P + PA Bad Month - need support guys

[bravo]

You guys are great, I only seem to whinge when I get here, but you never kick me out....just as well, the extra pain would go un-noticed.
I'm on enbrel for 8 months for psor and new patches are now showing after being almost clear. My PA is the worst ever - fingers, wrists, knees worst of all, elbows, feet. None of my regular painkillers are working. Due to see Rheum this week, probably steroid injections.
is it possible enbrel is responsible by blocking my immune system from combating the pains??? long shot i guess.
Im meeting my derm next month and maybe i get hime to move me to Humira - havent tried it before but maybe its worth a shot.
Thnaks for listening guys

[LadyHawke9973]

Hang in there bravo. Just find what will take the edge off until you can get to your rheumy. I know it won't be easy, but step by step you can get there.

I don't see how the immune system could be responsible for the pain not going away....white cells fight foreign invaders....pain has to do with nerves/nervous system, etc.

Good luck....we're pulling for you!

[docmks]

Hi Bravo,

Hang in there...there are some of us who initially respond well to a biologic that may have a flare later. Do you know of any particular triggers for your flares...things you might have noticed, like an increase in stress at work or at home? Things like that can certainly cause these breakthrough flares. At other times, I've heard, that certain individuals may develop antibodies to some of the biologics. I don't have any specific sources on this right now, though I am certain the literature is out there. P and PA are notoriously hard to treat. I've encountered lots of difficulty in finding the right combination of treatments. But please don't feel like you are whining and don't give up. Just make sure that you call your doc and get the right medication to help you with the pain. I've had similar responses to Enbrel as you've described and recently switched to Humira, though it is too early to tell what my response will be.

I hope you feel better soon, and please do make some calls to your docs and get some relief for your pain.

Take care and let us know how you are doing,
MK

[evergreen]

Hey Bravo! Moving to Humira might be the right thing to do...It works for me! I have PA in the fingers, wrists, back & toes...

[baldwin123]

Hope this flare ends and you feel better really soon... hang in there!
Jen

[Stillworking]

It doesn't seem to be that unusual for a biologic to suddenly stop working. Why, who knows. In a lot of threads that I have read, a switch to a second or third biologic seems to be the norm. Hang in there until you see your Rheumy. He or she should have some answers for you.

[bravo]

Hi guys,
Thnaks for your support, advice and encouragement.
Saw my Rheumy yesterday. He agreed a change to Humira might help, but is leaving it to the derm whom I'm due to meet next month.
He took some fluid off my knee, gave me a steroid injection in the bum, to dampen down all my pains, and prescribed Prednisolone (oral steroid), fish oils and pain killers.
So now i'm on his pres. as well as two blodd pressure tablets, and enbrel.
So today 20 hours later my knee seems very swollen and my pains are now concentrated in one knee and the same leg. Its probably too early for the steroid to kick in, but heres hopin. maybe Humira might work when I change to it.
I'm avoiding MTX for as long as possible, but I guess I'm gonna have to give in at some stage. Anyway thanks again guys. I'll keep postin.