hello everyone, I am a new member on this forum and wanted to say hello to everyone.

I have had psioratic arthritis for 25years (I am 28 ). My Arthritis has got a lot worse over the last few years even though i have been put on many different treatments. I was put on steroids (prenisone) at 15yrs old and am still on them. From long term steroid use i have now got Osteoporosis as well and broke my back 4years ago. I have been on Methotrexate, sulphalazine and cyclosporin and none have really made a difference to the arthritis or the psoriasis. I have gold injections as well. I take voltrol and dihydrocodiene and deflazacort daily. I had a plate put in my wrist when i was 18 and am on the waiting list for a hip replacement at the moment. (which i am quite worried about) My dr is about to start me on Anti TNF treatment and i dont know much about it so does anyone on here have any info or personal experience with the drug? also any personal experiences with joint replacements as i am rather nervous!

I am also looking for any information on alternative treatments for psoriasis as i have tried many different treatments and nothing has really worked. I use steroids creams daily for my skin but am worried about keep using them as they really are thinning my skin and not working that well. The only thing that did do any good was uva treatment but i have now had all the sessions i am allowed at the moment. When i go away on holiday to sunny climates that always clear up but I cant not afford holidays all the time!! any advice would be appreciated. thanx

i really dont have any info for you, i just happened to come across your post and just wanted to express my concern to you about being on prednisone for so long. my father was put on prednisone at a very young age as well, along the the gold shots etc.... The thing that concerns me is the long term use of prednisone. You really need to talk to your dr(which im sure you have). about the risks of this surgery. My father was in a car accident and had to have surgery to fix his broken hip. They told us when they went in to do the surgery that his bones and all were like wet toilet paper.(which explains why his feet would break if he walked too hard or his ribs would crack when he had bad coughing spells). Needless to say, he passed away from his accident because his body got infections and because he just couldnt heal from the surgery. had he not been on prednisone he would still be here today(it was still his time to go though) but if he hadnt have took it he would have been in bad shape. so he did what he thought was right. i dont want to scare you, i am just concerned is all. it frightens me. whatever you decide to do good luck to you.

Is it Enbrel that the dr plans to put on? I am on that and methotrexate for psoriatic arthritis and the combo works well for me. Good luck to you!

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My son has had JRA and has since he was 3 he is now 25. he had two hip replacements at 16 and a knee replacement at 19. he was in a wheelchair from the time he was 15 til he was 19 then he went on the tnf inhibitor Enbrel and methotrexate.He was up and walking in 5 weeks and has been going strong since. He plays paintball and goes to college. He still has flares sometimes but nothing like he was before enbrel. Don't be afraid of treatment look forward to being pain free. Good luck
your Old Waitress