Hi I'm just wondering if there are any others out there who are pregnant or have been pregnant with psoriatic arthritis? I've had psoriatic arthritis for about 10 years now (started when I was 19) and as this is my first bub I'm just wondering what others experience was during and after pregnancy.
My arthritis went into remission when I fell pg which I've read is quite common, however the last week or so I've been waking up with really stiff knuckles. Usually my arthritis effects all of my joints but so far only my knuckles have began to feel stiff again. I'm praying this isn't the start of my arthritis rearing it's ugly head. Has anyone else experienced this?
Also I've read that after the birth the arthritis can return with a vengeance. How long after birth did your arthritis re-appear and were you able to take any meds while breastfeeding? I had to stop my meds when I fell pg (I was on anti-inflammatories as no other meds helped with the pain and the only safe ones to use while pg made me really sick). I'm just worried that I'll be in so much pain after the birth that I can't enjoy my new bub. Also I find that my arthritis gets so much worse when I don't have enough sleep, so I'm imagining that being a sleep deprived new mum is not going to help things.
Would love to hear any of your stories. Sorry for the long post!
Hi Claire. I don't have psoriatic arthritis, but I do have psoriasis though, so I can sympathise with you on that at least. I hope someone can give you some answers.
Last edited by Trillian; November 7th, 2008 at 12:42 PM.
Hi Claire
I have psoriatic arthritis.. During pregnancy and for a few months after birth I had no problems however after about 4 months I found it to be worse than before pregnancy and even more so the past 3 months..
It always cleared up really well with minimal treatment when I was pg, because your body is in a naturally induced immunosuppressed state (to allow the baby to grow). But within a few weeks of giving birth it always came back again - but never worse than what it was previously. After my 4th baby it was back within days of his birth and with a vengeance too. I've just started taking Methotraxate (immunosupressant) to treat it that way because I've also had a rather nasty flare up from an infection.
HI claire, I am currently 16 weeks preg with No 2. Have had psoriatic arthritis for the past 16 years, am now 32. First pregnancy no problems. went into remission straight away. then a few days after giving birth could feel tightening in my knees it was the start of it coming back. managed to go 6 weeks without meds then stopped breastfeeding and went back on methetrexate. this time different story. stopped meds 3 months before getting pregnant. had been on methetrexate and arava. arava wash out was horrible. over those three months I was in so much pain with my knees. had to have cortisone injections. got pregnant pretty quickly but the arthritis has been flaring up on and off since then. have had cortisone injections which lasted a week. some days haven't been able to walk. on top of that horrendous morning sickness which is just starting to subside. I have lost 6kg since I got pregnant. have been picking up every virus/bug that has been going around. this is definitely my last pregnancy. I had to take 2 weeks off work I was that sick. Roll on May 2009!
but first pregnancy was great. I can't really say that the arthritis came back worse after the baby was born but it is definitely worse now but i gave birth in 2005.
I hope this is of some help. I am planning not breastfeeding this time round and starting meds straight away. no use breastfeeding if I can't get out of bed to look after the baby. I think my arthritis will be like this my whold pregnancy. if it was going to go into remission it would have a couple of weeks ago. fingers crossed I am wrong.
Hi Richelle! I hope you don't mind me popping in... I don't have psoriatic arthritis, but I do have a weird serum-negative rheumatoid arthritis that nobody has yet been able to put a name to. I did want to give you some hope, though. First time I was pregnant I'd pretty much gone into remission by 6 weeks, sadly I lost the baby just before 9 weeks... This time, it was MUCH later before I had any signs of remission at all. It was more like 17-18 weeks before I felt comfortable reducing my prednisone dosage at all, but now at nearly 32 weeks, I've halved the dosage of my salazopyrin and I'm only still on the prednsione (5mg, half of what I started with) because my rheumy told me not to bother and that I'd have to take more around the time I give birth anyway. Not sure what the deal with that is, but I did want to let you know that just because you haven't gone into remission yet, doesn't necessarily mean you won't. I really hope things improve for you soon...
Thanks for your reply. I guess you've confirmed what I was dreading. I really want to be able to breastfeed for atleast 6 months but know I probably won't be able to last that long without medication. I guess I just have to wait and see
I really feel for you - having to copy with morning sickness is bad enough, let alone dealing with PA on top of it. I really hope you go into remission with this bub and that you don't get any more bugs/flus.
Ouchies on the psoriatic arthritis. I like Trillian, also have psoriasis. It pretty much cleared up with my DD, except for one tiny spot on my scalp, and with DS it cleared up, but I still had some spots on my scalp and some little ones on my elbows.
I have recently bought some MooGoo with MSM, to try on my elbows, and it seems to be working pretty good. The plaques aren't as dry and scaly, and don't seem to be multiplying as quickly. had one spot on the back of my hand that has pretty much disappeared.
Hope all goes well and it doesn't make an appearance for quite a while
I am pregnant with my first (13 weeks right now), and I am also experiencing some flaring of my PsA. Knock wood... my skin is pretty good, though.
I try to relax the joints and easily stretch or move them often. Walking a little bit actually helps to avoid too much of tightening up. I also, pretty regularly, wear a sport support on my knee. It really helps keep my knee in place. The ankle support is alright. I got them at the pharmacy. I actually find that basic point and flex stretches work well for the ankle... at least temporarily.
I was on Enbrel. My rheumy has been recommending either Cortisone or Prednisone (sp?) if I really get in tough shape now that I am pregnant. I am trying to avoid both as long as I can!
I agree with the other posts about feeding. My plan is to breast-feed for a month (if I can make it and longer if that is at all possible!), then go to formula so I can go back on Enbrel. I have also heard that PsA gets rough after birth.
Has anyone tried acupuncture for the inflamed areas while pregnant instead of taking meds????
Psoriatic arthritis
Reply With Quote
Bookmarks