My question is just that. Is it common with the right med combo or elusive and hard to achieve?
This comes to mind from time to time as I seem to be changing and increasing meds with continued pain and stiffness. So if you have had periods of remission can you describe that and for those that haven't had any breaks from PsA can you share that too.
Of course this isn't a scientific analysis of those that are more successful with their treatment. It is an attempt to see the "light at the end of the tunnel" or help with the "acceptance" part of this disease.
I did check the site before posting this and couldn't get a clear picture so I though to pose this question. Thanks.. :)
I have had remission 4 times in 32 years. Granted, two of them were when I was young, so it could be normal fluctuations of my disease.
The first 2 remissions were spontaneous, and lasted about 2 years. No symptoms, felt great, no meds. I came out of those remissions like I went in... with no changes the disease just came back.
The third took place after being on Gold shots (Solganol) for 2 years. I was at a maintenance dose of one shot every 8 weeks, and I moved across the country and ended up getting busy and not getting my shot, and then felt great so skipped the next, and then I was in remission with no meds and feeling great. This remission lasted 3 years, including the 9 months I was pregnant. I ended up coming out of that remission due to having my first child and having a post partum flare.
4th remission was completely med induced. I got on Enbrel and within a month it was like I didn't have arthritis or psoriasis at all. As long as I kept taking the Enbrel I was completely asymptomatic. Remission lasted 2.5 years. When I went off the Enbrel for a complicated emergency medical problem, my flare came back. When I went back on Enbrel after I healed it didn't work nearly as well. I eventually got on another med, and have been struggling for 10 years to get back that sweet spot of having my disease under control.
The medical definition of remission and my definition of remission are different. I believe the medical definition of remission still can have some small amount of disease activity (like up to 3 joints, very low inflammation markers). My definition of remission is feeling like I don't have PsA at all. I've experienced it, and it is amazing.
I have to say now that I haven't had a remission in 10 years. Could be my age, could be 3 decades of this disease attacking my body, who knows. It's frustrating, I'm not even close to remission, I'm just struggling to get my disease even vaguely under control.
I was told that a certain percentage (20?) will experience remission and it’s most common in the first few years. This was from my rheumy. When I asked her about my chances, she basically said nil. This was about four years post diagnosis.
My rheumy has always said the objective is remission and return to 'full working order' but in two years since diagnosis I've only had three months when I was pretty much pain/stiffness free (in the early days on leflunomide). Given how much my disease seems to have progressed in these two years I don't think anything is capable of returning me to my pre-PSA health but I would be more than happy with a remission which reduces my discomfort, gives me a bit of movement and life back .... if I can get back to working that too would be a perfect result for me. I think we have to try to be optimistically realistic.
i was in remission for 2 wonderful years. no pain, not much skin problems, just 2 pink patches that i "killed" with sun and tanning. i was off mtx for few months. and now PSA came back. it started in august of 2013. slowly, at first, and then october, november fast forward...today i am a human wreck :( what is worst, PSA is damaging my nerves in my feet and i can't walk anymore. today i walk with cane, every step is a torture.
in my experience, the remission is like gift of goodness and health, and then PSA is remembering you that it is still here .
if you are in remission, cherish it :) it is a rare event.