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Ankylosing Spondylitis/Ulcer from NSAIDs
Autoimmune Diseases | Last Active: Sep 15 9:04pm | Replies (3)Comment receiving replies
I was on Enbrel but was doing well with just NSAIDs for over a year. I am addressing some other issues like a flatlined cortisol, Iron deficiency. I want to see if I can rectify these before having to return to biologics. I like to avoid going back on biologics of if I can.
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@saltyg
Have you ever tried an IL-6 inhibitor --- Actemra or Kevzara?
At the age of 32, I was diagnosed with Reactive Arthritis (ReA) which is part of the Spondylitis family. I had recurrent uveitis (30+ flares) to go with ReA.
PMR was diagnosed at the age of 52. I took prednisone intermittently between the ages of 32 to 52 until PMR was diagnosed. After PMR was diagnosed, I needed moderately high doses of prednisone daily for 13 years. Chronic prednisone use resulted in adrenal suppression and made it very difficult to taper off Prednisone. A low cortisol level was measured after Actemra allowed me to taper down to 3 mg of prednisone which was the dose I stayed at for almost a year until my cortisol level improved.
Actemra (tocilizumab) allowed me to finially taper off prednisone although it took a long time for my cortisol level to improve. I have been off prednisone for 5 years. Actemra was initiated for PMR but it has also kept ReA and uveitis in check. I don't take any NSAIDS ... just a monthly infusion of Actemra.