New to this
I’ve been told I have PsA after one month of pain and swelling knee and feet. First diagnosed with pseudo-gout for the presence of CPPD Crystal on my synovial fluid. Prescribed prednisone and taken religiously for a month to see all symptoms come back. Now after two months of pain I’m on methotrexate (2 weeks in) and given Aleve to help relieve the pain. I’ve been trying to find a second opinion but getting to a rheumatologist seems like winning a lottery. I dont have a bad skin condition only a rash on my buttock and some in my scalp. My mom had psoriatic arthritis and my brother has pretty bad nail psoriasis. I just keep wondering is this really PsA ? Why all of a sudden? Never had any noticeable symptoms before. Can a flare really last this long? 2 months in and still unable to resume “normal activities”. Thanks for listening
Hi
, thank you so much for reaching out here. I'm sorry to read that your symptoms have been impacting your life so much. You're definitely not alone in this struggle. I hope the methotrexate will help get your symptoms under control. I've been taking it for quite a few years now and it has really helped me, although it did take a while to kick in and we all respond differently to these things.
I think seeking a second opinion if you are unsure/unhappy about your diagnosis is a good idea. A lot of us (myself included) entered a bit of a denial phase after being diagnosed. This diagnosis is a LOT to take in, and it also doesn't help that there's no specific test for psoriatic arthritis. It sounds like you have quite a strong family history of psoriatic disease. How do your symptoms compare to that of your mom and brother?
To answer your questions - yes, unfortunately flares can last for that long. Looking back, I believe I was in a flare for five or six years. I was untreated during that time though so I'm sure that played a part. The following article has some infographics that I thought you might find interesting: https://psoriatic-arthritis.com/infographic/when-your-psa-flare-is-flaring As you can see, around 22% of respondents had flares that lasted for longer than six months. With regards to why all of a sudden - sometimes there seems to be no rhyme or reason for these things, but often there is a triggering event. Here's some information on common triggers for PsA: https://psoriatic-arthritis.com/psa-basics/cause-triggers Do any of those seem feasible to you?
I hope this is all of some help. Please remember that this community is here anytime you have questions or need support on this journey. Sending gentle hugs! -Catherine, Community ModeratorWhen I was first diagnosed I had the same thing(swollen knee). I first went to an orthopedic to check out my knee and he drained it. He also gave me a cortisone shot in it to help with the pain and swelling, which worked. We’re you given a cortisone shot?
