I think Humira must be close to two years. And before that I was on Etanercept, and that was since 2003. And they kind of assessed me and found that wasn't really effective as it, as it should be. So they tried me on the Humira, which seems to be working, like it's controlling the disease in my joints at the moment. But the damage that's been done in my feet is from the inflammation that's kind of attacked the joint over the years. So that's, that's damage that's been done since sort of 13. All the inflammation is kind of eating away at the cartilage if you like. And now the, the bone in, the bone here is kind of rubbing against the bone in my foot, and that's what's causing so much pain and the reason why I need ankle fusion or ankle replacement.
[laugh] But my alternative to drug therapy is surgery. And I've been to see surgeons at the [hospital]. So I've seen [doctor], who deals with ankle replacement surgery and [doctor], who deals with ankle fusion surgery. And that was last year. And I, at the time I said, “Look, no. Thank you for sort of informing me but I'm not at the stage where I really want to have surgery.” Because, you know, you get complications with surgery, don't you? And like ankle replacement, you risk amputation if you get an infection. And you might have to have it done every ten years. And like ankle fusion is good. It, it gets rid of the pain pretty much. But then you, you kind of have a permanent limp and that puts pressure on other joints. And I don't know, it's, it's not something I really want to go into at the moment. And I'm moving to France in August. So I wouldn't want to have surgery before I go there and get any complications and then have to put that off. Because my heart's completely set on doing that now. So…
And how are you feeling with Humira?
Yes. No side effects, not that I know of anyway. Yes, okay. Apart, as I say apart from really the damage that's already there from years gone by, it's, there's no sort of serious inflammation. My hands aren't boiling hot. No, it's pretty good. |
