New to forum. New diagnosis
Hi everyone. I’ve only recently been diagnosed with PsA aged 60 I’m still getting used to the idea and having some emotional difficulties with it all.
As I learn more about the disease I am becoming more and more certain that I’ve had it in a much milder form for decades. I’ve been blighted virtually life long, with depression; exhaustion; odd pains that almost sent me to the doctor, but then cleared up; and a very minor skin complaint.
Now it’s becoming clearer as my symptoms intensify, that it’s been the one thing all along. I suspect that my father was a sufferer in silence and that two of my kids may also be affected.
Isn’t it strange that I never even heard of PsA until a year ago?
Welcome to the community,
! So glad that you found us. I have heard from many people that they look back and everything suddenly falls in to place with their diagnosis. It can be a relief to have answers but adjusting to the idea of a new diagnosis can be incredibly challenging, and throw up lots of mixed emotions. Please lean on us anytime you need to - we are all here for you!
Thank you so much Cathy, I feeling overwhelmed right now and finding this forum is a God send. , feeling overwhelmed is completely understandable, and I think we've probably all been there at one point (or several points!) on our journeys with PsA. We're all here for you. 💖 -Catherine, Community Moderator
I'd never heard of PsA until four years ago. In fact, I'd had psoriasis since my early 20s without EVER knowing that it was an autoimmune disorder. I just thought of it as a relatively minor skin condition.
I’ve had psoriasis my whole life and have been lucky until now. I am 44 and the psoriatic arthritis just hit me with no warning 3months ago, completely crippling my poor feet! I started going to different drs, not even having arthritis on my radar. But then when the podiatrist and the orthopedic doctor were at a loss for what to do for me, I was referred to a rheumatologist. Now that I’m reading all about PsA, I am sure that’s exactly what I have developed. Through xrays and MRI, I have learned that I have tenosynovitis of my posterior tibial and flexor digitorum longus tendons, and also a plantar fascia tear and calcaneal enthesophyte. I have all of this in BOTH feet!! I have not gone one day since January when this hit me without pain. The orthopedic doctor put me in walking boots, but they don’t seem to be helping. They feel supportive when I walk, but the pain still always follows. I have not been able to go back to work because I walk a lot and people depend on me to be able to respond quickly to them. (I’m a nurse) So I am waiting rather impatiently to see the rheumatologist April 17! I hope they can offer something to relieve my pain and swelling.
I truly hope you get a diagnosis. I was told to go to a dermatologist 1st and get the diagnosis. Then go to a rheumatologist for care. what are you taking for the psoriasis? Being that I had psoriasis and had symptoms of psa(swollen knee, nail pitting, swollen fingers, hip and lower back pain) my dermatologist prescribed methotrexate. I was on it for 2 months and no relief. They switched me to Skyrizzi which has been better. I live in the northeast so with weather being cold and damp this time of the year, I still have some tough days dealing the pain.
That’s what I did as well…
