Yes, it’s scary and it’s miserable. I’m sorry you’re going through all of this as well as wrangling with the MTX decision. Difficult. I had pain, numbness and tingling along with fatigue and brain fog for a very long time, without knowing what was wrong. I looked kinda normal too … 
In a way, you are lucky because you know what is causing all of those nasty symptoms. You know that it is PsA and you know what your treatment options are at the moment. I didn’t.
Can I detour your thoughts just a bit? The symptoms you are suffering right now – pain, fatigue, fog, numbness/tingling etc – are awful, yes. But I think you need to think beyond those. The biggest danger with PsA is the damage it can cause to your bones and joints. It sounds blunt and scary, but permanent damage is where you could be going with this. Hips and knees that need replacing. Hands that don’t work and feet that can’t walk. It may not happen, and I don’t mean to scare you, but you have to be realistic. The risk is real. MTX may be one of the meds that is successful in putting the brakes on the disease process, and reducing your risk of permanent damage.
I think you need to talk this over (again) with your rheumie and your nearest and dearest. Sorry if I seem a bit blunt, but trust me, you don’t want to go down the permanent damage road.
Seenie said:
Yes, it's scary and it's miserable. I'm sorry you're going through all of this as well as wrangling with the MTX decision. Difficult. I had pain, numbness and tingling along with fatigue and brain fog for a very long time, without knowing what was wrong. I looked kinda normal too ... ;-) In a way, you are lucky because you know what is causing all of those nasty symptoms. You know that it is PsA and you know what your are at the moment. I didn't.
Can I detour your thoughts just a bit? The symptoms you are suffering right now -- pain, fatigue, fog, numbness/tingling etc -- are awful, yes. But I think you need to think beyond those. The biggest danger with PsA is the damage it can cause to your bones and joints. It sounds blunt and scary, but permanent damage is where you could be going with this. Hips and knees that need replacing. Hands that don't work and feet that can't walk. It may not happen, and I don't mean to scare you, but you have to be realistic. The risk is real. MTX may be one of the meds that is successful in putting the brakes on the disease process, and reducing your risk of permanent damage.
I think you need to talk this over (again) with your rheumie and your nearest and dearest. Sorry if I seem a bit blunt, but trust me, you don't want to go down the permanent damage road.
butterfly princess said:
Thank you for taking for the time to answer my post. You are right just being diagnosed two weeks ago it is a lot to wrap my mind around, but realizing through my chronic depression these are symptoms i have been neglecting for a long time ( years) and you are right I do have to treat it with meds ASAP. It is very overwhelming, so hearing peoples' opinioins and support is helpful. Thanks again , looking for any and all advice and new friends too. Thanks for listening to my pity party, it really isn't my usual style.!
Seenie said:Yes, it's scary and it's miserable. I'm sorry you're going through all of this as well as wrangling with the MTX decision. Difficult. I had pain, numbness and tingling along with fatigue and brain fog for a very long time, without knowing what was wrong. I looked kinda normal too ... ;-) In a way, you are lucky because you know what is causing all of those nasty symptoms. You know that it is PsA and you know what your are at the moment. I didn't.
Can I detour your thoughts just a bit? The symptoms you are suffering right now -- pain, fatigue, fog, numbness/tingling etc -- are awful, yes. But I think you need to think beyond those. The biggest danger with PsA is the damage it can cause to your bones and joints. It sounds blunt and scary, but permanent damage is where you could be going with this. Hips and knees that need replacing. Hands that don't work and feet that can't walk. It may not happen, and I don't mean to scare you, but you have to be realistic. The risk is real. MTX may be one of the meds that is successful in putting the brakes on the disease process, and reducing your risk of permanent damage.
I think you need to talk this over (again) with your rheumie and your nearest and dearest. Sorry if I seem a bit blunt, but trust me, you don't want to go down the permanent damage road.
Seenie hit it right on the money. Methotrexate is a totally crappy drug, and no one in their right mind wants to take it. The problem is, you now live in The Land of No Good Choices. Everything has side effects, everything causes problems, doing nothing as well as doing something. We know clearly what the risks of doing nothing are: increased disability, increased pain, lack of mobility. MTX has its risks, too, but if your doctor monitors you properly, you can usually stop it before permanent harm is done. On the plus side, it just may make a difference! Also, most insurance companies won't approve payment for treatment with a biologic until you have ben on MTX for awhile with no miracles occurring.
Sounds like you know you have had this for a long time. That's true for most all of us. By the time you get fed up enough to go to the doctor, horse around getting referrals, wait for an appointment with a specialist, this is not a new problem. Unless you are lucky enough to have friends or family members with similar chronic illnesses, you may not get a lot of understanding from friends and family. Come here for that!
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MTX is fine. It's been around forever. Give it a try.
Biologics are better.
mtx has been a great med for me, though there is room for a lot of improvement.
Louise said:
Seenie hit it right on the money. Methotrexate is a totally crappy drug, and no one in their right mind wants to take it. The problem is, you now live in The Land of No Good Choices. Everything has side effects, everything causes problems, doing nothing as well as doing something. We know clearly what the risks of doing nothing are: increased disability, increased pain, lack of mobility. MTX has its risks, too, but if your doctor monitors you properly, you can usually stop it before permanent harm is done. On the plus side, it just may make a difference! Also, most insurance companies won't approve payment for treatment with a biologic until you have ben on MTX for awhile with no miracles occurring.
Sounds like you know you have had this for a long time. That's true for most all of us. By the time you get fed up enough to go to the doctor, horse around getting referrals, wait for an appointment with a specialist, this is not a new problem. Unless you are lucky enough to have friends or family members with similar chronic illnesses, you may not get a lot of understanding from friends and family. Come here for that!
And as many people here know, you have to have tried MTX before some insurance companies will cover a biologic (which are often better-tolerated and more effective than the other DMARDs). That’s one of the reasons it’s worth trying.
Andrew said:
MTX is fine. It’s been around forever. Give it a try.
Biologics are better.
Thanks everyone for their much valued input.