PsA Diagnosis After Years of Psoriasis

By akennedy

1 min read

I had a normal, active life until January 2019. Then...BOOM...out of the blue, with absolutely no warning, arthritis attacked both of my feet, basically crippling me. I haven’t been able to work since. I had quite the adventure trying to get a diagnosis (after seeing podiatrists and orthopedic doctors, having X-rays and MRIs) but I finally got some answers last week when I saw a rheumatologist.

I have had psoriasis since I was born (I am now 44), but have never had joint issues. Obviously, those aforementioned types of doctors don’t know anything about PSA because they never mentioned that it could be a possibility. They had me try physical therapy, walking boots, wraps, steroids, cortisone...said I just had plantar fasciitis, bone spurs, and posterior tibial tendinitis. But they didn’t understand why I wasn’t improving or why I had ALL of these things going on IN BOTH FEET!!!

The rheumatologist looked over all of my medical records and knew right away that I had psoriatic arthritis and started me immediately on methotrexate. I don’t have any relief yet since that was only last week that I started treatment. I’m so tired of being in constant pain. When both of your feet are so swollen and painful that you can barely walk, and you can’t stand being on your feet longer than 20 minutes, it makes life rough. I don’t see a light at the end of the tunnel. I wonder if I will ever feel normal ever again. I cry all the time because I feel so hopeless.

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prats Member
Hi i was in similar situation like urs. Keep faith and trust me it will get better. After 6 months u will be better. Methoterxate works slowly. May i ask what dosage u are on? Also are ur blood tests showing if its working.?
1. akennedy Member
 I started at 15 mg pills, now doing 25 mg/1 ml injections.
2. prats Member
 How are you now? Looks like you are on higher dose now. Hope you are feeling better
akennedy Member
I only just started at 15 mg/week so won’t know if bloodwork is showing any improvement for a month. Good to know that it’s so slow acting!
youngnrestless86 Member
There is light! My PsA also came out with a vengeance this past Christmas. I couldn’t get out of bed, my ankles felt locked. Mtx and prednisone was started immediately and all I felt was nauseous and sick from the mtx. However, once it really got into my system (about week 3) the Mtx really began helping with the stiffness and pain. The prednisone (steroid) is super helpful but I know the second it wears off (also makes me feel a bit crazy or emotionally up and down) with these meds - DMARDS, steroids/corticosteroids, biological and pain killers we have to take the bad with the good...talk to your rheumatoid about what you are experiencing and ask to be pointed in the right direction to explore the many treatment options available. There is light and it can get better. Not all days are great...but every day beats the week of Christmas 2018. Hope this helps
1. akennedy Member
 Thank you, I am actually waiting on Humira to come to start that since I haven’t seen any results with 8 weeks of methotrexate.
2. youngnrestless86 Member
 No worries! Methotrexate (mtx) is a fickle beast. As more and more light is shed on PsA, we are getting more and more options. Keep us posted on how the Humera works out for you. (Try not to get too discouraged through the journey on the biologic. It took my enbrel 3 MONTHS to kick in) you got this PsA warrior!

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