I have been on prednisone for 2 months and methotrexate for 1 month. I was diagnosed right after Christmas. I am thankful to have some improvements:) maybe 30%? Yay! But I am still having lots of pain and finger swelling, its in my spine too. now a food allergy!!! For the last 3-4 weeks I have been breaking out in hives after I eat… Also abdominal pain, nausea and swollen lymph nodes for weeks. Wondering if I’m going to have a gluten/celiac thing. ( I can not believe this) i did make an appiontment with a GI doc. anyway… My main question is, do we ever get back to normal? Even for a period of time? Sort of having a rough day. My family and myself would like Jen back:)
Sorry to hear it! I had to quit the prednisone. It was 13 years ago but, I'll never forget! I gained 50lbs. I always felt on edge and wanted to crawl out of my skin. I woke up one day and just said enough of that! A few months later I went to a dermatologist and he told me I had psa. He put me on enbrel without trying anything else. I had to go through pre-auth. and they tried to tell me I had to take cheaper meds first...I told them if they try and dictate what meds I take I would call a lawyer. I've been on enbrel for 12+ years now.
I recently (3 weeks ago) started MTX injections. I bypassed the MTX pills because the side effects and I already inject enbrel so what the hay! I don't like the MTX and I already want to quit taking that but I'm gonna give it a few months.
The abdominal pain, nausea, hives can be sides from the MTX. Do you take a folic acid suppliment? I get mine from the drug store. I take 3x800mcg (about 2.5mg). It makes a huge difference. Also, if you can switch to injections I would.
I hope you feel better soon.
And, to answer your main question, I woke up one day and my feet were so swollen I couldn't put any pressure on them. After the prednisone fiasco and after I started taking the enbrel I felt pretty good for 11 years or so. I probably still would if I took care of myself. I don't really eat great, I would party more than a little and I'm a smoker. I also had a physically demanding job.
So,yes, you can get close to back to normal sorta kinda a little.
I am still not back to "normal" since my big flare/diagnosis last summer. I wish I could say after months of steroids and MTX that things are great - but they just aren't. I am having to find a new normal, setting new expectations of what my body can handle and figuring out how to communicate that with the people in my life. I have learned to say NO a lot the last 6-8 months, something I didn't do a lot of before.
I feel your pain on the food allergies. I have had a dairy allergy for years and been completely dairy free for about 7 years now. Eating/cooking/shopping to accommodate an allergy is a learning curve but eventually it will become 2nd nature to you. I am sorry you are dealing with those issues on top of PsA. Yuck.
Robert, thank you so much. My appt with my Rhuematologist is in a week. 
Organic ketchup:) that is what I was wondering. Do I have to find a new normal? Or can I hope for my old life with the right drugs:) I do have more time with minimal pain though, but no where near myself. Not sure if I should ask for ask for a med change after two months or if I should stay the course. We started here for insurance purposes of course. Thank you again!!
I had to stop mtx. Too may side effects, nausea and increased fatigue. Am now using enbrel. And after 6 injections, can say I am feeling somewhat close to normal. I still have swelling in hands and other joints are stiff but overall feeling pretty good. Maybe you just need the right med?
I think I’m with you Nsanmom. I’m taking 2 zofran a day! I thought it was part of the food allergy thing. And, I didn’t know to take folic acid! Getting some today. Maybe I will be able to change next week.
There's no going back with this disease. You'll have improvement sometimes, terrible pain others, and possibly deformed joints that will last a lifetime. I know I'll never be my old normal but now I strive to be as functional as possible. This is my new normal and I'm ok with it.
If you think something is causing an allergic reaction try taking it out of your diet and see if there's an improvement. My grandson was being treated for reflux but after some research my daughter thought maybe it was a milk allergy. Stopped all cow milk products and it cleared right up. If you cut out gluten and it doesn't have any impact on your reactions then you've ruled it out and can move onto something else.
Thank you, Milo’s my dog:) I don’t think I have processed that “new normal” part yet. I have four children… Working on that. But the allergy thing! ( still really annoyed about this) your right. I am working on the gluten/wheat part. I’m may have found the culprit. But it may be dairy too;) i feel like I’m in the twilight zone!! thank you for your thoughts!