Hey Everyone,
I was wondering how quickly your spine has progressed. My neck has been bad since about 23, my lower back (SI joints) started to bothering me in the last year and a half. Then less than a year ago my rib cage started flaring and just this summer my thoracic spine has flared. I'm 29 currently and it seems like whammy! I know that the disease could've been there way before the pain, but common back, settle down for a while!
I don't really know. I have spondylitis (sp?) but had back issues off and on all my life. I was diagnosed at 50 but have had PsA almost all my life. I had assumed I had bad posture as my parents told me so. Turns out I have a lot of spinal deformities including scholiosis. I do know when I have a flare it feels like it comes on all of a sudden but I know it has been there a while.
My spine has been weird for as long as I can remember. You're only 29--take as good of care of your back as you can. Do not overdo it!! I didn't look at your profile, and don't remember if you're on a biologic, but you need to do whatever you can to protect your back and slow down the disease as much as possible.
I would suggest learning and practicing exercises that strengthen your stomach muscles as well as your back muscles. I was a little older than you (about 32) when I had my first PT for my back.
As far as the pain, heat has worked well for me--that's what my doc said to use-and rest. Ibuprofen could help the inflammation, but I don't think it helped me much when the pain was really bad.
Good luck--I hate it when young people have so much pain. :-(
Hi Meg,
Since starting Humira back in March, I've had very mixed confusing results. Some definite improvement in knees, neck, toes and Jaw. On the other hand, I've had a couple of acute flare ups in my ribs and elbow and lingering soreness in between. In the last month, I have upped my meloxicam to 15mg (max dose) and reintroduced SSZ. There is definite improvement, which at this point I would assume is mainly from the meloxicam. I see you've binned Celebrex, which I also tried and it made me nauseous. According to my GP, meloxicam is relatively mild on the stomach compared to other NSAIDS, so it might be worth a try.
sorry, just realised, I'm being a bit divvy here and not exactly answering your question, except to say my disease has progressed to new areas even though I'm responding to treatment in others.
From what I understand from what my Rhuemy told me is that I have Osteoarthritis in my back, so far. And the people on this website have told me the biologicals are supposed to stop the PsA from moving into the many areas affected by osteoarthritis. I hope it does!
How long have you been on a biological Meg? I just started mine in July.
It seems like everyone's rate of progression of this disease is quite different.
Cheryl, I started in May, took it for a month, had some “human error” (someone along the way forgot to file part of my paperwork),went back on it the beginning of August. I going to stick with it for awhile, I’m pretty hopeful it will kick in and start to work.
Ali, so I’m not the only one who felt sick on Celebrex! I’ve never felt so sick on any medication in my life before it! I hope you find some relief for the areas which are flaring. I wonder if that will be my case too.
Grandma J, I’ve been in and out of physio for a few years now, i will make an effort to do some of the exercises I’ve been taught!
Michael in Vermont, I know what you mean by a flare coming on suddenly, when it’s really been bothering me for quite some time. Maybe has to do with different levels of pain we become accustom to.