Kat's journey with laser therapy (XTRAC)

[Kat]

Oddly enough, I only recently heard of lazer therapy.  I was a bit surprised when my dermatologist offered it as a bit of a "let's see if this works while we regroup" type of thing. So I am now going for appointments twice per week for XTRAC.

So a little history, I was on three biologics, Stelara, Cosentyx and Taltz.  I did not notice any big improvements while on them.  There were times when it looked a bit better, but then would go back.  So this is where I am currently.

I should tell you that behind my ears and inside ears HAS improved!  About 3 weeks ago, the doctor took me off Taltz and started the process of getting the Lazer therapy approved.  Immediately after that appointment, I started using Taclonex again as I did not want to go backwards.  I had told the doctor a few times that the biologics along WITH the Taclonex would show improvement but she stated that I shouldn't need the Taclonex while on the biologic (as in the biologic should work on it's own)  So since I didn't want to skew things by using both, I stopped the Taclonex except for very few times when the scalp was REALLY bothering me.  I mention all of this as to be honest, I don't know now if finally the Taltz started to work or if it has been these last few weeks using the Taclonex, but my ear is clear and behind it is only slightly raised and red.  I am going with the Taclonex or combination of the two.

Anyway, I started Laser therapy this week.  Today was my second appointment.  I won't provide pictures because I just can't get decent ones of my scalp due to it being the back of my head mostly and the hair covering.  I know for those of you who followed my other journeys how much you will miss those ear pictures!    But I will let you know if it works.  Although my ear area is improved, the scalp area is still scaly (although it also improved a bit, just not nearly as much as the ear area, but it is much easier to apply topical to the ear and behind the ear as opposed to under areas covered by hair)

From what they say, I should notice results between 6-10 sessions, clearance between 10-20 sessions and it lasts for about 3-6 months. 

So right now I'm on a bit more of short term solutions. I will let you know how it goes and also let you know how unhappy I am making the rheumatologist next time I see him.  But I do NOT miss those Taltz injections 

Editing to add: The XTRAC is only being used on my scalp, NOT ear area at all currently. That's another reason why no pics, since this is about the laser therapy which currently isn't being used on or behind ears. I need to ask why because I honestly don't know. It's a nurse doing the treatment.

[Turnedlight]

That sounds great! I’ve not heard of laser treatment either..

[Kat]

That sounds great! I’ve not heard of laser treatment either..

Thanks for spelling it right, not sure why I kept typing "lazer" 

It's basically just a light therapy directly on the scaly areas.  I'm not sure of the success rate but if it helps then I'm all for it!  I thought it was a new treatment as my dermatologist didn't offer it before to my knowledge.  About a month or so ago I mentioned it here and found out that it's actually been around for awhile now.

Also the only side effects mentioned is redness, blistering and Hyperpigmentation (that fades when therapy is complete)

You feel a bit of heat as it's being used, I noticed nothing the first treatment, perhaps a bit of a very light sunburn feeling after this last one. 

Some more info:

One 2002 study reported that 72 percent of participants experienced at least a 75 percent clearing of psoriasis plaques in an average of 6.2 treatments. About 50 percent of participants had at least 90 percent of their plaques clear after 10 or fewer treatments.

[jiml]

Good luck Kat I hope it works for you and it's not to inconvenient going for the treatment , how many times a week is it
So am I reading it right Kat that you will need 20 sessions and they expect the benefits to only last between 3 to 6 months
After that will you be able to repeat the treatment

I will miss the ear photos by the way Kat

Fingers crossed for you look forward to hearing how it works

[Kat]

Good luck Kat I hope it works for you and it's not to inconvenient going for the treatment , how many times a week is it
So am I reading it right Kat that you will need 20 sessions and they expect the benefits to only last between 3 to 6 months
After that will you be able to repeat the treatment

I will miss the ear photos by the way Kat 

Fingers crossed for you look forward to hearing how it works

Right now they have me down for 10 sessions. That can be changed to more or less as needed. I go twice per week and it's a bit of an inconvenience, but I piggy back my physical therapy right behind the laser therapy once a week since they are located very near each other so it's not too bad.

The 3 - 6 months is average, it's possible to go longer (or not) so that's just a guideline and then yes, you repeat as needed.

However, I do still have the issue of dealing with joint stiffness to consider as well. I think the dermatologist wanted to try another biologic, one of the new ones but the rheumatologist nixed those so we're here for now. I guess we'll see how it all works out, but I'm beginning to feel like a guinea pig!

But happily right now things have improved a bit so I'll take it. That's the main thing after all.

[KatT]

I've been feeling like a Guinea pig since starting the treatments....  

Why did the rheumatologist nix biologics?  This could affect your arthritis if it's PSA!

[Kat]

I've been feeling like a Guinea pig since starting the treatments....  

Why did the rheumatologist nix biologics?  This could affect your arthritis if it's PSA!

Sorry, I wasn't very clear on that. Most of the biologics the dermatologist wanted to try are for the skin only, the rheumatologist wanted to go with only those known to help with psoriatic arthritis. But the dermatologist felt that since Cosentyx and Taltz didn't help with the skin that the other biologics out there that currently are prescribed for psoriatic arthritis was pretty much the same as what I've been on already.

Also, I do not have a psoriatic arthritis diagnosis. I have "showing early signs of psoriatic arthritis" from the rheumatologist. At that time I was already on biologics (Cosentyx) and he felt it was a good fit for me. Sadly it didn't help with my skin and the rheumatologist remarked that if Cosentyx didn't work there were other ones to try so when the dermatologist wanted to change, I told her what the rheumatologist said which then got her to consulting with his office. Basically, the dermatologist wasn't sure what direction to take with biologics at this point so suggested trying the Laser Therapy. Originally I said no, but I also didn't want to go backwards so figured why not try it. I think she's throwing it a bit in the direction of the rheumatologist to see what he wants to do next.

I hope this is a bit more clear, sorry it's not that late here but it's been a long day so I'm not sure I'm explaining it very well!

[jiml]

Thanks Kat for the further information. But surely your dermatologist or your rheumatologist must have experience of others trying different biologics that target the same interleukins and one works where another doesn't, if that's a problem for them they could put you on Stelara which targets different interleukins to the IL17 That Cosentyx targets
Just a thought ask to go onto that or any of the ones listed here Biological Treatments For Psoriasis

[Turnedlight]

Lazer might be the right spelling in the US, I’ve noticed a lot of US words tend to use a ‘z’ where we might use an ‘s’ in the uk. But when I type the word my spell checker will change it to the UK spelling.

[Raxyl]

Lazer might be the right spelling in the US, I’ve noticed a lot of US words tend to use a ‘z’ where we might use an ‘s’ in the uk. But when I type the word my spell checker will change it to the UK spelling.

Laser is correct, it’s an acronym (light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation)