Just came from rheumy's office. Since my last visit 3 months ago, I've learned that the recurrent 'rot' on my R elbow is psoriasis. Rheumy agrees that he could call this psoriatic arthritis, but chooses to leave RA on my paperwork for ease of insurance approvals should I need to try a drug that is not FDA approved for my 'flavor' of arthritis. I couldn't figure why he insisted on RA when it was so very obvious that I didn't have RA and figured it was an insurance issue.

In any case, Enbrel isn't really doing much. In the past 3 months, I've had return of the foot pain that's been quiet for a few months, added a lot of hand pain, and added the psoriasis dx. When I pointed this out, he said Simponi would be a logical choice. I had already scoped this out and was going to ask about it anyway.

Right now, today, symptoms are a little better because I had a cervical epidural injection to see if it helps some nerve pain I've had in my shoulders and elbows. The steroid has had a bit of an effect systemically and my hands are better for the past couple of days But that will end soon, most likely. I have 3 more Enbrel injections and hope it doesn't take long for the Simponi approval. I told the nurse I would be more interested in the pre-filled syringes, if that was an option. Those auto-injectors are brutal, in my opinion.

That's all for now. I need to change my sig line, I suppose.

good luck with the simponi!

personally i think there is a lot of overlap in these arthritises. i like the undiff spondy dx for me cause i seem to have a lot of the bits and pieces without full blown one thing in particular.

i too asked my rheumy why he was coding me (on the paperwork) under RA (not RA, but a similar number) but talking spondy with me. i got the sense it came down to insurance too perhaps.

my opinion, so long as they try to treat it, doesn't matter too much to me.

Yay for the new med! I hope this one's the ticket. Simponi prefilled don't hurt in the slightest. I'm still convinced they put battery acid in the enbrel prefilled. lol Good luck!!!

What about the slamming of the whole mechanism into the leg? Doesn't that hurt? Rheumy's nurse said Simponi was painless by injection, too, and I think she meant the autoinj version.

Enbrel autoinjector was a real pain, but the syringes haven't been too bad--maybe comparatively it was just so much better that I didn't notice they actually hurt some. Really hated the autoinj.

I was mostly concerned that he didn't level with me on what dx he was going with, aside from the one he was giving to insurance. Did he really think I had RA? He's not a talker, for sure, and I would LOVE to have discussions. Happy about this (why are we happy when we get a dx like this??? Funny, huh?) and relieved to feel like I'm being taken seriously.

And all the arm/elbow/hand pain is coming back after the cervical ESI just 4 days ago. Argh. Need to call the doc back tomorrow. My FMLA is due to be renewed, so two birds/one call...Lots of fun.

Really hope the Simponi works for you.I have been on it for over a year now with great results.When i first injected it,i felt less pain within an hours time.

Hi Rumble,

Yes, a nice chat with him about it would be good. It is nice though that he did what he could to get your med's approved. Sorry your neck injection didn't work. Mine don't work there either nor do the Rhizotomies but I have 3 bulging disc there and one is tore so I am supposed to see a Rehab specialist just for my neck and if that doesn't help, it's off to surgery. Boooo! Hope the Simponi works for you. Let us know.

rumble, just wondering how you are today?
I sure hope that you get some relief!

Lon, dear...had the CESI just this past Friday and already the pain has returned. Not so sure it didn't work, but it certainly didn't work for long. Will call the doc's office tomorrow. Horrors...it's already 'tomorrow'. Late night at work, just home now at 2am. Too busy and was trying to train a newbie, which meant I couldn't do my own work.

When I had a thoracic ESI for pain from a compression fracture, the doc did a set of three procedures. The 2nd one was 2 weeks after the first, then the 3rd was about 4 months later. I never needed any more at that level. Hoping she will do the same for this level--C6/7--but this is for a pinched nerve. Might be a different matter. <sigh>

Hoping that the Simponi is approved fast.

How are you doing these days? Pup keeping you 'young'? Cycle keeping you 'young', too? Big, gentle hugs for you, Lon.

Hi Rumble

Hope Simponi works better than the Enbrel. I am on Enbrel and have the same issues including the "rot" on the right elbow which I will be showing to my rhuemy at next appointment. My GP wants me to get inserts for my shoes to alleviate the foot pain. I think Remicade worked better than the Enbrel when Remicade was working. I know what you mean about the auto injectors even though I don't know how well I would do going with the pre-filled.

Hope you get approval for Simponi soon.