Inflammatory Arthritis ?

Hello, it's nice to meet you but I am sorry you have had to find us. Inflammatory arthritis is the umbrella term initially applied until conditions can be ruled out - with around three hundred auto-immune inflammatory conditions known unless one presents with the ideal symptoms in the perfect place or places diagnosis can be a lengthy process. My version, psoriatic, is supposed to begin in the small joints of the body such as fingers and toes, mine chose my left knee. I don't have much psoriasis either but there is no rhyme nor reason to this nonsense. It is also a sero-negative form of auto-immune arthritis (i.e. no RF is present): I feel reasonably sure that you will have been tested for rheumatoid factor because that is the first, basic test.

I presume that your meds have been prescribed by a rheumatologist as GPs cannot prescribe meth. The standard meds for all auto-immune arthritis are DMARDs such as methotrexate, sulphasalazine and hydroxy, which can be combined with NSAIDs such as naproxen. These are required to control the immune system in order to reduce disease activity. GPs are nowadays much better at recognising the signs of inflammatory arthritis and I have seen for myself that the quicker the diagnosis, and the sooner one begins the meds, the better the outcome can be. I began back in 1997 aged 37, I know why I have it but if yours has come out of the blue that must be disconcerting to say the least.

As you are in the early stages of immuno-suppression I urge you to get a flu jab ASAP: it won't protect you against all strains of the virus but it does make a difference. DD

Sometimes the professionals forget that patients do not know what they know - for them it's routine whereas for the patient it's far from it. :roll: I have been given leaflets and told to choose the drug I want but, having being under medical care since childhood that was no big deal for me: it must be a huge one for someone new to medical matters. The forum will offer as much support as you want - more people tend to look in on the Living with Arthritis board on here but you can keep posting here, I'm usually around.

Alcohol is a tricky one, for the first twelve weeks or so it is important to keep it to the minimum (none is even better) because it is necessary to establish how the liver is coping with the meth, so it's only fair to that wonderful organ to give it a fighting chance to cope with the new demands being placed upon it. Initially I had my bloods done every fortnight and I hope this is the case for you as close monitoring is essential. I chucked toys and spat dummies every now and again when I had to stop for various reasons (normally drug reactions) but things were eventually OK and I could carry on as before - and happily did. Obviously smoking is deleterious to the whole body (and the wallet) plus it makes you stink - I used to smoke but gradually stopped as it got harder and harder to physically get out to buy them.

Is there any family history of auto-immune dross such as eczema or asthma? This stuff can skip generations - my parents dodged the genetic bullets they joyously donated to me - but it can also start out of the blue. Life is a health lottery but when you're used to being well you don't know you're playing. DD

I know my stuff regarding the meds etc. and yes, having a long history of life never being anywhere near as good as others had it does make it easier to deal with.

Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis (I have that too thanks to the joint damage caused by the PsA) and polymyalgia is also known as polymyalgia rheumatica , an inflammatory condition that causes pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulders and elsewhere on the upper body. The advances in genetics have clarified why things run in families but even so this nonsense can start completely out of the blue. DD