arthritis "The Facts" and see that it depends on the joints being impacted, however what if there is a combination?
Thanks for sharing Sybil. I missed last weeks MTX injection and was going to take it tonight. It's been two weeks since I last had it. At this point I was considering taking the Celebrex daily to get back to a functioning life and back to work. I'm getting tired of the side effects from the meds on top of dealing with the disease, but that's life now. I understand from reading that none of this is going to stop the disease from doing damage, so why not let the pain be manageable so I can just cope until it's decided I can try a biologic. Feeling pretty overwhelmed lately and getting a lot of push from friends and family to drop the meds and go holistic, but I'm not sure that is an option....but then again what can it hurt, as the treatment I'm getting is not going to stop the damage regardless. I have a prescription here for Leflunomide, but after reading the side effects....I'm thinking I will just learn to deal. I'm tired of trying things that decrease my already drained energy level and cause nausea to the point that I can not commit to anything anymore.
sybil said:
As I understand it NSAIDs are not disease modifying as such which I guess means that joints can still be damaged. I know there's a groundswell of opinion on here that Biologics are the gold standard & I find that fairly convincing. But it seems to me that amongst the specialists there's still some faith in DMARDs protecting joints and that they do work for some people, some times. Just not often enough perhaps to justify the side effects. A while back I found this powerpoint about Mtx not being disease modifying for PsA. But I think it endorses Arava & I can't believe that Arava is particularly reliable either.
My goals are exactly the same as yours and I'm coming round to the idea of biologics. But they are rationed in the UK.
TaraLynn said:
Interesting article, thanks for sharing. I have been wanting to take celebrex daily as it helps with increased pain, however my rheumy and doctor are saying to take it only when needed. I find it really takes off the edge and allows me to function fairly well and would probably allow me to get back to work full time. I too show no inflammation in my blood tests, even when a joint is completely swollen. From what I have read so far, it's fairly common and both my doctor and rheumy are not concerned with this. It's strange that it has only been elevated slightly a few times over the years. I told my doctor my immune system is just too good!
My rheumy said if there is pain the disease is not managed. I am also trying to ignore the PSA and get on with daily life, however also learn as much as I can so that I can advocate for myself. My goal is to find a treatment that will allow me to have a functioning life with as little side effects possible. I'm also confused as biologics are the last option, yet the only thing that can stop the disease from damaging....so why not just give a Nasid rather then a dmard?
Or whatever works to keep functioning....I look at the flow chart on page 86 of the book Psoriatic Arthritis "The Facts" and see that it depends on the joints being impacted, however what if there is a combination?
I can not IMAGINE why your docs do not have you taking an NSAID daily.
All that aside as interesting as the powerpoint and study is, you guys are missing the point (and another study) Yes everyone should be on a biologic. Sadly thats not practical and unless the disease is progressing - necessary. Incidently they also defined PsA by synovitis and inflammation by blood test...........
That being said the other thing you are missing in that said study is that MTX is extremely successful a reliving symptoms - ie pain. I only understood this when my Doc said after a very thorough exam:
"Well we have your joints protected, now we have to decide just how much pain you want....." Thats when I went BACK on MTX.
My Rheumatologist has always advised me to take a NSAID daily along with MTX weekly. I will stop taking it sometimes if I’m feeling particularly good for a period of weeks, again this is approved by my doc. But definately have a med prescribed along side to protect your stomach
You bring up a couple of interesting points. First, adequately controlling inflammation and pain is essential for enhanced daily living. But, as we know, the simple control of these symptoms does nothing to keep the disease at bay. But feeling good enough to function shouldn't be overlooked and it ought be a treatment goal alongside arresting the disease. The second issue is that of balancing the positive and negative side effects of the drugs we take. MTX can be a miserable experience for some. And others can't tolerate NSAIDs. That balance, though, of positive effects on symptoms and negative effects on standard of daily function is a critical one to find. It is looking for this balance that causes so many to ditch one drug and try another. Over and over and over. Finding a way to be well enough to get on with life while also living with a PsA diagnosis is my goal. And there are plenty of medicines in my rheumatologist's arsenal to realize my goal.
What is the difference between living life and just getting through each day? We all want to be the master of our disease and not allow our disease be our master.
I think this is an interesting question, too. To me "living life" has qualitative aspects that include enjoyment and activities that go beyond the usual daily routine. Things you do out of a desire to do them and not out of simple necessity. To me that's a really different experience than "just getting through each day". But, again, that's just me.
mataribot said:
What is the difference between living life and just getting through each day? We all want to be the master of our disease and not allow our disease be our master.
