@A MySpondylitisTeam Member. Biologics target one specific inflammatory cytokine out of hundreds that could be causing your symptoms. Unfortunately, although a cyrokine blood panel does exist, it is a complicated test, costly, and almost never ordered prior to prescribing. Instead you are treated as an unwitting extension of the biolgics industry testing. You are far better off to first determine what is causing your body to have the inflammatory response, then work to stop that trigger. It's typically something a person is consuming, exposed to environmentally, or stress.
Research how your meds are manufactured. For biologics, European Medicines Agency is the most honest. National Institute of Health mentions "recombinant DNA with mammalian cells" but doesnt mention anywhere what those mammalian cells are. European Medicines Agency clarifies that, CHOs, Chinese Hamster Ovaries.
Humira is not your drs choice necessarily. That is pre-set authorization according to the insurance industry, not drs, because it's the cheapest to produce. It targets TNF-A. All well and good if TNF-A is causing your inflammation. But if it's one of the other hundreds of cytokines, say IL-23, Humira not only will not help you, it will likely cause all kinds of other problems from neutropenia to kidney disease and more.
Drs follow a pre-set flowchart in treating patients these days. They dont have time to look at the overall conditions from diet to lifestyle and environment of each individual patient anymore. That is your responsibility. Drs are just tools for you to use after you do the old fashioned doctoring work for yourself. Good luck. Reach out anytime for more info. Theres so much to learn. 😌🙏

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