My intro by beachbum

[beachbum]

I've had plaque psoriasis since 1983. In the past year, a rheumatoligist came to believe I have psoriatic arthritis, based on chronic  stiff joint symptoms and xrays showing mild joint space shrinkage. Blood tests to support this were all negative. She also suggested I try Rinvoq and provided a 30 day free trial. I've not taken this drug. Frankly, I'm not sure the pain is bad enough and the side effects for someone my age (over 65) are a bit alarming. I'm curious of what others may have experienced in combating my issues. The score I get on this website is 13 and the psoriasis plaquing bothers me much less than the joint pain.

[Caroline]

I've had plaque psoriasis since 1983. In the past year, a rheumatoligist came to believe I have psoriatic arthritis, based on chronic  stiff joint symptoms and xrays showing mild joint space shrinkage. Blood tests to support this were all negative. She also suggested I try Rinvoq and provided a 30 day free trial. I've not taken this drug. Frankly, I'm not sure the pain is bad enough and the side effects for someone my age (over 65) are a bit alarming. I'm curious of what others may have experienced in combating my issues. The score I get on this website is 13 and the psoriasis plaquing bothers me much less than the joint pain.

Hello Beachbum,

At first… Welcome to psoriasisclub. 

That’s already a long time for your psoriasis, since 1983.

Stiff joint problem at your age, can of course also be related to that age, at that age I think that the Cartilage slowly is reducing.
But.. certainly it could be Psoriatic Arthritis also.
The sentence “Blood test to support this were all negative.”  Is a very difficult to interpret message.
1. You can test what you want, but there are no tests yet that can prove that you  have Psoriatic Arthritis. The diagnose of that is completely based on observations.
2. If ‘negative’ means that there is no outcome and that therefore you have PsA, thus might be a valid conclusion.

Signals you have PsA are:
- inflammation of little joints (thickened painful fingers or toes)
- damaged nails (all pits and bumps)
- inflammation of tendons.

Rinvoq is a JAK-inhibitor, see over here Rinvoq
There are two kinds of JAK inhibitors, the overall one, like this one and the type that only targets the TYK2-pathway…
It is said that the latter one is better. It’s name is sotyktu.

Other members will join in soon with a reaction to your first post.

Cheers,
Caroline.

[Turnedlight]

Hi beachbum, nice to meet you

I hope you find it helpful here.

[Fred]

Hello beachbum welcome to Psoriasis Club 

I see Caroline has already posted so I won't go over what she said apart from to agree. Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are so difficult to treat and what works for one may not work for another and it's all about finding the right treatment to manage it.

I got psoriasis in 1980 and psoriatic arthritis in 1985, I've had good, bad and very bad times with them both and today I'm probably at my best.

I see in your profile you have "nw indiana" excuse my ignorance but I'm guessing that is in the USA ? personally I don't get the idea of giving a 30 days free trial, most treatments need 3 months to see if they are working.

Sorry probably not much help to you, but you could put Rinvoq in the Search facility whilst logged in, there are a few threads but you are always welcome to start a new one in Prescribed Treatments For Psoriasis to see if it get's more feedback.

[Kat]

Welcome!

I understand your hesitancy as most side effects listed with drugs are a bit daunting.  I think you just have to weigh your symptoms vs "possible" side effects.  Drug companies have to list possible bad things to protect themselves from lawsuits.... Otherwise I don't know anyone who would take the ones that say "may cause death"    Of course they also list them because although perhaps most people don't have issues with the medicine, they must have had a few that did so that's the scary part. There are also other treatments for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, it's good to find out (here is a great place for that by the way!) what others are using and discuss those options with your provider.  But most of the oral meds have the same warnings.  And most of the biologics have the same warnings.  But remember, the problem with arthritis is that it can get worse so early treatment can help slow down the process. 

I had good results with Acitretin, an oral med.  I also had no side effects.  However, the more I read up on it the less I wanted to use it.  I just felt like I was taking something bad even though it helped my symptoms.  It helped but I stopped taking it. So, I get it.

Fred, the 30 days free is something usually offered here more as an incentive and a bit of a savings thing.  Also 30 days can sometimes let you know how your system tolerates the new medication.  It can be an incentive to try something (who doesn't like free stuff) and due to the price of most drugs a month's savings can sometimes be a nice little bit of money you get to keep.  Similar to that are the free samples doctor's give out.  Saves me a trip to the drug store and a few dollars here and there.  I only get samples of drugs I'm currently taking, it's not like the doctor's are going oh here give this one a try    It's usually only something they are prescribing for you anyway.

[Fred]

Fred, the 30 days free is something usually offered here more as an incentive and a bit of a savings thing.  Also 30 days can sometimes let you know how your system tolerates the new medication.  It can be an incentive to try something (who doesn't like free stuff) and due to the price of most drugs a month's savings can sometimes be a nice little bit of money you get to keep.  Similar to that are the free samples doctor's give out.  Saves me a trip to the drug store and a few dollars here and there.  I only get samples of drugs I'm currently taking, it's not like the doctor's are going oh here give this one a try    It's usually only something they are prescribing for you anyway.

Sorry I keep forgetting you have a different system and I wasn't sure if beachbum was in the USA, we don't get free samples we just get given a prescription. If it doesn't work or we can't get on with it we try something else, so no point in the drug companies offering us freebies.

[Forest Walker]

Fred, the 30 days free is something usually offered here more as an incentive and a bit of a savings thing.  Also 30 days can sometimes let you know how your system tolerates the new medication.  It can be an incentive to try something (who doesn't like free stuff) and due to the price of most drugs a month's savings can sometimes be a nice little bit of money you get to keep.  Similar to that are the free samples doctor's give out.  Saves me a trip to the drug store and a few dollars here and there.  I only get samples of drugs I'm currently taking, it's not like the doctor's are going oh here give this one a try    It's usually only something they are prescribing for you anyway.

Sorry I keep forgetting you have a different system and I wasn't sure if beachbum was in the USA, we don't get free samples we just get given a prescription. If it doesn't work or we can't get on with it we try something else, so no point in the drug companies offering us freebies.

Fred, did you ever hear of the Great Lakes between USA and Canada?  The State of Indiana has a small part of its geography on Lake Michigan, which looks sort of like an ocean from the shore, it being so vast.  

[Forest Walker]

Welcome, beachbum.  I'm sorry you've had Psoriasis for so long.  And also the pain from arthritis.  This is a really good club for information and community.  Glad you found us.

[Fred]

Fred, did you ever hear of the Great Lakes between USA and Canada?  The State of Indiana has a small part of its geography on Lake Michigan, which looks sort of like an ocean from the shore, it being so vast.  

Nope

[Fred]

To keep the thread on-topic Kat has started a new one for members only here: [Group Specific]

Let's keep this for beachbum's intro thread, here is a reminder of the first post.

I've had plaque psoriasis since 1983. In the past year, a rheumatoligist came to believe I have psoriatic arthritis, based on chronic  stiff joint symptoms and xrays showing mild joint space shrinkage. Blood tests to support this were all negative. She also suggested I try Rinvoq and provided a 30 day free trial. I've not taken this drug. Frankly, I'm not sure the pain is bad enough and the side effects for someone my age (over 65) are a bit alarming. I'm curious of what others may have experienced in combating my issues. The score I get on this website is 13 and the psoriasis plaquing bothers me much less than the joint pain.