Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group SHOULD I "STOP" THE (((ENBREL)))???

Mase,

You have some nerve! Evidently the reading you have done has not been enough. I know....the post was not directed at me...but frankly I dont care. You are just down right RUDE and frankly quite the jack*ss. You come and ask for opinions on what to do...then you kick them in the teeth for offering an answer.

The below info as you can READ ( i hope ) should set you straight on where else AS can attack.

sickened by your ignorance

Bob



http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ankylosingspondylitis.html
First link from MAYO

"...Ankylosing spondylitis is one of many forms of inflammatory arthritis, the most common of which is rheumatoid arthritis. Ankylosing spondylitis primarily causes inflammation of the joints between the vertebrae of your spine and the joints between your spine and pelvis (sacroiliac joints). However, ankylosing spondylitis may also cause inflammation and pain in other parts of your body:

Where your tendons and ligaments attach to bones
Joints between your ribs and spine
Your hips, shoulders, knees and feet joints
Your eyes..."

In support of Mig's statement on the potential for long-lasting more serious outcome to reactive arthritis, this can happen for a substantial number of people. Reactive arthritis can cause long-standing arthritis in a sizeable percentage of cases and has the potential to evolve into ankylosing spondylitis. The prognosis can be affected by: 1) nature of triggering infection and 2) by the HLA-B27 status.

according to the very recent medical literature ( 2005):

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query...t_uids=15918996
Colmegna I, Espinoza LR.
Recent advances in reactive arthritis.
Curr Rheumatol Rep. 2005 Jun;7(3):201-7. Review.
PMID: 15918996

"...ReA [reactive arthritis] long term prognosis is not as good as it was earlier believed. Two-thirds of patients develop prolonged joint discomfort, low back pain, or enthesopathies after acute ReA, and 15% to 30% of them develop chronic symptoms...."

I have been on Enbrel for over 1 year and had the same thoughts when I started, in fact I started for one month, then due to insurance and $$$ issues could not take it again for 6 months. It really took time for the cumulative benefits to come to me. Even though I have to scrape up over $300.oo co pay each month..it is worth it..I would have to say give it some time and keep a journal of your pain levels, flexibility and so forth..good luck and kick some AS

Bob
I couldn't have said it better myself

Jimmy

Hey Mase, when you say 'RA' do you mean Reactive Arthritis, or Rheumatoid Arthritis? 'RA' is generally the acronym for Rheumatoid. Just trying to clarify here.

Man, you are going to do whatever you are going to do. Stay on the Enbrel or not. It's up to you. But it wouldn't have been prescribed if you didn't have some kind of inflammatory arthritis - most likely Rheumatoid, AS, Psoriatic or Reactive. Of that, at least, you are sure. And to be prescribed one of the biologics without a definitive diagnosis is almost unheard of. Count yourself a miracle my friend. There are people here who would kill for the opportunity you have been handed on a silver platter.

Whether or not you have AS is not the issue here - you seem angry and frustrated by the whole thing. And who can blame you? You're 25 and supposed to be in the prime of your life from a health perspective. But you aren't. You want to be a police officer, a noble goal and one I hope you achieve. But this phantom diagnosis of whichever type of inflammatory arthritis you may have could jeopardize that goal. And, I would hazzard, the potential side effects of the biologics probably scare the bejeebers out of you (you wouldn't be human if they didn't).

But Mase, you asked for opinions and information. You were given it. Biting the head off someone for correcting what appeared to be a misconception about this disease (for, how could he possibly have known that you have done the research and know everything about it) is simply unfair. Anger is one of the silent (or not so silent) symptoms of arthritis in general - usually brought on by pain and fear. You are in a place filled with people who understand all of that first hand. We've all experienced it, lived it beyond reason. You were out of line in your response, Mase. But we all understand the frustration that was behind it. More than you know.

Hugs,

Oh so Iam rude for standing up for somthing that I believe in and not letting someone tell me I need to " think twice " and not live my life and not pursue my carreer and not be able to do the things that I want to do! Your the one who is rude and very ignorant to the fact you dont know ME!! You dont know anything about me or what is going on in my life and for you to sit their and call me names and degrade me in a way to where I cant respond and defend my point in face to face maner and you sit their and tell me I need to think again.... You need the attitude adjustment! I came on here for advice and see if anyone else has gone through the same reservations of trying to stop or try somthing different not to be critisized nor be called names and givin a leture on my condition and told that I need to THINK TWICE about doing what I wanna do!!! Let me guess your the one always on the side line complaining about everything and when some one asks you to do somthing about it you sway from the responsibility!! Dont take it out on me that you gave up on your self!! I as for one will NEVER give up on my dreams and goals!!! So dont sit their and come at me with all this hostility saying Iam a jerk and jack [**BLEEP**] when comming from your mouth seems to be the only one who is a jack asss is you!

You have a very good point! I thought about the same thing as you said and I think being honest up front about it from the get go I will hopefully be fine! I spoke with my 2 Rhumeys and they both said that I should be able to live a normal happy life with it being on the meds or my body might take over it self and take it away... thank you very much for taking the time to respond =)

Thanks MIG I have another apt. on the 24th and I will see what he thinks about it.... As for now I suppose I will keep taking it as scheduled on Sunday

True thanks for the link I'll check it out.... I just hope maybe I can put it at bay... But then again taking the meds can stop it from progressing into AS =) So I dunno, thanks

WOW 5 years??? So how has it helped you? are you able to funtion normaly and do all the things u wanna do? Run, hop, skip, play sports and just be normal? =)