Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Psoriatic Arthritis , sausage fingers & magnesium

I have been on the LSD/NSD for about 2 months now. 1 month or so into it, I got a second opnion about my condition which I think is AS, but was told at the 2nd opinion it was probably psoriatic arthritis. The reasons the 2nd rhuemy said this was :
1, skin inflamation on scalp and navel.
2, 2 of my left hand's finger joints ( ICP ?? ) were swollen and painful, and one finger was on it's way to being described as sausage like.

At the time I had only just started the LSD/NSD but could still feel it's beneficial effects ( the celebrex I was taking had started to lose it's ability to stop my pains ), but because I wanted to "show" symptoms to the Doc. I stopped taking even that 5 days before. It was during this time that my fingers swelled up badly and were visibly red.

Fast forward another month, and the finger swelling which had been reasonably under control with the celebrex, was now starting to get worse. ( but note, all my back, neck, knee pain etc was completely gone - I think due to the LSD/NSD ). It was getting to the point where as I came up to the time for my next celebrex, I could feel the pain returning, and redness increasing.
I was ready for throwing in the towel on the NSD, and to go along with the 2nd Rheumy's recommendation of using methrotexate ( sp? ) to get things under control, when I saw a post on these forums about someone taking magnesium and seeing improvement in a day or less. I thought what the heck, what do I have to lose ? And bought a magnesium, calcium, zinc combined supplement. I also had some Glucosamine and Chondroitin supplements left over from a previous trial with those supplements for my ailments ( saw no improvement at the time ), so thought I'd throw those in too, and stop taking the celebrex completely.
The next day coming up to the time for my usual celebrex pill, my fingers felt strangely low in pain. Must be an aberation I thought to myself, but come day 2 the redness and pain had subsided significantly. I am now 6 days into taking supplements / not taking the celebrex, and about 2 months into the LSD/NSD. The fingers are still getting better, but the progress is slower than in the first few days, when I would estimate I lost 70 to 80% of the pain. My back , neck, knee etc, are the "loosest" they have felt in years - I no longer hobble when I get up from a chair, and I can look backwards when reversing in the car without the pain I used to have.

So that is a bit of a long winded explanation of what I've done and where I am at, leading up to asking the following questions :

1, Does anyone on this board have Psoriatic arthritis, and if so do your fingers swell up like sausages / the joints become very red and painful ?

2, Linked to Q1, if answer is yes, have you found anything outside of NSAIDS etc takes down the swelling ?

3, Has anyone else had seemingling "miraculous" turn arounds like I have described and if so what where they ?

3, Anyone like to throw in a theory why I would improve like this , so quickly ? ( I am still having a hard time believeing it myself )

4, If I truly do have PsA, should the LSD/NSD work for that too ?

OcTim: that is a great post! I am so happy that things are starting to work for you with the LSD/NSD and the supplements you are taking. That does sound miraculous! however, I believe in miracles

I can't wait to read what the others have to say about your success. [DragonSlayer, Kiwi, Dotyisle, etc.] I like to think of anyone on this forum who are serious about the NSD and its positive effects as the NSD Warriors!

I'm sorry I don't have any answers for your questions, though, I will be getting myself some: magnesium, calcium and zinc supplement as well as some Glucosamine, and trying them for myself. {I think I may have some in the cupboard, 'cause my hubby takes them occasionally}

Also, when you say LSD/NSD what are you taking that you consider LSD? just curious, I am trying to stay as completely NSD as possible.

Keep the good news coming, it is great to hear about NSD success, especially from someone still in the trenches!! by that I mean still trying to get the AS [or whichever arthritis] under control with the NSD. No offense to the NSD Warriors who already have their AS under control [for the most part, as they are the veterans!!].

Rita
Squeaky

Hi OcTim - one rheumy I saw in March this year, deemed psoriatic arthritis. He did want to try and rule out AS with an MRI scan but then he left the country, and that is as far as we have got! Awaiting appt with new rheumy.

No, my fingers do not swell up like sausages, are not red and are not painful. I do have a very slight psoriasis, comes and goes, mainly on the sole of my left foot, and sometimes very very slightly on my shins, in tiny patches.

I do take magnesium, cinnamon, spirulina, glucosomine sulphate, Vit-E10, Ginko Biloba, Omega 3 & 6, AAKG and Jiaogulun. These last two for inflammation and blood pressure.

I have inflammation under control, BP under control. Am pretty sure that the magnesium is helping everything along. It is a pretty fantastic supplement with proven results all along the way. Am certain that the other supplements are helping bolster results. There is a good book available on Magnesium, when I have located my copy of it I will post the title.

So yes. Not at all surprised. Good for you for picking up the ball (thread) and running with it

I do watch my starches, know what they can do to me...!!

Molly
Keeping on Keeping on (naturally)

Hey OcTim:

From what I have gathered, milk and cheeses are allowed on the NSD, but if you are excluding dairy then they are a No-No, so.....technically you are still NSD!

Also, we should remember that not all Doctors are trained in nutrition/diet--they are trained in 'medicine', so they are not always the best people to ask about your diet or treating a medical condition with a diet! Since, nutrition is an unknown for them they are not usually too keen to subscribe to nutrition/alternative methods!! Also, I have noticed that the Docs are not always that great at prevention either, they will wait until they have a 'condition' they can name and then treat it! instead of treating in a preventative way first before the 'condition' is full blown!! Luckily, they [the medical profession] well, some of them, do seem to be starting to head in the direction of preventative medicine and alternative methods [diet, etc]! Boy, that is going off on a tangent!

I can't wait to find out which supplement is doing wonders for your 'pingers'!!

[ no offense to the medical profession, all said and done, there are plenty of wonderful, caring, efficient, and open-minded physicians out there! my GP is one of them!!!]

Rita
Squeaky

Hey OcTim!

I'm looking for an update! How are you doing these days?

How are the 'pingers'??

Rita

Please see my post regarding AS & Magnesium.

What I posted recenly about using Magnesium to "cure" pain and stiffness, and fatigue

Here is another News article that may be of interest to certain victims of AS, Fibromyalgia, CFS, etc.

New York Times Article on Magnesium

My pain stiffness & fatigue was reduced immediately when I started to supplement with Magnesium Citrate dissolved in hot water.