Hi
I have had Osteoarthritis for quite some years now, but have just recently been diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis and they have started me on Methotrexate which I have been taking for two weeks now, I would love to hear from anyone that has had relief from it, and how long it took before you started to feel any relief, thank-you in advance
HI Cazab
I also have psoratic arthritis, I have been on Methortrexate about a year it takes about 3 months to start working properly. At first it was working but it has recently not having the effect it should so my Reumy has increased it to 20mg in the hope that it carries on working. There are a lot of side effects with this medication so be aware of them, Like alot of medication for Psoratic artritis some work for some people and not for others. Hopefully this one will work for you.
Thank-you so much for your reply Robert, I will be keeping everything crossed that I am lucky and it works, well my pain hasn't got worse up to now anyway, so fingers crossed 
Just keep an eye on it and make sure you have the blood tests done, my doctors will not issue the next lot until I have had the test as some of the side effects can be very dangerous. good luck
I sure will, my next appointment is on the 17th and am having a blood test before my appointment, the nurses there are so nice and explained everything to me, so feel very possitive
I have Psoriatic Enthesophathy, and I am lucky enough to be able to avoid medication for it so far, as i wanted to avoid side effects and interactions with other medication. My rheumatologist wanted to start me on some, but I held back until I had done more research. from research I found that ginger and tumeric, combined with black pepper to help the absorbsion, are anti-inflammatories, and from experimentation I found that suger was a definite inflammatory for me. I am not painless, but it keeps it to a bearable level.
It works for me. I know that we are all different, but thought it worth sharing.
Hi Robert,
glad you are still posting and i echo the good advice you have given re blood tests (I had methotrexate induced hepatitis in 2012 - it's rare!!!!). Stelara doesn't appear to be working yet, a decision will be reached in July whether to continue. My rheumatologist has started talking about adding Humira back into the mix but who knows,there may not be funding. Take care, sheila x
My dosage is being increased to 20mg at the moment im on 17.5 mg for another two weeks then to 20mg, My reumy has said if this does not work he is considering putting me on Embrel. I am having an injection into my middle knuckle on my middle right finger this Thursday (i have what is known as Swan Finger) and am booked for injections into my heals on 8th June for Plantist (policemans heel) no im not a copper lol.
Thank-you for your reply Pat, is that very different to just Psoriatic Arthritis?, I always like to try herbal options if I can, and I do swear by ginger for sickness, but touch wood it hasn't made me feel sick though, but I will keep in mind your suggestions though, thank-you
Hi Pat,
that's interesting, I've had this nagging feeling for a while that refined sugar is not good for me. I use a lot of fresh ginger whilst cooking. Do you have any advice re dosage amounts? Thank you
Hi Robert,
whilst on Enbrel I had the worst ever flare of Palmo Plantar Pustulosis which led to a change to Humira. You have my best wishes for the cortistero7d injections - ouch! But the benefits far outweigh the pain of injections, at least that's what I've found☺
Hi Cazab,
Methotrexate works well for most folks. Please make sure you take folic acid and get your bloods checked regularly. I developed a rare reaction to Mtx and became quite poorly so take care.
Psoriatic Enthesopathy is where the tendons are affected and become inflamed.
From trying to find out more about it, I gather that not much is known about it in England. (My rheumatologist was German and he says more is known about it in Germany) I could not make out whether my pain was in the bones or the joints, or neither. And finding out that it was the tendons made sense of it. The GP was insisting the pain was fibromyalgia because I also have ME, but I had insisted on a rheumatology appointment.
Different people find there bodies react to various things. Some it seems can't eat tomatoes, but I have no problem with them.
Hope you find what works for you.
not looking forward to the injection I wont lie. Was considering not going for it tbh. but the same thing is starting on my left hand now too. Gripping is a big issue with my right hand and as it looks like the left is starting to follow i have to do some thing. Hopefully the increase in Methortrexate works and I dont need to go onto Embrel just a case of waiting to find out if it works now. I have been waiting since September last year for this injection.
Hi Sheila
I do take a Folic Acid, I have to take one on one evening then six Methatrexate the following evening, thank-you so much for the advice, it's very much appreciated
Hi Pat
That sounds very painful, you have my sympathy, I sure hope you manage to get some pain relief for it
Nice to hear some one else with this problem (well not nice but you know what I mean)if I lift anything remotely heavy my hands,wrists,fingers swell and are quite painful over my tendons
Oh Robert, that's awful to wait for so long. Have you had a corticosteroid injection before? Honestly it's not bad because they numb the area with local 1st. When the local wears off, you are left will a dull ache - nothing we ccan't cope with! Here's one to make you wince - 2 weeks ago I had my big toe nail removed due to psoriatic nail disease, local injected between the toes! Oh oh oh😨. Suffice to tell you that my eyes watered a bit.........!! Hope you are benefiting with this glorious sunshine!! Best wishes from your pal, Sheila x
You're welcome, Carol. I'm glad you found this forum, you will get lots of support here, which helps enormously. Its a funny old illness, i was diagnosed in Nov 2011. Was medically retired from work in 2014. Im still getting to grips with the conditionc Some times are better than others. Please keep in touch, if you have any questions, just ask away, someone always responds. Good luck.
Hi Stephen,
are you UK? I know my problem is the synovial membrane rather than a bone problem, I've never heard it called what Pat said though my symptoms match what she said. I'm just curious. ...... Thank you