Hi Mcjonval,
I am taking methtrexate. But, a few years ago, when I first was referred to my rheumatologist, I was Rxd as osteo arthritis. Was treated with mostly muscle relaxers and light pain meds. I cannot take anti-inflammatories, because of a bad stomach.
Then I slowly got worse, (my family dr. thought that I had fibro) and my rheumy dr. added a nother med. here and there. I think that is the way a lot of them do and she did a great job, trying to find the right fix for me. It just takes a lot of time.
I just think that you should take or be given something else, when you do start the methotrexate, as that medicine (works really well, when it starts working) takes 6 - 9 months to fully work. So, I am, was taking Prednisone, a steriod and ballooned up 20 lb. So, now that my metho is starting to work (hopefully after my upcoming surgery, when I can take it again), my rheumy dr. is lowering my extra drug (prednisone) to 1/2 pill per day and then after a few months, even less or no???
I am not a very good authority on psoriatic arthritis. Just thought I might have that also, along with my RA. I do have patchy, dark, scaly elbows, tho. The rest are just sores that will not heel, I guess. There are just so many kinds of arthritis and some of them run together! :>
I would imagine along with your hands, wrists, elbows, shoulders and back, that your whole arms and parts of your legs hurt sometimes too. And yes, the weather is really bad on arthritis, of just about any kind. My dr. said that they get twice as many calls when a front rolls in and in the winter. Some people can come in and get a prednisone shot or some other kind. That worked for a while with me, but no longer. So, it is the pills or nothing or something else (hope! Hope!! :>).
I do hope that you get your illnessess all figured out and the correct meds for your condition. If you are really hurting bad, and cannot wait til your next appt. ( mine are 2 - 3 mo. apart), call your rheumatologist. Tell the nurse all that hurts and how bad and they may be able to give you a stop gap med, til your appt. time?!
Take care and feel better (I know easier said than done).
Wananbe