Is Methotrexate the only answer?

[Guest guest]

No, methotrexate isn't the only answer. It may well be the best answer, you

should give it t try. If you read all the messages on this board you'll hear

a lot of bad things about MTX, along with others. That's a natural thing as

the board is here to address problems.

What you don't hear nearly as much about is all of the success stories. I've

been on a combo of MTX, Cyclosporin, ANSAIDS, and folic acid for some years

now. No sickness, I still have some hair, my blood pressure is fine, I walk

for a half hour every morning and haven't missed a day's work in several

years due to illness. The most intrusive aspects of the treatment are having

to take the meds twice daily and having had to reduce my beer intake. I

consider myself to be very lucky, but suspect that others are also getting

along well with this disease. The worst part for me was the 5 years I spent

with it before it was properly diagnosed and treatment (MTX) begun.

Find a good Rheumatologist. If the doc you are using isn't on top of PA then

find another who is quickly!

Happy trails - Rob Glover

In a message dated 10/26/99, 6:15:06 AM, onelist

writes:

<<

Message: 4

Date: 24 Oct 1999 01:09:06 -0000

From: lthomas@...

Subject: Is Methotrexate the only answer?

Hi to all, I have had the joint pain for a year, then a rash broke out on my

stomach, back, leg and in my head that looked like chicken pox with scales. I

have joint pain and swelling in my ring finger on my right hand, pain in my

thumb on my left hand and my knuckles on my left hand, pain beginning in my

knees and in my feet, near the big toe and left ankle.

I am told this is a very aggressive athritis and the only way to slow it down

was methotrexate, I need to know if this is true, is there anything else a

person can take without all these side effects? I know it also makes you

feel sick as well. My pain isn't severe, I can live with the rash, I can

handle this pain right now, am I to expect this to worsen? Would someone like

to discuss this with me. My address is lthomas@..., would love to

hear from anyone that can give some insight on this.

Thanks>>