@A MySpondylitisTeam Member. Regarding blood tests, I dont recall offhand if it's the CBC or CMP that checks for overall inflammation markers. Those typically baseline markers are ANA, ESR, and CRP, occasionally PV. All these just give an overall idea of general inflammation in the body and they can go up, down, be present, be absent from test to test depending on many variables in your life. MTX and other DMARDS are baseline chemotherapy along with all the potentially fun side affects of nausea, bone and hair loss, although not necessarily. Some people feel help, most dont stay on it long though, especially if they had any level of life satisfaction and capabilities beforehand. It drastically inhibits your body's ability to fight off anything, including cancer. For the insurance industry, it's the least expensive medicine because it's been around the longest. The insurance companies dont give a whit about your condition and quality of life. They only care about cost savings. They wont authorize biologics or other meds until you have a track record of the cheaper ones not helping or worse. It's ultimately not up to the drs what you are prescribed and in what order.
As for the biologics, if you make it to that, it's the same process except there is no standard blood test to determine which one might actually work for you. Biologics, in theory, are a great idea. They only target one or a very small class of a few inflammatory molecules called cytokines, not your entire immune system. Our bodies can produce hundreds of different types of cytokines though. The first line of insurance authorization for biologics is Humira, again, because of cost since it's been around the longest. It targets TNF-a. All well and good if TNF-a is the cause of your systemic inflammation. But if your inflammation is from one of the Interleukin family, Humira wont help you and could even cause worsening issues. Only large research and teaching hospitals have the specialized centrifuges that your blood must be spun in within 24 hours of the draw to test for specific cytokines if your insurance company will authorize it.
You will be far better off seeking the help from a functional medicine oriented dr. Some of those are Rheumatologists or Neurologists or even Doctors of Physical Therapy or Psychiatry, or other backgrounds. The key is their focus, but many of their tests and treatments are not covered by insurance. At the very least, a nutritionist as well as physical therapist is more likely to help you feel better than any medicine or invasive procedure.
All this, and much more, I have learned through my own research while being immobilized. Dont take your condition lying down (figuratively) leaving it up to big pharma, insurance, and doctors not thinking about you the minute you leave their office. There's a way to restore your health, it's never going to be in one or two meds though. 😌🙏

Mentioned Users

A MySpond...

I decided not to . And I waited 9 weeks to go see my Rheumatologist for follow up , told her it stoped it after one use because my body did not do well with it.(but I did not use it ) she looked at me and said that’s all I wanted to hear !!! Now we can start and file for a biologic treatment !!!! I could not believe my ears , but that’s what they want you to do first before starting the treatment.

Since my first visit with her 12 weeks ago , I ve been using my homemade Frankincense and Myrrh message oil on my knees and hands and worked amazingly for me… no more acute pain and aches …. She just examed my knee yesterday and was wow it’s less swollen and feels firmer and less painful to touch than the last time !!!
One of things that I used instead of Voltaren cream 🥹

I couldn’t agree more in every single word you said here 🥹… I just asked my doctor yesterday couple questions, one of them was how in the world can a disease be diagnosed only by symptoms if my CRP is normal my ANA12 profile is negative normal my HLA B 27 is negative my comprehensive panel is normal and only my CBC is up and down with numbers!!! To begin with I have thalassemia minor so I think it’s normal …. She looked at me surprised and with a maline smile said … yes this how autoimmune diseases are !!!
Anyway she said because things are not bad and numbers somehow normal she recommended the most natural safest biologic med Cimzia thinking it may help with my knee pain mostly and with my body aches… than I said please give me Celecoxib at least and physical therapy to start with while waiting for insurance approval… honestly I just want to start with this and get an appointment with a holistic doctor to help me with physical therapy and weight …. Period
Back home … my dad is 78 now dealing with back / knee pain here and there but healthy and active enjoying his life … I am surely sure he has AS and his doctors or Rheumatologist never ever even scared him this way 🥹
Thank you again for all the informations you are giving me ❤️

Thank you so much for clarifying this for me. I did not take it and I am supposed to go back see my doctor 6 weeks after . I will ask for CBC testing again and will discusses with DR the alternatives. Thank you again