Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group getting my head around diagnosis and drug treatmen

Oh Ben I think I get your point now....maybe you meant i wanted to skip the meth INCASE of pregnancy!!!! Good point which I will make. Rhuemy will probably just say that is my responsibility though? Will report back after the appointment today. Tks!

I am not sure what that means?? Newbie remember....talk in slow syllables he he

Thanks for that info Davce re: medicare criteria etc, very much appreciated. Can you explain what your IBD SpA is exactly. Sorry for my ignorance. Do you take Remicade?
Ta;)

Dave, what can I say you are a bloody gem! Ooops can I say that. I have copied and pasted that info plus the links to follow up.
((Thanks a mill...))
Kaz

Oh sorry I see here you are on the Meth. Hmmm so it doesn't help the neck. Poor old neck! When you say steroids do you mean prednisolone, cause I couldn't tolerate that stuff,..couldn't sleep and became extremely anxious even on a low dose. Bummer eh! Kaz

Thanks Karen,
I wonder if my other joint probs are peripheral enthesitis rather than psoriatic stuff. What do you take Karen? Kaz

ps Forgot to add the reason I am thinking it might be better to skip Meth and go on Enbrel is because my physio told me a 40 year old As patient of hers went on Enbrel and hasn't had a flare up for two years being on it. Maybe he was just lucky though as I do understand everyone is different. Kaz

Here is how I understand it:
Peripheral=not the spine or head
Enthesitis=inflammation of entheses, where ligaments and tendons insert into bone.

One symptom of psoriatic arthritis is peripheral enthesitis. So, the answer is yes.

Karen

Wooh, I am about to pass out...three appointments today plus shopping and packing for a few days away. I am wiped out. My boys are hyper God love 'em. Anyway my Rhuemy was a bit blown away with my new found knowledge today. He expected me to say 'yep I'll take the Meth' but we had an excellent discussion and because I felt empowered by info (thanks everyone) I asked intelligent questions. So I am having an updated MRI next Tuesday. Apparently I only qualify for Enbrel if I have level 2 + SI joint damage/fusion (just like Dave said). So you have to wait for damage in order to take a preventative drug unless you are rich and can afford tens of thousands of dollars each year. Decided to start some pain patches and keep taking drugs to stop spasms at night until I have MRI done and follow up discussion.
Thanks gang. Off to the land of nod, for a while atleast. Maybe I am so zonked out I will actually stay asleep:)
Kaz
Take care to all

Kaz,

Spondyloarthropathy ( aka SpA or spondy or spondylitis ) is the family of arthritis AS belongs to.... Basicalyy inflammation of the spine without the ankylosis ( fusing ).

Psoriasis and Inflammatory Bowel Disease ( IBD ) which is usually chron's or ulcerative colitis are also related conditions, along with eye inflammation typically uveitis or iritis.

Reactive arthrits, formerly reiters is another member.

All the spondy's have a peripheral version ie small joints fingers toes, elbows knees, shoulders, Methetreaxte helps alot more with the smaller joints the peripheral arthritis. However not everyone gets the peripheral arthritis.

All the spondy's have an axial version which affects the big joints which is spine, the pelvic/spinal area sacral illiacs and some of the bigger joints hips and shoulders typically but knees etc can be included.

All the other spondy's can evolve to AS, which is when you get the ankylosis, the fusing of the joints. Some refer to the other spondy's as pre AS early AS etc but not everyone will fuse.

With the biologicals I'm unlucky my diagnosis the PBS does not cover me for the biologicals such as remicade enbrel etc, and here in Australia nor is Ulcerative Colitis. I've researched them quite a bit in terms of what works better, but I gave it up when it was an obvious lost cause.

Hope this helps

Dave