Rheumatoid Arthritis Support Group
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory, multisystem, autoimmune disorder. It is a disabling and painful condition which can lead to substantial loss of mobility due to pain and joint destruction. The disease is also systemic in that it often also affects many extra-articular tissues throughout the body including the skin, blood vessels, heart, lungs, and...
Hi everyone , this is my first post. I have been on awhile and lurking in the back ground. All of you are fantastic and I really love this sight. As a matter of fact I find myself visiting it everyday when I get home from work. I thank all of you for your great support and experiences you have shared on this sight.
On to what is bothering me a bit and see if anyone else is experiencing the same. I am on 20 mg of MTX and have been for three months. (oral doses) . I take the MTX at night after a good meal and also drink a lot of water. I do fine with very little to no nausea. but the next morning when I wake up I have lower back pain, not in the spine but on either side of it. I feel like it is my kidneys. After drinking a lot of water and cranberry juice the pain resides. I called my rheumy and the nurse told me to continue with the MTX as she did not think it was my Kidneys. The thing is, I used to race dirt bikes and when I would not wear a kidney belt I felt it and this is the same pain. So I really do think its my kidneys.
So I guess what I am wondering is :
1 Has this happened to any of you.
2 If so would going on injections help.
The pain is liveable but concerned about the long term side affects if any.
On to what is bothering me a bit and see if anyone else is experiencing the same. I am on 20 mg of MTX and have been for three months. (oral doses) . I take the MTX at night after a good meal and also drink a lot of water. I do fine with very little to no nausea. but the next morning when I wake up I have lower back pain, not in the spine but on either side of it. I feel like it is my kidneys. After drinking a lot of water and cranberry juice the pain resides. I called my rheumy and the nurse told me to continue with the MTX as she did not think it was my Kidneys. The thing is, I used to race dirt bikes and when I would not wear a kidney belt I felt it and this is the same pain. So I really do think its my kidneys.
So I guess what I am wondering is :
1 Has this happened to any of you.
2 If so would going on injections help.
The pain is liveable but concerned about the long term side affects if any.
Sorry you need to find us, but glad you did. Since you've been lurking for awhile, --I did too--you know there is a lot if collective wisdom, from a diverse group of good people. Please go to your doc.
See your doctor and have some kidney function tests run [if it was me, I'd run them while you're actually having the worst of your pain].
Good luck.
Welcome to the support group!!!!
I was on mthx for 9 years. I never had back pain, just liver pain from the liver swelling up and pressing on the sac around the liver. I eventually had to go off of it, but hoping to get back on it sometime in the fall.
I have had kidney infections, and I would not say they are in the lower back. More like in the middle back. But your family doctor should be able to tell better, and maybe order some kidney function blood tests. The only drug I have heard of that really damages the kidneys is lithium, which is used to treat bipolar disorder. We had a man in a church I used to go to, and he had to have a kidney transplant from his wife, the damage got so bad.
If you do find out mthx can affect the kidneys, let me know. As much as I would like to go back on mthx, I do not want my kidney function getting any worse.
Although, my understanding is that mthx cleared through the liver. If it is the mthx, you might want to ask (for me!) why the mthx is affecting your kidneys! Thanks in advance!
Do you get blood tests monthly? My new rhematologist tests for a lot of things, including a blood panel, liver and kidneys. I'm glad he is on top of it.
I have been searching the Internet this morning for this very reason and came across your comment. Joined this group now to talk about it and see how you go when you ask your doctor...?? Please post anything on this issue!
I don't think the MTX causes the back pain......I think that the back pain is part of RA or AS and was there, perhaps dormantly, all along. When you start MTX and it starts working, there's a honeymoon period where all feels so much better. And then you start realizing that your back isn't being helped all that much. .
Guess what? MTX doesn't work well on the joints in the spine, according to my rheumatologist.
Biologics DO work well on the spine.