This is very important for me. Please answer if you know so that i can suggest to my cousin who is suffering from arthritis.
Thanks
Noah
There is no cure, unfortunately.
What type of arthritis does the poor bugger have?
Like Marietta said, there is NO CURE.
If you really want to help you cousin, I recommend reading the posts on this site so you can better understand what he might be going through.
Only this morning some guy in my gym was asking me how my 'injuries' are whether I was back running. No! I hate this question but get it all the time. Tried to explain I have PsA not injuries, and what this was, to which he recommended i saw some complimentary therapist! I've had a few people suggest this to me, and some tell me I should stop my meds and see a herbalist instead!
Unfortunetely non of these 'alternatives' work, there is no evidence for them and can be potentially dangerous! I take omega 3 fish oils in addition to my DMARDS but please dont let anyone persuade your cousin to ditch her conventional medicine for an alternative therapy. I know people mean well but many havn't a clue about PsA
I don't have tons of faith in the DMARDS. MTX doesn't seem to do much in terms of halting damage. Arava seems to have nasty side effects, and the makers of recommend it not be taken with MTX because the combination hasn't been studied I think the biologics are by far the safest and most effective treatments.
http://psoriasis.org/news/news-methotrexate-questioned-for-psoriatic-arthritis-
Methotrexate use questioned for psoriatic arthritis
A new study shows that methotrexate—a biologic drug commonly prescribed as a first-line treatment for psoriatic arthritis—may not be as effective at slowing down the progression of the disease as commonly thought.
In the British study—the first large double-blind placebo study of methotrexate for psoriatic arthritis—half the participants were given methotrexate and half received a placebo. Neither the study subjects nor the researchers knew who was getting which medication. After six months, the researchers found that methotrexate had no significant effect on objective measures of the disease, such as joint inflammation or joint damage. However, some participants reported having subjective benefits, such as feeling better while taking the drug. Physicians note that this outcome of patient satisfaction should be considered as well.
Dr. Christopher Ritchlin, chief of rheumatology at University of Rochester Medical Center in New York, says that "the study examined a number of different outcomes and showed that traditional measures of joint inflammation did not improve."
Ritchlin also adds that the trial had "some deficiencies in that the maximum dose of methotrexate was 15 mg per week" and that the study took all people with psoriatic arthritis, even though the disease is highly variable. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, mild psoriatic arthritis involves just one or two joints, while "generalized" disabling psoriatic arthritis affects three or more joints and puts patients at a higher risk for joint destruction and disability. Additionally, the number of inflamed joints in the study participants was relatively low.
"Nonetheless, based on current evidence, no controlled data supports the effectiveness of methotrexate for psoriatic arthritis, so health care providers should consider this fact when deciding on treatment strategies for psoriatic arthritis," Ritchlin said.
Sept. 20, 2012
Thx for the research update Andrew !
I wonder how effective it (MTX) is in reducing inflammation in bowl since I cannot use NSAIDS.
Hi everyone. I have been reading on this site for a few days now and have to chosen to respond to this particular post because this subject is the key to my health. I am allergic to all medications I have tried so far, including aspirin, tylenol, any meds made with these or derivatives, and most everything else the pharmacies have available. I have also studied naturopathy a bit and ran a health food store for 10 years. The knowledge I gained saved my life. But this thread is not about me.
noahjojoguru, I will make a qualified suggestion that your cousin seek out a Real doctor who also does Alternatives. An HMD for instance (Homeopathic Medical Doctor) who is also a regular MD and can do real prescriptions, blood work, etc, would be the way to go. I agree, don't go to just an herbalist, and I wouldn't go to a Naturopathic doc either unless you knew him, had really good referrals, and your regular MD was willing to work with him, or he himself was also an MD.
The amount of effort a person needs to put into it to maintain health and work with dis-ease conditions is Huge when working alternatively. Your cousin will experience a very different approach, and the whole thing is geared to what the Patient is willing to do rather than taking a pill and waiting for the pill to do the work. It's a tough way to go, and like everyone has stated, arthritis has no cure. But what you do with your body sometimes really makes a difference in how your body handles the dis-ease.
I hope this helps. I would be interested in any follow-ups on this subject.
Thanks for that info @Andrew!
Cider Vinegar seems to be the rage at the moment! I have no idea if this works but would be interested to hear if anyone takes it along side their usual meds?
You are correct Aimee, and Apple Cider Vinegar is for all dis-ease conditions, not just PsA. The theory is that All dis-ease is an over-acid condition, and when you alkalize the body, it gets better. There are alkaline drops available that you just add to your water (alkazone is one brand). Here is a page that pretty much lays out the things a person would need to do if they didn't/couldn't take the drugs:
I
I have been told to use the Bragg organic vinger with “mother” version. I have been taking it for three months now and it has helped with the P. I also use it for a natural diruretic. You can google Bragg vinegar.
Aimee said:
Cider Vinegar seems to be the rage at the moment! I have no idea if this works but would be interested to hear if anyone takes it along side their usual meds?