Guest guest Posted October 13, 2004 Report Share Posted October 13, 2004 I have been trying to find out as much as I can about Psoriatic Arthritis.How can you tell if you have got it? I have been diagnosed as having it.I couldn't streighten my fingers and my ankles and wrists swelled.It was very painful. The doctor said it was tendonitis.I went on steroids and it went ok.As soon as I came of them it came back. I paid to see a specialist and have had tests.They said all the blood tests are ok.They are saying it is Psoriatic Arthritis.I am on one steroid a day I am ok.They want me of steroids. They have given me leaflets to read and let them know which medication I want to go on.They are Methotrexate and Sulphasalazine. I don't want to go on any.The list of side effects is frightening. Can anyone help me. Thank you Shirley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 13, 2004 Report Share Posted October 13, 2004 Hello Shirley -- Sorry/happy you found us. Just the symptoms you mentioned sound a lot like PA. I was diagnosed by a foot/ankle specialist when it came up that I have psoriasis. He had heard my complaints then he looked at my fingernails and stated positively that I had PA. I had very little involvement but what little he saw convinced him. That was 3 years ago and my gp started me on mtx immediately after a short course of prednisone. I also tried sulfasalazine but had an allergic reaction. I hated mtx because it made me fuzzy headed and caused intestinal disturbance but it works very well for many others. In fact it worked very well on my joints along with Vioxx. I guess I am taking a long way around to tell you that to take meds is a serious decision and should be investigated very well. I take Enbrel and I would take whatever they have to offer to keep moving. It is important to me to have as normal a life as possible. You need to decide what you want and what you can risk in order to live your life the way you want to. We all react so differently to the meds that you may just have to do a trial and error until you find what you can be comfortable with. Again, Welcome and hope to hear more from you. Cheri [ ] Hello.Im New > > > > I have been trying to find out as much as I can about Psoriatic > Arthritis.How can you tell if you have got it? > I have been diagnosed as having it.I couldn't streighten my fingers > and my ankles and wrists swelled.It was very painful. > The doctor said it was tendonitis.I went on steroids and it went > ok.As soon as I came of them it came back. > I paid to see a specialist and have had tests.They said all the > blood tests are ok.They are saying it is Psoriatic Arthritis.I am on > one steroid a day I am ok.They want me of steroids. > They have given me leaflets to read and let them know which > medication I want to go on.They are Methotrexate and Sulphasalazine. > I don't want to go on any.The list of side effects is frightening. > Can anyone help me. > Thank you > Shirley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 14, 2004 Report Share Posted October 14, 2004 Hi Shirley and welcome, Sorry to hear that you might have PA. Do you have any Psoriasis or any problems with your fingernails? Pitting, thinning, lifting? I don't know anything about Sulphasalazine but I am on MTX (25mg weekly) Indomethacine and Ciclosporin. There can be side effects to the MTX but your blood will be checked regularly so they should be able to tell if there happens to be any problem and they would then stop them immediately. Good luck with whatever you decide to do in the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 14, 2004 Report Share Posted October 14, 2004 Thank you for your replies. Sorry I forgot to say I live in UK. Shirley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 14, 2004 Report Share Posted October 14, 2004 Shirly, If you haven't already been here, go to the following link and start reading. There are links in here that will get you info on Psoriatic Arthritis and it will be more info that you want to read. http://www.arthritis.org/ Wecome and good luck finding all your answers. This group is a good place to start. Dick > > > I have been trying to find out as much as I can about Psoriatic > Arthritis.How can you tell if you have got it? > I have been diagnosed as having it.I couldn't streighten my fingers > and my ankles and wrists swelled.It was very painful. > The doctor said it was tendonitis.I went on steroids and it went > ok.As soon as I came of them it came back. > I paid to see a specialist and have had tests.They said all the > blood tests are ok.They are saying it is Psoriatic Arthritis.I am on > one steroid a day I am ok.They want me of steroids. > They have given me leaflets to read and let them know which > medication I want to go on.They are Methotrexate and Sulphasalazine. > I don't want to go on any.The list of side effects is frightening. > Can anyone help me. > Thank you > Shirley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 14, 2004 Report Share Posted October 14, 2004 --- Hi Shirley, Sorry that you have this awful disease and welcome to our wonderful group. The only side effects I have is the sores in my mouth from the MXT-I take folic acid for this and the sores aren't bad. I'm sure someone else can give you advice with other side effects. God Bless, Sue in Michigan. In , " anderchow " <anderchow@b...> wrote: > > > I have been trying to find out as much as I can about Psoriatic > Arthritis.How can you tell if you have got it? > I have been diagnosed as having it.I couldn't streighten my fingers > and my ankles and wrists swelled.It was very painful. > The doctor said it was tendonitis.I went on steroids and it went > ok.As soon as I came of them it came back. > I paid to see a specialist and have had tests.They said all the > blood tests are ok.They are saying it is Psoriatic Arthritis.I am on > one steroid a day I am ok.They want me of steroids. > They have given me leaflets to read and let them know which > medication I want to go on.They are Methotrexate and Sulphasalazine. > I don't want to go on any.The list of side effects is frightening. > Can anyone help me. > Thank you > Shirley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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