Any success stories from elderly / seniors regarding PsA?
Hey everyone!
So, I was recently diagnosed with PsA. Luckily, so far, I feel blessed in my experiences. It is so far very mild, and does not affect me daily (I have started Methotrexate treatment though, to keep it in check). I was also lucky to have a GP who took my initial worries seriously, and a rheumy department who checked me thoroughly, leading to a diagnosis within 1 year after the first symptoms appeared. From what I read online, this seems to be rather good, with others having experienced decades of delay in diagnosis due to various unfortunate circumstances. So, overall, even if it feels weird to say so, I'm glad with where I stand today.
Anyways, the question I have is in terms of future outlook. I have had periods of being quite depressed about the diagnosis, however this has luckily changed. I know there are no guarantees in life, and from what I understand PsA is a unique journey for each individual, which means any prognosis can be difficult.
However, I was wondering if there are any of yalls wonderful people who either have lived with it for many decades, who are still doing fine and managing symptoms and commorbidities (if any) well, or if any of you have personal stories from friends or relatives living with it for a long time also managing well today?
I am a very active outdoorsy person, and my own personal hope or goal is to stay active and mobile enough to continue doing this. That, and continue working as well. But I find it difficult to find stories from the more "experienced" people 😂 Is this disease something that can be managed to a point of keeping an active and good life? Or am I doomed to suffer a spiral of continuously worsening symptoms and other commorbidities?
welcome to our community. We are glad you are here. I thought PsA meant my life was over when I was finally diagnosed properly. I can tell you 7 years into the formal diagnosis and I am still going. If I can give you one piece of advice I have learned over the years it is to listen to your body. When your body says rest then you rest. You are very lucky in that it took you such a short time to be diagnosed. It will mean that your PsA is treated early and will not lead to permanent joint damage that most of us that the diagnoses took so long to get now live with. I'm not going to lie to you PsA is a fight but if you keep pushing forward I believe you can still do the things you love to do. Vickie W., Team Member 
Staying active is actually a big part of disease management. So your number one goal, along with medication and proper nutrition, should be remaining active. I turn 57 next month, and have been diagnosed since 2011, and I may be in the best physical shape of my life. Something that would be unlikely were I not to have to stay active and observe proper nutrition guidelines. I run half marathons (that's 13.2 miles), 10k's and 5k's, and I cycle, as well as strength and flexibility exercises. So, if you enjoy staying active, you're going to find that aspect of managing this disease so much easier than people who have never particularly enjoyed that kind of a life.
