Chronic Pain and Psoriatic Arthritis
Chronic pain is real. Many people do not know chronic pain is a companion to this disease.
If there is not a rash present – it is hard for some to believe your diagnosis. However, some patients don’t have plaques. We are all individuals.
Through the years, my psoriatic arthritis has changed, unfortunately, not for the better. The pain associated with my disease has become my nemesis. It has gotten in between my life and being an active human being.
Having chronic pain does not always manifest on the outside of our bodies. The inside of our bodies (joints, tendons, etc.) can be very actively disagreeable, meaning I have pain that travels around, never the same pattern, but always present.
Dealing with doctors who dismiss psoriatic arthritis pain
Many doctors do not believe me. I don’t think most doctors even understand psoriatic arthritis and everything that can be involved. That is the disconnect. I meet them – they don’t know me. They can’t find very much out on 15 or 20 minutes. So, usually, I am dismissed. "Everybody has pain," "Just try the biologic," "Lose some weight!" That’s not always the answer and frankly, it’s an insult.
When a doctor is so dismissive it just is another disappointment. They don’t realize we are all different with varying degrees of the disease. We are all individuals. Medication reacts differently and importantly – I am not a liar. I am not exaggerating. I am just trying to cope with what I am presently experiencing every day of my life.
It is my wish that doctors will recognize how individual pain is. Don’t dismiss your patient.
You are not in my body.
Be a little kinder.
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