Working with PSA

Hello all,

I am a newbie here and was diagnosed with psoriasis and PSA as of November 2020. So its kind of a new thing for me and learning about it. This is my first time reaching out to find out more Info and maybe some help.

Doctors are okay but just need more info and some thoughts from others who struggle with this stuff. I've been through it all myself people thinking I'm making this stuff up, people acting like I'm over reacting to pain ect.. oh he cant come to work because of a flare again. I've heard it all even working in the medical field where you think people would understand more.

I've also been struggling with gout flares since I was 25.
So sometimes differentiating the two when they're flared up is hard to distinguish for me. I know big toes are normally gout but I've had it all over different spots or the same spots on my feet most of the time.

I always get flares in my feet, ankles, up the side of one leg and sometimes my pinky knuckle on right hand. I was started on Humira soon after the diagnoses of PSA and psoriasis. Far as gout I began with Allopurinol and I've been on Urloic for many years now. I take it and I don't take it, I know I'm suppose to do it everyday to control uric acid levels but I feel like I don't need too unless I have a flare up.

Then recently was diagnosed with non alcoholic fatty liver disease with a fibro scan assessment of nash, cirhosis of liver.

I worked a total of 19 years in medical field for sterile processing. But the past 8 years is where I really began struggling more to the point I got on fmla and took off work for flare ups. We figured it was gout all the time. I took medications to help during the flares and I would go back to work but got to the point I was having flares weekly or monthly. Even my manager at the time put me on restrictions himself to sitting and working on one assignment for the day.

Kind of random things.. if I over worked or pushed it with standing or walking that usually set me up for what I call a flare up. I cant hardly walk, stand sometimes not able to bare weight and would last days, weeks, even a month sometimes. If I just got to work and sat for a minute kept my standing minimal I was fine. If I had to stand or walk I kept moving and then would sit If I had to but getting up was a painful thing then it go away again and repeat all of it. If I was ever asked to do more I would push it then I paid the price of it. I pretty much struggled walking out of there every night and woke up in the morning even worse until I got going and repeat until the weekend. I live by myself with my two dogs so pretty much stuck struggling through this until things got better I had good days too where I could walk in and walk out, do things around the house ect then back to a flare again and struggled getting things built back up from a flare to keep going again.

I've taken ibuprofen, acetaminophen, advil, I was put on indomethacin earlier on.. none of that stuff even helps take the pain away. I've tried ice, heat, elevation, compression.. when I was diagnosed with psa I stopped everything and was put on diclofenac which seems to work better but, when I have a bad flare its like that doesn't work anymore or quick enough. Only thing that seems to work best is a medrol pack and a steroid injection combo just to relieve the pain. But that's limited as well and can't do all the time. Even sometimes that doesn't help.

One trip to the zoo and 4 hours in I had a attack/flare in both legs. I barely made it out of the zoo walking and pushing myself. When I got home I was unable to stand or walk. Luckily I bought myself a knee chair years ago and only way I got into my house with help from my dad. This is what lead to where I'm at now.. long term disability, diagnosis of psoriasis and psa. Unemployed as well. I guess the hospital does not hold your position any longer when you go on long term disability, but they do when you're on short term.. was news to me.

They did extend things to try and let me come back to work before letting me go knowing what was going on. But told me I had to come back with no restrictions.. which I knew that was impossible. There are already people working there with restrictions too. So I don't know if anyone else here has gone through similar thing.

I have been working on things, a diet change, healthier foods, I've lost 50-55 pounds to date, still being tested for liver. Still struggling a little bit with feet and ankle problems. Flares at least once or twice a month since October 2021. But I am better than I was a year ago I think I just need to try and get more mobile than I am. Like going to the grocery is hit or miss.. I go do quick grocery shopping and come home both ankles are stiff and tired then goes away but only because im sitting most of the time.

I am worried about work and trying to get back to work. I don't know if I can go back to my old job and last even though I think maybe I can. I don't know rather I should look into a remote work from home job but I need insurance to keep taking humira. I really don't know yet what to do for work. Its like money is a factor and I can go back to what I was doing making decent money. If I try anything else I've never done before idk if ill last, start out cheaper pay, does it have insurance or not..

What are some good jobs to look into or have found with having PSA? Also i live in Ohio so are there any laws, disability laws ect that protect you from discrimination of being hired with this type of problem.. I would love to hear any advice, stories things to consider on work related things and having PSA.

I just don't seem to be getting the answers or guidance from doctor visits or recommendations.. I have looked up things but I do not know how they work... So I figured I try a community for PSA.

Hope to hear from someone, thank you in advanced. Sorry for the long post I just wanted to give a little background to myself. If anyone like to know more just ask.

Brandon.