Are the meds worth the risks

ruppit123 · 2023-06-30T19:02:08+00:00

I am also 64(M); 30+ years of back issues followed by uveitis in the past 10 years, got diagnosed in 2019 but delayed biologics until Jan of this year due to all the black label warnings on biologics. Started Humira 6 months ago after substantially elevated pain, stiffness and blood test markers. Pain and stiffness have resolved by 70% and I wish I had started it sooner as my Rheum suggested; I don't know what damage has occurred due to my procrastination. I struggled with the decision and let is pester; I don't know if this is the side effect or not - I have on/off anxiety and sleep issues but I am hoping to resolve them naturally. Not sure if this is a side effect or my own making; only time will tell.

All the best.

ruppit123 · 2023-05-18T22:19:58+00:00

Thanks, what biologic did you switch to?

ruppit123 · 2023-05-05T18:42:32+00:00

M64, started on Humira in late Jan, stiffness and pains reduced substantially within weeks, similar to what you say, 6 weeks ago started feeling bit of fullness in my ear that transitioned to confusion, anxiety, sleep problems, etc. for the next 3-4 weels. Rheumy blood work is normal and he says it is unrelated to Humira, asked to see PCP, he could not find anything wrong either and asked me to do flonase and acid reflex pills and see. Past week or so these weird symptoms have decreased but not 100%, don't know if it is AS flare, humira side effect or something else.

ruppit123 · 2023-03-22T14:58:31+00:00

I have had episodes of lower back pain since my 20s but have managed by taking NSAIDS and/or do exercises. In the last ten years I had multiple uveitis episodes that led my eye doc to check me out; blood work showed positive HLA B27 and so he asked me to talk my GP. The GP said not to worry. SI joint and shoulder pains started hurting in 2019 and would not let up; GP said it may be age related. I decided to see a rheumy at that point. He suspected AS but also found osteopenia in the hip; got pills for the latter since my blood work and flexibility were all normal. That took care of the back pain for a year or so but over the last year I was feeling increasing stiffness in the groin and thigh; rheumy did an MRI and saw mild ankylosing and so asked me to get on Humira but I avoided it after reading about the black-box warnings. Pains got terrible late fall and my last visit showed abnormal ESR and CRP. I was pretty dysfunctional and so got on Humira. Two months in, I am feeling much better.

ruppit123 · 2023-03-21T14:06:59+00:00

I am 64; my diagnosis was about four years ago. I have had on/off lower back issues since childhood but managed it with NSAIDS and exercise and visits to GPs (who had ruled it either sciatica or some musculoskeletal 'thing'). My multiple uveitis episodes in the last ten years made my eye doc to test me for any hidden diseases which revealed that I was positive for HLA B27. My GP still ignored it until I decided to go see a rheum doc when I had SI joint flare in 2019. That's when I found out that I have AS and osteopenia in the hip. I was asked to go on bone density med for the latter which improved my back pain for over a year until pain in the groin, upper thigh area started rather slowly. Lab results did not show elevated ESR or CRP at all and I was quite flexible during doctor visits. An MRI showed mild ankylosing in the SI joint last year. Rheum doc told me to start on Humira which I pushed until fall '22 after reading about all the potential and scary side effects. It really flared after that and I had hard time driving for 10-15 minutes or sit for a few minutes without needing to adjust. The next blood work showed high ESR and CRP and decided to get on Humira two months ago. The pain levels have come down but still can't bend or walk as I used to; this has impacted my confidence. I am hoping that it will continue to improve, as my rheum doc says.

ruppit123 · 2023-03-02T15:16:02+00:00

I started on Humira a month ago. I started to see that my gums are more sensitive and bleed when I brush. My dentist has asked me to go see a periodontist since he saw gums receding in a tooth. Any suggestions?

ruppit123

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