Methotrexate re considering

[arvine]

Was prescribed methtrexate injections bybrheumy for all over body chronic pain, joints, muscles, exrays while ago showed osteoarthritis, back, hips , hands, currently still on pred down to 4?mgs since April, injections started , 15, 17.5, 20, 4th injection of 20 mgs done ,, have me for 6 weeks for now so 2?” more to go, have already started some hair loss, and in same chronic pain daily, some days worse, so although Im told can take 3-6 mos for metho to work, after reading how toxic this drug can be, and all possible side affects, am close to deciding to stop injections, my rhemy s comments 6 weeks ago at virtual appt said, “could be any type of arthritis along with osteo, could be fibromyalgia” ) ? So a week later made an in person appt with. Him, hadnt had in person appt for almost a year, his first response was “why are you here we spoke a week ago, and told you, could try methotrexate” almost seemed annoyed and wasting his time , he didnt examine me physically for joint movement, muscle pain etc, just said no other options, Bottom line I just dont have confidence in his treatment, just adamant I need to get off prednisone, so after 4?weeks of metho, am rethinking continuing it

[cyberbarn]

Hi, I am sorry you are having to deal with a clinician like that, it doesn't make life easy.

First of all, it does take 3 months for methotrexate to start to work. When I was taking it for the first three months it seemed to do nothing, but then I suddenly realised I was walking more normally, I wasn't feeling like I was walking through molasses. So they are right about that.

When you read that the drug is toxic, it is only toxic in the amounts that they give when they use it to treat certain kinds of cancer. The doses are much higher for cancer than for arthritis. 20 mg is a low dose and doesn't do the same harm that a much higher dose would.

There is a saying, diagnosis by treatment. Methotrexate damps down the inflammation that accompanies various types of arthritis but it doesn't usually work for fibromyalgia, so by taking the methotrexate for at least 3 months will help confirm what is causing your pain.

It is really hard though if you have lost trust in your clinician. But he is right, you do need to try it for 3 months.

Are you having monitoring blood tests? Usually you have to have regular blood tests because that will pick up any problems caused by the medication.

I took methotrexate for 6 months and it make both my psoriatic and osteoarthritis much better. Sadly I started having gastrointestinal side effects and had to stop.

I hope that helps a bit. As I said, it is really hard to trust what a clinician says if you don't have confidence in them.

[arvine in reply to cyberbarn]

Thank you I ll have to decide what to do, yes I had bloowork done after first 2 weeks, and Im to have done in a month from then, but the last 2 days have been worsebin more pain than before starting, I think Im going to tru find another rheumy, I live alone and have to be able to manage basic chores and if I have another day like the last 2 days nevermind 3 mos, I cant bare it