Newly diagnosed
Hello Everyone,
I hope u guys are well.
I was recently diagnosed with PsA. i start my treatment next week. I am 32 years old, always had joint issues, injuries and pain but never really questioned it until I stopped being able to walk properly 3 months ago. I went from being a fit athlete to someone who needs help going up the stairs.
Not really sure what to expect honestly. Am I ever getting back my range of motion ? Will the pain go away? I've been in constant pain for the past 3 months, mainly my lower back and both sacroiliitis along with my right wrist.
Any tips will be highly appreciated.
Hi
. I imagine you are experiencing a range of emotions right now -- relief that you finally have a name for all of your pain and suffering, but also confusion and fear about treatment and how much it will help. Everyone reacts differently to PsA medications, so it is hard to know what your experience will be. Doctors usually start new patients on Methotrexate because it is relatively inexpensive and most insurance companies require that you try it first. Don't fret if it doesn't help though. There are many, many more medications you can try. The right one can be lifechanging, possibly even leading to remission and recovery of your range of motion. So it can be worth all the trial and error. Here is an article about PsA treatments with links to the medications: https://psoriatic-arthritis.com/treatment. One of our advocates wrote this wonderful article for people who are new to PsA: https://psoriatic-arthritis.com/living/dear-friend-newly-diagnosed. I hope this helps put you at ease. Please know we are here for you whenever you need support or a place to vent on this journey. Thinking of you and wishing you the best. - Lori (Team Member) 
Hi @Dania. Being newly diagnosed I am sure you are filled with questions. Please feel free to ask any questions you have. There is never a dumb question. Psoriatic Arthritis is a journey. The biggest tip I can give you is do not settle when a treatment does not work for you. Keep going until you find the treatment that does. We are all here to support you. Also I wanted to let you know about a program that the National Psoriasis Foundation has called One to One. You can be matched with someone to talk to or bounce questions off of. What treatment will you be starting? Vickie W., Team Member
Thank you Lori and Vickie!
Day 04 after my first dose of cosentyx. No major changes in pain or range of motion. Side effects extreme headache dizziness and nausea. Hopefully dose 02 won't be bad. Physio and diet are helping but very slowly.
I had mild to moderate IBD symptoms off and on for a couple months after starting Cosentyx. But I was transitioned onto it after failing multiple biologics, so I think I already pretty much passed through the phase of experiencing side effects. Are you on 150 or 300 dose? My rheumy started me on 150, but had to move me onto 300 after a few months because 150 just wasn't effective. And for PsA with accompanying sacroiliac involvement, the 300 dose really is the appropriate dose according to the manufacturer. Be patient; this will take time to work. And, as much as I hate saying this to the newly diagnosed, have realistic expectations for the medicine. I still have to periodically take prednisone to tamp down potential flares. And even the newest biologics are often prescribed along with Methotrexate as an add on treatment to ensure their efficacy. PsA is frustratingly difficult to treat, and I don't think anyone suffering from this disease has ever returned to 100% the way they were before being stricken. But, your being an athlete means you are mentally and physically equipped to meet this challenge, more so than a lot of people. Remaining active and following a nutrient dense diet will go a long ways toward helping you manage this disease. And disease management, as opposed to treatment, really is what it's about. You have to avoid, to the extent possible, sick people; exposure to the common cold, the flu (even if you are vaccinated), or any other number of illnesses can cause a flare. Take allergy pills, as severe allergies might trigger a flare. Avoid too much sugar and unprocessed carbs (including alcohol) because, yep, you guessed it. Flare. Basically, any situation where your body's immune system is driven to work overtime can lead to a flare. Do the biologics work well enough to prevent a flare? Well, in short, it depends on the individual. No medicine is going to work very well if you continue an unhealthy lifestyle. I've known people who continue to use alcohol, and smoke, and they wonder why they can't manage the disease. Feel free to PM me if you want to talk, or if you wish for advise that nobody else has given. I'm not an expert in anything, so any advice I have to give comes with the caveat, "but I'm no expert." I hope you begin to see some positive results soon. Gentle hugs! - Lori (Team Member)
