I guess I must have a very mild dose as with the salazopyrin I feel fitter than I did when I was 20. I do feel for anyone in pain and urge you to get the right treatment as you may not have to suffer as long as I did.

I just dropped 200 lids seeing a consultant rheumatologist the other day.....a lot of these guys run scarred when they hear the CAA will be poking their noses in the door and will be the final arbitrator to the course of drugs taking re Licence/ career etc.


Why u using this?

Sulfasalazine belongs to the class of medications called anti-inflammatories. It is used to treat inflammatory bowel disease such as ulcerative colitis, distal ulcerative colitis proctitis, and Crohn's disease. It helps control symptoms by reducing inflammation in the bowel. The enteric-coated tablets can be used to treat rheumatoid arthritis when treatment with other medications has not helped. It may take 1 to 2 months before you see any results.

Me on this stuff

What is Celebrex?



Celebrex (celecoxib) belongs to a group of drugs called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It works by reducing hormones that cause inflammation and pain in the body.

Celebrex is used to treat pain or inflammation caused by many conditions such as arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and menstrual pain. It is also used in the treatment of hereditary polyps in the colon

Celebrex may also be used for purposes not listed in this medication guide.

Because:

:ok:

I would suggest looking at Vitamin C in high doses, can't hurt anything.

Look for lots more under Orthomolecular medicine.

Quote:
Why u using this?
Because:

Quote:
I feel fitter than I did when I was 20


if it works for you, happy days. All drugs at this level are about reducing inflammation. I also go to bed everynight with a hot water bottle heating my S.Joints....gives immense relief.

Ankylosing spondylitis is an inflammatory disease of the spinal ligaments and joints and is especially common in young men. The severity can vary from localised tenderness in the lower back to immobility of the entire spine and involvement in other parts of the body i.e. heart, eyes etc. Remissions and relapses occur, and it tends to become inactive over time, sometimes leaving some degree of deformity. Treatment is usually by medication and physiotherapy.

Classifications:

Mild - Mild or no deformaties, no disability, no continuous treatment required.

Moderate - Extensive joint involvement, limitation of movement, frequent or continuous therapy.

Severe - Chronic disease, severe symptoms or deformaty, frequent or prolonged disability.

If no other condition exists and there is no history of chronic disease or severe symptoms then no worries.

Mild with disease inactive should be no problem. With disease active could start creating problems.

Can someone advise what the position of medical JAA authorities re use of TNF A.? Im getting weary of constant pain in my sac joints and it's wearing me down sometimes.

Bringing this back to the top again.

I too am interested in the medical implications on my Class One medical of informing the CAA I have been offered anti TNF (Enbrel/Etanercept)

I have very mild AS symptoms, but am getting p££d off with the pain, (which diclofenac doesn't always seem to solve) and occasional iritis.

Will there be an 'introductory period' where I start the treatment but are required to remove myself from duty??

Any help or info gratefully received. Obviously my next step is to discuss this with my AME who knows I suffer with AS/iritis.

I only have a class 2 medical but the CAA have no problem with my treated AS.
Moving on from that though my pain-free period on Salazopyrin only lasted 18 months and I am now on a newly elevated dose to try and get it under control again. If it doesn't work my consultant will have to put me on TNF but since it costs the NHS £11000 per year they only do it when NSAIDS can be shown to be ineffective.

It's a well-established general principle in aviation medicine that there should be a brief period of grounding when starting ANY new medication. Whilst side-effects may not be common in a particular drug, there is always the possibility of an unexpected individual reaction.

In a class 1 holder the CAA will certainly want to know about the use of this very new treatment.

Good luck ! :ok:

from the CAA website... (Public domain, but not necessarily easily navigable)
see

Medication used for musculoskeletal conditions | Medical | Personal Licences and Training

Cytokine modulators
Etanercept and adalimumab inhibit the activity of tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). These are the only medicines in this group that are acceptable for aeromedical certification at present. They are licensed for use in moderate to severe rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis when response to other disease modifying drugs has been inadequate. Flying can resumed (with an OML for Class 1 holders) provided symptoms are satisfactorily controlled, there are no significant musculoskeletal impairments and there are no significant side effects four weeks after initiation of treatment.

Pho.......

That's brilliant. Thank you. As you said, not easy to find.

No problem Tandemrotor. I should have added that those are the UK rules. (I'm not sure from your location that you are UK.)

Must admit that I'd wondered about "Nova" as well !

I suppose it could be Scotia, Vauxhall . . . . . . . or even Super !

OK, I'll see myself out ! :D

:)

Sorry chaps. Yes very much UK, Lincolnshire in fact. Nova was the name of the house I was living in when I registered

So, bit of a run-down pit in a "no-go" area, was it? :}

I also have AS
 

I would love to discuss this with you. This has had a major impact on my life! Are you Facebook?

Why not have the discussion here so that others can benefit. I have been on TNF (Humira) for some three years now and I am completely symptom free, a fact that I celebrate every morning when I get out of bed and stand up straight. I have a class 2 with no issues.