psoriatic arthritis, how long to get the drugs right?

[denialandpanic]

After a long long long process I have just received a diagnosis of probable psoriatic arthritis and an outline care plan. The rheumatologist wants me to try some stronger antinflammatories first then consider sulfalazine. So today I will start celebrex. Current major pain is in sacroilliac area and I feel sore and miserable and grumpy. I know there are a few other sufferers out there and my question is how long did it take you to get settled on a drug regimen that helped? Its taken me nearly a year to get to this point and I'm

Don't have psoriatic arthritis, but am on Celebrex and it is good (I have had excruciating back pain for over 7yrs). It's not as harsh on the stomach as other anti-inflammatories and I haven't had any stomach aches or pains from taking it.

I think I'm more worried about having a heart attack! I really shouldn't read the patient info leaflets. have taken first one this evening really hoping it does more than the naproxen I'm in agony at the moment. Have you had any reasons given for the back pain packitin? I'm amazed how many people are silently suffering day in and day out. Its shocking.

Methotrexate worked for me. Again slow road to get there. Private health insurance really helped.
Sulfalazine did nothing for me. Had the diagnosis 10 years ago. Methotrexate really helped my psiorasis too.
Luckily my arthritis went into remission. Think diet,exercise(especially swimming) and probably having disease at milder end of spectrum has really helped.
Drug free for 4 years now including healthy pregnany.

i have private health insurance but havent used it yet. the nhs doc is amazing its just takes months for each small step, first apt, scans, results, next apt and here we are a year in and its definitely progressed. i feel significantly worse than this time last year.

Great you trust the NHS doctor. Is he a consultant? Does he having private clinics too? May speed things along.

I haven't got PA I've got RA and have done for over 14 yrs it took a while to get drugs right and I've had a few blips along the way but mine started off bad and I was straight on to DMARDs with sulphasalazine which it turned out I didn't get on with (bloods) and then various til I got to where I am now with Anti-TNF, Mtx & Etodolac and generally under control with small flares but much much better. My friend got on with 1st drug and is now drug free and in remission. If PA is anything like RA then it's not predictable how you will react to the drugs. Fingers crossed it'll be the first combination you try but try not to get disappointed if it isn't. You will get there.
If you haven't got one already a prepayment certificate is your friend

It's just down to wear and tear in the lower lumbar vertebrae. A bit eyebrow-raising considering I'm 34yo, but hey, life goes on. Although it's excruciating most of the time, I rarely grumble about it. I just prefer to try and get on with what I have to do each day.

Anyway, I hope you'll find the Celebrex suits you and isn't as harsh as the likes of Lodine/ibuprofen etc.

My MIL has psoriasis and she picked up a tub of goats milk cream to try. Within 1 month, her psoriasis had looked like it had nearly cleared up and wasn't itchy or annoying. I can't remember what the cream was called, but we were in Wales at the Haverfordwest County Show (usually around May IIRC).

Do you wear contact lenses? Sulphasalozine dies them yellow. I had a reaction to it and then went onto methotrexate.

Regardless of private or NHS, yes it can take time to find the right drug for you because each has to be given time to work.

My initial meds didn't make much difference but then I had my thyroid checked and I have hyperthyroid ism. I only mention that because it slows your metabolism and so the drugs don't get into your system properly.

Good luck with the treatment.

Thanks everyone. Just had an email from my boss saying that they want me to go and see occ health because I've been off more than 8 days in the last 12 months. I wish people realised just how hard its been to not be off even more! Luckily I don't have contact lenses and I have just ordered a pre payment certificate! Nhs doctor is consultant rheumatologist and I just get a really good feel off him if I could just see him more!! I'm trying to see my GP tomorrow to discuss whether any benefits in a private review at this point. Pain is more bearable today I'm not sure whether new drugs are having an effect (only had two doses) or this flare up is just running its course.

How are you today OP? Did you see OH and explain why you were off?

Gp has signed me off for a month and doubled celebrex dose. I was reluctant but realise that I need to get this under control. I see her again in 2 weeks and she will refer me privately to the NHS consultant if no improvement at that point. I'm basically fine so long as I do very little and take lots of co-codamol, this is an improvement on earlier in the week when I was in agony even with the co-codamol.

I feel awful for my boss as my role is very hard to cover but I'm no use to anyone off my head on painkillers. I will get a letter re OH apt.

Glad to hear that things should be OK with work and your sickness. The problem is that co-codamol is used as an anti-diarrhoeal as well as pain relief, so apart from keeping your pain under control, you also become constipated. Maybe you should ask your GP for Movicol to help with the constipation.