Hi new to arthritis - Arthritis Message Board

idunno · 03-27-2009, 05:15 PM

Hi all,
I have been on 75mg daily of prednisone for over six mos for what was thought to be minimal change disease of the kidneys. In fact it turned out to be fsgs which is scarring of the kidney filters , not thinning as in mcd.
Since I have weaned of the pred I have suffered severe poly arthritis. A bone scan showed it in virtually every joint. It is an auto-immune problem and is not expected to go away. Nsaids are deadly with kidney problems and will certainly put me on permanent dialysis. My doc has tried me on sulphasalazine but I had a really bad reaction on the lowest of the build up dose. I am a st3 colon cancer survivor and have ibs(what's left of it). I was put back on pred 15mg a day to ease the pain and have now started on methotrexate building up to a weekly dose of 20mg over four weeks.
I am again weaning off the pred and I take my second lot of mex tonight. Can anyone tell me how long the mex might take to kick in. I am a sewing machine mechanic by trade and it gets very hard to handle tools like screwdrivers with the pain in my hands and wrists. Thanks Ron.

jennybyc · 03-27-2009, 05:45 PM

Sorry you're having such a tough time. Your doc never should have put you on sulfasalazine as it can cause kidney stones. Been there.

I've been on MTX for about 5 years now. I doubt you'll see much change until you hit 15mgs/week and then it will help slowly. But watch your stomach. It can cause ulcers. I'm on 25mgs/week, the max for rheumatoid arthritis and I inject it. Saves the stomach and you get a better result. If you start to feel stomach pain ask to switch.

Long term high dose pred can end up causing a lot of joint damage so watch it carefully. Another anti-inflammatory that isn't an NSAID is Plaquenil. It's an anti-malarial that has really good anti-inflammatory properties with minimal side effects to the kidneys as far as I know. But it can harm sight so you need regular eye exams(rare). Also takes 3-6 months to really work although if it's going to, it seems to let you know it within about 3 weeks.

If they determine it is auto-immune and not as a result of the pred, there are a lot of new meds out there. MTX is a starter drug as is Plaquenil. then depending on what they think is causing it, there all sorts of goodies from Arava to Enbrel to Orencia with more in the pipeline.

Good luck and again, I'm sorry you're having such a hard time.

gentle hugs.........Jenny

Ronnied · 03-28-2009, 02:30 AM

idunno,

So sorry you seem to have had such a rough time. I have had Psa for 5 years now and I was put on Methotrexate after sulphazalazine didnt work. Please be careful with the Methotrexate, it all depends on the person taking it, my friend has been on it for 10 years, no probs and certainly helps her arthritis, I was on it 7 months, my hair fell out and my liver count went from 25 to 150 and I spent 3 days in hospital trying to get my liver count down. I was then changed to another dmard called leflunomide. As you have had so many probs, please make sure you get the blood tests regularly on methotrexate. I hope it works for you and your joints ease enough for you to carry out your work. Wish you all the very best, take care. Ronnie

idunno · 03-28-2009, 03:11 AM

Thanks Ronnie and Jenny,
I appreciate the information. I forsee problems. I lucked out with the cancer it was into six lymph nodes when they found it but I have been clear for over eleven years. Un fortunately i don't have a happy digestive tract. I had chemo every week for eleven months for the cancer . Since then I had pancreatitis and lost my gallbladder. Not long after that they suspected me of stomach cancer but it turned out to be wall to wall ulcers. I have had about 5 lots since ca,the last in november from the pred. My last colonoscopy (in Nov) was not very clear because I was passing digested blood. I take two somac a day to help with my stomach but that still did not help. I fear that may be a problem with the meth so I may have to see about the injections.
It is quite funny I live in Australia and with the kidney problems and arthritis I applied for a dis-ability pension ,I turn 59 next week, but they told me I was nowhere sick enough and was still quite capable of working. Such is life.Cheers Ron.