Psoriatic arthritis and Amgevita

Camellia1969

Hello, I started on Amgevita about three months ago and also take methotrexate for psoriatic arthritis. I am struggling with pain though in my arms! They ache constantly, particularly badly at night keeping me awake with the pain. The pain starts in my shoulders and goes all down to my wrist on both sides. Painkillers provide little relief. I’m just keen to speak to anyone who has taken Amgevita ( by injection) and hear their experiences of it. I’ve had a shoulder x ray recently but not heard anything back and have to wait for an ultrasound now! I’m really struggling with the pain 😔

Thank you to anyone who takes time to read and/or reply

jamieA

Hi @Camellia1969

I was diagnosed with PsA in October 2020 and have been on Amgevita since July 2021. I'm also on sulfasalazine and methotrexate - my rheumatologist says the 3 drugs work synergistically. Within 3 weeks of starting Amgevita I could feel an improvement and after 2 months I was able to hand back my elbow crutches which I'd needed to use to walk since being first treated. I'm not cured by any means but my pain levels are significantly reduced from my worst days before an effective treatment regime was found.

I was diagnosed with enthesitis in early 2022 - apparently about 30% of people with PsA also have enthesitis. The enthesitis causes pain in my right forearm, elbow and wrist mainly but I've also been getting pain in my biceps recently. My rheumatologist says enthesitis can be mistaken as tennis elbow and carpal tunnel syndrome - both of which I've a history of being diagnosed with - as well as plantar fasciitis in my feet which is also enthesitis. It's worse at night and my forearm swells overnight but returns to normal during the morning. One rheumatologist I saw reckoned that the body generates it's own steroid - cortisol - but that generation follows a circadian rhythm so drops off during the hours of sleep. I regularly wake at 3-4 am with my arms aching.

I use ibuprofen gel on my joints regularly which I find helps - I can't take oral NSAIDs due to other drugs I take. My GP prescribes me Cocodamol 30/500 which I keep a stock of for if/when I need it. I've also had a number of physio courses which have also helped. I'm currently seeing an NHS physio who has suggested I joint a gym to use the equipment available there for specific exercises and also to go back to swimming.

I hope you get a treatment that works for you soon.

helpline_team

Hi @Camellia1969

Thankyou for your posting on the forum. I am sorry to hear that you are struggling with the pain in your arms and that they ache constantly. It can be particularly difficult if the pain is keeping you awake at night. I see that the painkillers you are taking offer little relief and you are keen to speak to anyone taking Amgevita and hearing about their experiences of this drug.

I hope that you receive others postings here for their experiences of taking this medication. You may also find that you receive responses if you post on the ‘Living with arthritis’ forum on our website. However, everyone’s experiences may be different and it is important to speak to your rheumatology team about the pain you are in so they can advise what may be causing this.

Adalimumab is a type of drug known as a biological therapy and Amgevita is a newer version of this and is known as a biosimilar and works in a similar way to Adalimumab. It can treat your condition and you should start to feel the effects between two to twelve weeks after starting to be treated with this. I have put a link below to our information on Adalimumab which includes potential side effects.

I see that you are also taking methotrexate and I have also put a link below to this information as well as our information on Psoriatic Arthritis which may be of help to you.

I hope that this is helpful.

Adalimumab | Side-effects, uses, time to work

Methotrexate | Side-effects, uses, time to work

Psoriatic arthritis | Psoriatic arthritis | Causes, symptoms, treatments

Best Wishes

Dawn

Helpline Advisor

 

Camellia1969

Thank you for your reply…. that is very helpful for me to read. Your symptoms sound very similar to mine! I do swim, and I also walk a lot as the lower half of my body is less badly affected( or responding better to meds) I too have co codamol but still wake around 3-4 am every night with pain. Your comment has helped though as I feel completely alone with this at the moment! Thank you x

Camellia1969

Thank you Dawn from the helpline too. That is so very kind of you. I will take a read through the links. I do feel very alone with it at the moment so this is all really helpful. X