OA and MTX

emsjane

I think ive come the conclusion that the MTX isn't working on my OA!

I have been taking it since the beginning of November and it doesn't seem to have had any effect and the last few weeks ive increasd the dose to 15mg and it is making me feel sooo nauseous that ive had enough of it now and i miss not being able to have a few glasses of wine!!!! Especially when i don't feel like the MTX is helping me at all!!!!

Im seeing a Rheumy nurse this week so i will chat to her about it. The problem is my Rheumy suggested i went on Humira next, but having read the leaflet she gave me i really don't want to go on it! I think id like to stop taking all tablets and see what happens, at least then i will have my answer as to whether the tablets are doing anything or not!

If i don't go on Humira, what other choices are there for treating OA in multiple joints!!!

magenta

Hi Emsjane,

I have OA in multiple joints and I don't get anything for it, except pain-killers. I didn't know you could get mtx for OA. I'm sorry it's not working for you. The last rhuemy I had wouldn't help me with my OA at all. You're lucky to have a caring rhuemy so hopefully they'll get you sorted even if it means trying Humira. I don't know anything about it, sorry.

Hope the nausea eases,

Magenta x

skezier

Hi Emma,

I didn't know they treated OA with mtx and am kinda guessing that you mean one of the inflammatories? Certainly the mtx had never done a thing for my oa and actually very for the pa as well.

There are some options open still so hang in there and with luck they will find a treatment that will help and you will feel a lot better in your self. hang in there Cris x

hileena111

Hi
I've never heard of OA being treated with mtx either
I've got OA in lots of places and am on paracetamol and naproxen
Love
Hileena

JuliaHod12

Hi Emma

Same as the others really. all I have had for OA is pain killers, muscle relaxants or anti-depressants all taken in various combinations;

Paracetamol
Ibuprofen
Co-dydramol
and
Amitriptyline
Methocarbamol

I hope you find something that works...........I've never been referred to a Rheumy either as my GP doesnt believe it would serve any purpose when he can prescribe for pain managament (which in my case has thus far failed)! :-)

Julia x

emsjane

Hi All,

The reason ive been prescribed MTX (and Hydroxychloroquine) is because the rheumatologist thinks i have an inflammatory OA or Seronegative arthritis!

I had an ultrasound on my hands and because they saw some inflammation where the arthritis was at it worse and because the arthritis is affecting both sides of my body at the same time like RA does, i think she felt i had seronegative arthritis! I have arthritis in my neck, left side mainly, all fingers and thumbs in my hands, both hips, my right knee (not too bad at the mo tho) both ankles and my big toe on my right foot!!

However, because the MTX and Hydroxychloroquine isn't working or making any difference to me, it makes me think that i don't have a particular problem with inflammation, but that the OA is very active in my body (for one reason or another, which i don't think the doc really know why!!!) so I don't see the point in staying on strong drugs like that, that are just making me so nauseous, for nothing!!!

I didn't get on with NSAIDS or steroids, which didn't help at all, so now i wonder where that leaves me!! With paracetamol!!!

dreamdaisy

I have meth (and an anti-TNF) for my auto-immune arthritis but they do absoloutely zero for my OA (which has ocurred thanks to joint damage). If the meth has not helped then perhaps that would point towards it being OA, rather than something being triggered by an over-active immune system. It's unusual for someone with OA to be seen by a rheumatologist, and which particular form of arthritis is troubling one can be hard to diagnose. I can understand your frustration and disappointment, so often with this malarkey it is a case of one step forward only to take three back - I think we all must have done that particular move at one time or another. I hope they can find something to help you, and soon. DD

aicha

Hi Emma

Hope you do find something to help soon.

I can see you are not in my part of the world but at my local AC meeting last week we had a Rheumy Consultant at the AGM talking about advances in arthritis research and I do know locally they are now doing clinical trials around here using MTX and Hydroxy specifically for OA which surprised me too!!
Though goodness know how anyone gets selected for such trials there must be some basis for giving it a try I assume?

I guess it is something to do with the possible inflammatory aspect of OA but if you have other stuff going on they are hoping it might help both. Perhaps the helpline can enlighten us all further on this if they see it?
It seems it may not be for you though so I hope your next appointment goes well.
take care
aicha

skezier

Hi Emma,

If its for the OA and not doing anything while making you feel rotten I know what I would do flower.....

I have a lot of very active, quick gong OA and the mtx has never done a thing for it so maybe they could find something else that would help you more there? With mine sometimes a hefty dose of antibiotics has helped it be less inflamed but what is good is at least your seeing someone who is trying to find some control to it.

Hope they will find some thing that will work. Cris x

Hi Aicha,

Thats interesting and might in time lead to some kind of real control down the modifiers route.

My mtx isn't doing much of anything now a days but maybe there is 2 reasons to stay on it and its certainly been food for thought. Have a good Easter. Cris x

emsjane

Thanks everyone! I am feeling quite down about it all lately as i just feel that there is nothing out there that is going to help me with my pain and to stop the arthritis from progressing!!!

I will talk to my Rheumy who is lovely and very helpful! And i am willing to do what she suggests, ill give anything a go once!! But if the MTX isn't working then I don't see the point in remaining on it!

I think what i don't understand is if it is JUST OA then why have i got it in sooo many joints!!?? Ive had it since i was 30 years old, so it can't just be because of wear and tear on the joints!!!!! There must be some other reason why it is affecting my whole body!!! It's just frustrating that there doesn't seem to be any treatment for people like me! :x

skezier

Hi Emma,

Sometimes its so hard to stay possitive. Its now 'just oa, there is no just in something that trashes your life so badly. Some of us have this pre-disposition toward the cartilidge being no good and we get a lot of oa in early life. Mine from childhood.

Nobody yet understands it too well but at least now a days they are trying to get some kind of ideas on why it happens. Its not wear and tear till the old age related stuff.....

There is a good bit of news on the helplines and it might be worth talking to your rumo about that? I think this link is right.

http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/forums/chat-helpline-team-f21/strontium-ranelate-in-the-news-today-t31470.html

You hang in there and I hope they will find something help you soon. Cris x