How to help my daughter

Hi it is commendable that you want to help your daughter. First and most important thing is to ask for a referral to a Rheumatologist. Second is to continue looking for answers if you feel you are not getting the right answers. It can be a bit of a struggle to get the right answers but with you to help guide her with your own experience she is in great hands. I am sure other members here will have responses on what to ask or look out for. Vickie W., Team Member

, I'm in the same boat. My daughter went to Urgent Care in September. Terrible hand pain and swelling. Ex-rays revealed arthritis in her hand. She's also in her mid 30's. She needs labs and an MRI to determine what type of arthritis that she has. I am sero positive RA. PsA was added a few years later (scalp psoriasis, nail pitting and HBLA - 27 positive).
My rheumatologist, a very dear man, is concerned about her because my RA has been aggressive. He's written a list of labs he wants her to have.
So how do we help our beloved daughters? It felt like a punch to the heart when she told me about her hand. My husband said, "She has you. She is already ahead. She will learn from you all of the things that you learned on your own."
I am giving her bits of information in the event that she has RA or PsA. I try not to overwhelm her. I listen. I have given her compression gloves and a topical that I like.
I would take all of the pain if it meant she didn't have this disease. I have not cried with her. She gets the calm "mom" but inside I hurt like crazy for her. She is a bit frightened and depressed. I told her that I understood. I told her that its normal to feel these things.
I am sort of rambling at you but I am just getting used to the news myself.
Faith, just by asking the question here, I think you will be a loving source of support for your daughter.

Hi , I'm so glad you reached out here. I'm sorry to read about everything your daughter is experiencing. Severe fatigue was one of my first PsA symptoms, and definitely my most debilitating, so I can empathise.


Alongside the fantastic responses from and , I wanted to share the following article on some tests that are commonly used during the PsA diagnostic process: https://psoriatic-arthritis.com/test-diagnosis Something to bear in mind is that only around 50% of people with PsA have elevated inflammatory markers in their blood. I think it's important to know this because SO many of our community members have been dismissed by their doctors due to "normal" blood work. Also, early PsA may not show up on X-rays. My X-rays have always been clear (so far), but inflammation has shown up on both an MRI and a nuclear bone scan.


I hope this is of some help. Please reach out here anytime you need support. I'm sure this is really difficult for both you and your daughter. Hugs 💕 -Catherine, Community Moderator

Hello , So happy your daughter has you by her side, she will need the support. I started having symptoms at age 25, but didn't get diagnosed until I was 50. I would ask the rheumatologist about what caused her PsA, what would do to diagnose her, and what symtoms she is seeing that show she has PsA, what tests are you going to do, what makes you think it's PsA and not anoter type of arthritis, will over the counter-medication help, and will she have to make any lifestyle changes?


Let us know how everything goes and remember you are not alone.