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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.
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  1. 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)

    1. 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

      1. 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.

        1. I hope you begin to see some positive results soon. Gentle hugs! - Lori (Team Member)

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