Lupus Support Group
Lupus is an auto-immune disease in which the immune system cannot distinguish between threats (like viruses and bacteria), and healthy cells and tissue. As a result, the body produces antibodies that inflict cell damage, most commonly targeting joints, skin, kidneys and the nervous system. Join the group and find support for coping with lupus.
I've been on Plaquinel for 1.5 yrs now and I suffer with horrible muscle cramps and have pain in my hip and left shoulder to the point that it is affecting my strength in my arm. I've been doing physical therapy to gain strength but my muscles don't seem to be reacting correctly. After what my therapist calls minimal excersize she can feel my muscles knot up again and swell.
My question is how do I know when it's time to try MTX? When is this medication and for what is it perscribed? The pain wakes me up every morning and makes it hard to fall asleep. The celebrex does not touch it and I don't like using the Norco unless I do not have to drive somewhere.
My other question is when you guys talk about a drug helping such as MTX what is it helping with? What symptoms do you have that go away.
My question is how do I know when it's time to try MTX? When is this medication and for what is it perscribed? The pain wakes me up every morning and makes it hard to fall asleep. The celebrex does not touch it and I don't like using the Norco unless I do not have to drive somewhere.
My other question is when you guys talk about a drug helping such as MTX what is it helping with? What symptoms do you have that go away.
I had horrible muscle problems during this recent flare up. Not so much cramping but severe muscle weakness and my legs felt like weights when I walked 10 feet. You could be experiencing inflamation of your muscles which is causing the pain. That was what was causing my muscle weakness because after 3 weeks on prednisone my muscle weakness got MUCH better and now, after being on it for 6 months has completely gone away. At the time, I had only been on plaquenil which stopped working completely. I did PT a few times as well and it didnt work. I also was having muscle spasms found by the neurologist.
My suggestion for you is to make an appointment with your rheumy and have your blood work done. He may want to do some tests to make sure you dont have any muscle issues going on first before he starts you on stronger meds. You can always ask him if he will give you a prednsione pack (week long of steroids) and see if that helps your cramping/pain. If you notice a difference, then the answer is pretty clear. You have inflamation and/or auto-immune activity going on. He may even send you to a neurologist to make sure you dont have polymositis or any other neuro issues that can affect your muscles.
I was extremely sick when I started the MTX with fevers, flu like symptoms 24/7, could not do anything physical without feeling sick. I felt like I was dying. Now, all those symptoms are gone. If I over do it, I feel cruddy, but its not every single day while doing nothing at all. The prednisone helped only with my muscle problems but the MTX is what has really made me feel/get better.
You would need to speak with your rheumy about whether or not MTX would help your muscle problems...It may or may not....Not sure about that one. If your blood work is abnormal then he would most likely discuss starting you on MTX on his own to control a flare up if the plaqeunil is not enough anymore. They do this by your blood work and symptoms, usually.
Hope this info helps you.
feel better and keep us posted
Melissa
So talk to your doc. He/she will know by pressing and poking whether your pain is fibro or lupus and prescribe accordingly.
Tracy