Posted 6/11/2010 2:03 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Everyone,
I am new to the site but have been lurking around and reading several entries under different sections and on different posts. I finally decided that I should join as I am having a really hard time with a lot of things and am looking for some support. Here is a little bit about me and what brought me to the here and now...
My name is Sheena. I just turned 26 this past Tuesday on June 8th. I was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis in November of 2009. I was involved in a car accident in July of 2005 where I was rear ended. I ended up irritating my neck and back as well as my shoulder. Then in August of 2005 a month to date I was rear ended again and ended up really hurting my left hip and lower back. I went and received treatment for a little over a year and nothing got better. I had my wedding planned for July of 2007 and really gave up on treatment as I had other things on my plate. I figured I healed as much as possible so I would just have to deal with whatever pain that I have and keep it moving.
I should interject that I have had psoriasis since I was born. It was really noticeable on my scalp and around my ears. In 2005 it began to come out really bad on my upper thighs, my stomach, my forehead, my ears, my lower arms and sometimes on my back. In 2006 it stayed in the same places and then began to show up on my breasts and my shins as well as on my back near my neck and shoulder areas. My psoriasis began to get worse and worse and I went to see a dermatologist for the 100th time. Again I was given creams and gels and told to apply them. I currently have psoriasis really bad on my shins, my back, stomach, hips, ears and forehead.
I was dealing with my back and hip pain on and off with medication such as Aleve and Ibuprofen when needed. Sometimes I would take a Loritab or a Flexaril that I had stored or that I had asked for from my Mom who had them. In December of 2008 I was involved in a serious car accident. I was rear ended yet again. This time I knew that my hip and back had got re-injured and I needed to treat it more aggressively. I went to an orthopedic doctor after my primary referred me out. The orthopedic doctor did MRI's, X-rays, EMG, Injections into my discs, sacral joints and hip. I received numerous types of pain medication, Prednisone, Mobic, Voltaren, another type of steroid I can't remember the name of, muscle relaxers and some types of sleeping medications to help me because I was beginning to lose sleep as the pain was increasing and getting worse. I was sent to a chiropractor who was doing light traction and working with alignment of my spine and hips. Finally my orthopedic doctor did some blood work which led to the realization that my inflammation levels were off the chart. The orthopedic doctor then referred me to a rheumatologist. The rheumatologist did more blood work and x rays which led to a diagnosis or psoriatic arthritis of the spine, neck, sacroiliac joints, knees, ankles, toes and fingers.
I was given Oxycodone 10 mg for the pain.
Cymbalta for the depression and newly diagnosed Fibromyalgia 90 mg.-stopped due to increased liver functions
Folic Acid 1mg
Methrotrexate 12 mg (6 tablets of 2.5mg)-tablets changed to injections of 0.6 ml weekly due to nausea-recently stopped due to increase liver functions
Prednisone 7.5 mg
Zanaflex 4 mg
Enbrel weekly injections -stopped due to reaction
Humira bi-weekly injections-stopped after 4 months when I was backtracking regarding improvement
Remicade Infusion-only had one transfusion treatment-liver functions were off the charts so had to stop treatment
My rheumatologist called and me a week and a half ago due to my liver function test with ALT and AST which were 112 and 333. Had to stop treatment and now am not doing anything but tapering down off Cymbalta, stopping the methotrexate and Remicade.
I have no more insurance as I was released from work as I can't work. My NY state disability has ended. I can't afford COBRA anymore. I can't afford state programs. Medical bills are piling in. I am being not seen for things. I filed for SS but that is taking forever. I am sad, I cry a lot, I am in pain. This sucks.
Sheena