Facet Arthritis DX... Now what?

[Morknmindy]

So I just got dx with facet arthritis.. I am on Plaquenil and low dosage prednisone for Sjrogen/lupus.  I am also currently starting a treatment of Vit D at 50,000 units per week... for deficiency...

Could Facet arthritis all come from this autoimune problem... I do also have osteoarthritis on my knees and arthritis on my shoulder...

Any advice out there is welcomed.

Thank you  

[txsilver]

Completely understand about getting into funks.  I am glad you have a supportive husband to see you through all of this!  great post from Opus and I definitely plan to read it myself - thanks for sharing Opus!

[opus88]

hi....I also have osteoarthritis of the facet joint...pressure due to inflamation on the nerve leading from the facet and down the legs can/does cause nerve pain in the legs and feet..this is called neuropathy with I suffer badly from....

Just want to inform you and anyone else with this that there is a recent very informative post on PAIN MANAGEMENT community.
this post is by Dr. Jim who also suffers from facet disease...all the procedures he's had and medications that help
I may not have the title just right but its similar to ANYONE ELSE GETTING RELIEF FROM CELEBREX??
the post was during the past week and I urge everyone to read, its very informative

[Morknmindy]

Please forgive me for taken so long to get back.  I get into these depression moments where I just stay away from the pc... I feel good these days...Except for my feet..
Morknmindy were the nicknames for my husband and I during our highschool years.  We have been together 30 years now..Yikes!  Gotta love that man. He is good to me.  
Anywho, I am still on plaquenil but they took me off steroids and that is causing horrible pain on my feet but it has nothing to do with joints. The pains are on the nerves and tendons and such... Oh well, like I tell my hubby, I have to live with it and control it not let it control me... I wish you a blessed Holiday season and thereafter.

[txsilver]

Love your handle.  I watched that show religiously.  From what I have read, facet arthritis is a degenerative form of arthritis and not an autoimmune form.  I am certain that your autoimmune conditions don't help matters, but this does not appear to be one of their AI friends invited to party at your expense.  Cruel enough that we develop these degenerative conditions as we age but then to have AI conditions thrown in the mix is just icing on the cake.  I have some degenerative conditions in my spine, RA, AS and mild sjogrens.   I take plaquenil, too, but am not on steroids.  I also take relafen, darvocet and flexeril.  How are you doing on the meds you take?  So far, I am doing ok on mine.  I did have to take MTX for almost a year.  I hope I don't have to take that path again.  The side effects were rough on me.  I only had 2 or 3 good days a week.