Another Newbie | Arthritis Information

I found this forum while I was surfing the net, and am glad there is a place to find information from people who know what it's like.

I found out November 2007 that I have PA. Actually, I was afraid I had the disease my dad died from - Amyloidosis - because of the pain in my lower legs and my stiffness. (He also had OA, scoliosis, an extra vertebrae, and bone spurs on his spine.) My mom always reprimanded us kids for saying our back hurt b/c there was no way we could be in pain like him. 4 of us 5 kids have arthritis in our back.

I have had a couple very minor flares of psoriasis on my elbow over the years - I didn't even realize what it was; one of which occurred just days following my rheumatologist's diagnosis of PA. I asked him kindly to not suggest any other maladies. So when the doctor told me I had PA, I was actually relieved that it wasn't a terminal illness.

I had been trying to manage the pain with Ibuprofen, but dr. put me on Duclofenac. That didn't really do anything, so now I am on predisone, working up to indomethacin. I am scared by the warnings on these meds. I am really considering going back to Ibuprofen. I am also taking Prevacid for acid reflux, so I am concerned that the rheumy thinks he can prescribe anything for me b/c the Prevacid would help prevent stomach problems.

I am only on my second week of taking very low doses of prednisone, and so I am in more pain than usual.

It really is good to be on here and read about people who have the same pain I have, and to know that I actually have it much easier than many. Now I don't worry that I'm exaggerating when I have trouble walking or standing.

Anyone else have experience with Indomethacin?

Glad to have found you all, even though it's under such horrible circumstances.

TammyTammy,

Welcome aboard! As you probably know, autoimmune diseases run in families, and many are cousins of one another (i.e. Crohn's and PsA).

Your steroid should have kicked in by now - maybe up the dose? My mom took the crap for years for COPD and it all but destroyed her. I would not recommend steroids except for short-term relief.

I take Prilosec 2x a day - the various drugs over the years gave me erosive gastritis. Definitley consider the Indocin carefully - it's pretty harsh on the gut. I think docs feel a little too confident when they believe your stomach is being "cured."