Just started Methotrexate

[67343]

Hi

I have been taking for the last two weeks and my pain has become worse. I have bad pain down my arms, in my shoulders and my neck. Im finding it impossible to sleep, cant fasten jeans or bra and finding it difficult to grip anything. I work as a care and support worker and I love my job. It is very physical work but at the moment I am really struggling to cope with it. I am really worried I may loose my job if I keep needing to reduce my hours because I cant physically do it. I have a mortgage and bills to pay like everyone else and I cant afford to not work.

[Rosepetal60]

Have you considered going to your Doctor and saying all this. If it was me, I would have stopped taking the drug by now if it was making me worse. But that is not advice just a personal opinion. think your Doctor needs to know

[Angiebabe55]

Hi, I have not been started on them yet, but my consultant gave me a book which explains all the possible side effects and also has pages to record blood tests etc. it also tells you all the do's and dont'ts.

Did you get this book?

I hope the problems go off soon.

[Deelinz83]

It normally take a few months for methotrexate to get into your system and help relieve the pain

[Ladyinredxx]

WOW U just discribed my symptoms to a tee I'm in my seventies though, just come

off steroids waiting to start methotrexate as I've had shingles, does' nt get much

better severe pain and much more pain. Never herd of psoriatic arthritis before

I had it about a year, do not like the sound of Methotreate.

[26pasture]

My arthritis is almost gone after adding large amounts of alkaline foods to my diet. Cucumber, celery, spinach, kale, broccoli, chard, cilantro, parsley, ginger. I put them in a smoothy and add banana and blueberries and maybe orange. Yummy, digestion is purring like a well oiled machine. It took a few months of eating this way every day but NO MORE PAIN and I have to work to gain weight. Great way to loose the pounds. I now have more energy. It is the processed foods that hurt the most. Don't eat anything in a box or jar or can. The body identifies these addictive foods as waste and they go to the joints. Good luck! Real food will save us.

[Hidden in reply to 26pasture]

Good for you!!! This is definitely the way to go.

[KarenF]

Hi there, I am in a similar position to you. I work for the NHS as a Medical Secretary but have been signed off from work since May 2015 due to an exacerbation in my pain, especially in my fingers, hands, wrists, arms and shoulder and neck! A real problem for an audio typist!!!! So this is where I am at; the NHS are trying to retire me off early due to ill health, which I cannot blame them for but this will leave me financially desperate so I have applied for PIP and if I am sucessful I shall go on to apply for ESA. I hate the thought of living on handouts but unfortunately I have no choice - I cannot work or even manage to do normal day to day things such as you are now experiencing, so for this reason I have to go down this route because I still have to pay my mortgage and living expenses and I cannot do that on nil earnings! I am 54 and have worked since the age of 16 and my family and friends have convinced me that I am worthy of benefits now that I cannot work and I shouldn't be ashamed to claim. After all I have more than contributed into the system that is primarily there to help out when you you need it. Hope that helps!

[Hidden]

Inflammation is what causes the pain. Try changing your diet. Foods that reduce inflammation throughout your body can reduce the pain and swelling in your joints. Some of the anti-inflammatory foods are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Add fatty fish like mackerel, herring, salmon, and tuna to your diet, or take a fish oil supplement. Vitamins A, C, and E are antioxidants. Include more of them in your daily diet by eating fresh vegetables and fruits, nuts, and by drinking green tea.

Add more fiber to your diet with foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, and nuts. Strawberries, in particular, seem to reduce your C-reactive protein (CRP) while adding fiber to your diet. You can eat them fresh or frozen.

Don't forget flavonoids. Flavonoids are compounds that are only made by plants. They get into our diets when we eat fruits and vegetables. They may reduce inflammation in your body and could help reduce your RA pain and swelling. Flavonoids include berries, green tea, grapes and broccoli.

Hope this helps!

[donnaheads in reply to Hidden]

Sounds like good advice. Thank you. l have done a lot of research and it seems diet plays a big part .