Tysabri?

I tried searching for past posts on this but couldn't find anything, so here goes.  Can't do Remicade due to allergic reactions and neither Cimzia or Humira are taking care of the joint pain.  Pain meds aren't helping enough and everything else hurts my stomach too bad to take.  GI said it's hard to know what arthritis is caused by the IBD and what is just arthritis (I'm 27, I think it's all from IBD).  He suggested maybe trying Tysabri.  Do any of you who take Tysabri have arthritis and, if so, is this helping more than the TNF blockers? 

Second, my thought was to try Enbrel or something for the arthritis, if the rheumy is okay with it, and use 6-mp to keep my Crohn's in remission, since the rheumy said she was seeing more results on the Enbrel for arthritis pain.  It may be stupid to mess with my crohn's treatment when I'm currently in remission.  Any thoughts on this?  I'm hurting to bad to do anything other than make it through the work day and then lay on the couch (and I used to work out 11 hours/wk).  Thanks so much!

Have you tried Methotrexate? I have heard alot of folks got relief for their joint pain with that. BUT...........I have heard there can be some side effects with it. And I like you am very sensitive to medications and their side effects. My Rheumy wants me to try Enbrel too, but I am just not ready to go to the biologics. I am in a mild flare right now and have a GI appt on Tues, I am sure he is going to want me to go on 6mp. May give it a shot this time. Hope you get some relief soon, the Crohns related arthritis sucks!!!

Tysabri's response rate is ~61%.  The odds of something horrible happening in the first 3 months during which you establish efficacy are next to none.  The FDA requires a check up at 3 mo and 6 mo.  For me it didn't work.  It was unclear at the time because I continued on rectal steroids.  At 6 months the anxiety of the potential ill effects combined with the concern that it was the steroids, NOT Tysabri, helping...  I quit.  Been better on the steroids alone (since I can take them daily, rectal budesonide).

If you really feel like you want to try Tysabri and the other treatments have not worked, it's worth a try.  Once you figure out if it works you could determine whether it's worth the risk.  If you don't feel like you can emotionally handle the risk, that's ok too.  It's a very personal decision.