What has made the biggest difference in your life for the better, as far as a treatment for Psoriatic Arthritis?
My Rheumatologist put me on Methotrexate 12.5mg (5 tablets) once a week. It has enabled me to be able to work, dress myself, hasn't done much for the inflammation but I would be crippled by now without it. Just started Humira on Sunday before last and ended up at the walk-in clinic with bronchitis on Thursday. Humira has really made a diff in the inflammation but the doctor is not sure about keeping me on it. He is afraid I would just be sick all the time.
For me, establishing a daily vegetable juicing regime has been transformative. I’ve been on the same regime for over 1.5 years, and have enjoyed a long-term remission, 100% medicine- free. (Had been taking increasing doses of MTX, Celebrex, Pred, and topicals for about a decade prior, with lots of side effects, and limited efficacy).
I juice 2-3x a day, mainly vegetable tonics, with little fruit…approx 1.5-2qt/ day total. I also eat mainly a plant-based diet, and almost no packaged/overly processed food.
I used to be one of the people that denied the link between diet and disease, until I actually did something about it…and it changed my life!
Going gluten free has been the biggest help for me so far. It's relieved a lot of my inflammation issues. Kris Carr's book Crazy Sexy Diet has also been extremely helpful in learning how to care for myself in regards to this disease. Lots of green juices, meditation etc. I'm physically and emotionally able to handle the outbreaks when they come.
Hi Grooveh, I have an unopened box with a juicer and don't know how to use it. Do you have any recipes to share? thanks
grooveh said:
For me, establishing a daily vegetable juicing regime has been transformative. I've been on the same regime for over 1.5 years, and have enjoyed a long-term remission, 100% medicine- free. (Had been taking increasing doses of MTX, Celebrex, Pred, and topicals for about a decade prior, with lots of side effects, and limited efficacy).
I juice 2-3x a day, mainly vegetable tonics, with little fruit...approx 1.5-2qt/ day total. I also eat mainly a plant-based diet, and almost no packaged/overly processed food.
I used to be one of the people that denied the link between diet and disease, until I actually did something about it...and it changed my life!
The biggest thing for me was to change my “mind set” I am who I am, PsA and all. It doesn’t make me a lesser me. Once I accepted I’m still the same me inside, I was a whole lot happier. Once my mind was right everything else fell into place 
A foam roller and lacrosse ball have been amazing in eliminating my hip and back pain. I posted this on another thread, I keep a short roller at work and keep the lacrosse ball in my purse. I roll the ball over the tight spots against the wall or on the wall. It has helped me get through social outings and just knowing I have something to give me relief, helps me relax and thus looser muscles.
I like that Louise !
Louise Hoy said:
The biggest thing for me was to change my "mind set" I am who I am, PsA and all. It doesn't make me a lesser me. Once I accepted I'm still the same me inside, I was a whole lot happier. Once my mind was right everything else fell into place :)
Enbrel and Daypro are at the top of my best treatments, though I still find it necessary to show up for an adjustment from my Chiropractor. I think I am just about due to revisit!
Humira as far as meds and for exercise it’s stretching, specific strengthening movements, and bicycling.
Hi Frances -
I do a daily juice too - One unpeeled cucumber, five stalks of celery, six kale leaves, one cored and unpeeled fuji apple, a small piece of peeled ginger and half a lemon (without the rind). The veggies should be organic. If they're not then peel them. This recipe makes enough for two large drinks (I save one for the next day). Believe it or not this stuff is yummy beyond and makes me feel like a million bucks.
Best of luck!
This for me, has been the biggest thing to get through 30 years of this so far. I am a person who happens to have PsA. It is not the center of my life. I keep living to the best of my ability.
Louise Hoy said:
The biggest thing for me was to change my "mind set" I am who I am, PsA and all. It doesn't make me a lesser me. Once I accepted I'm still the same me inside, I was a whole lot happier. Once my mind was right everything else fell into place :)
Humira has helped me so much, I am no longer swollen up & can walk a lot better now. I have been on it since June 2012
Oh, that is so good to hear! My Rheum is reluctant to take me off Enbrel, and I follow his lead, but if he does, Humira will be the next. My cousin also goes to my Rheum for PsA, she is on Humira.
PsA is the most prevalent arthritis in this area. To put you there, think Antietam Battlefield, it is between me and the Rheum.
BUMBLE!!! How are you, bud? Long time! Glad the Humira is working! How's the fam?
bumble said:
Humira as far as meds and for exercise it's stretching, specific strengthening movements, and bicycling.
A good question. Looking back ,eventually finding a good rheumatologist was the start. His willingness to try different combinations of medications until we found a combination that works for me made my current life bearable. His insistence that I see a psychologist to help me understand living with an incurable disease helped me mentally and helped me take on exercise like bike riding which reinforces the mental well being which helps deal with the residual pain. The strengthening of my body also seems to reduce the inflammation and to deal with pain. I can do things now I thought I would never do again 5 years ago..
A diet with much less processed food also seems to help.
In summary getting a good Doctor who works hard to find the right medication combination to reduce the inflammation is the essential point for me. Having the mental health to be patient while this is happening is part of that combination.
Frances, if you’re on FB, be sure to " like" the page of Jay Kordich. He’s known as the father of juicing, and regularly shares good recipes.
I usually start with a base, either cucumber, carrot or celery, add lemon, ginger, fennel or beets, an apple or pineapple chunk, and a fair amount of greens: kale, parsley and spinach are among my faves.
I drink a minimum of 1/2 quart (usually closer to 1 qt), 2-3x a day, and mix the ingredients up for variety.
It’s made a world of difference in my life!
Well said Allen, I have missed your wisdom! Guess I have been gone too long!
Going dairy free!!! I've had arthritis for YEARS and have joint damage as well as infertility and other auto-immune diseases. I finally found a doctor willing to look for causes of my pain, we checked my blood and I had a HUGE dairy allergy. I went off dairy (I also do gluten free) and I feel GOOD!!! It's AMAZING and I'm SO thankful!!! I didn't know I could feel this good and I don't have to take serious drugs!
If you can't find a doc who will do the blood work or just want to try eliminating foods, I basically did "The Virgin Diet" which takes all of the common allergens out of your diet, then if you feel better, you add them back in one at a time to see what your body is reacting to.
I know this isn't the answer for everyone but since it has worked so well for me, I can't help but share. My body was reacting so strongly to food I was filled with inflammation, which caused my arthritis symptoms and other autoimmune diseases.
Fascinating on the Juicing, but Jethro Kloss one of the worlds leading "Raw Experts" has repeated so many times to never ever mix fruits and vegetables because of the clash of enzymes, I have never thought to do otherwise. I realize others recognize apples as the universal mixer because they can make even kale palatable. It makes one wonder
In any event lets take the recipes here: http://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/group/natural-healing-group It will make a broader discussion and a more easily found archive