Getting Psoriatic Arthritis Diagnosed

Psoriatic arthritis is nothing fun. I have had it for the last six years. It started in my lower back. For the longest time, I thought the pain had to do with overexerting at work.

Back then, I was a private housekeeper taking care of a prominent doctor's home including his medical practice. All the duties of keeping them clean were solely my responsibility. My tasks included a lot of bending and leaning every day, five days a week. I guess I should say, that during this time I was also 80% covered in plaque psoriasis. I had never heard of psoriatic arthritis. All I know is that I was hurting.

Can a dermatologist diagnosis psoriatic arthritis?

Being so covered in psoriasis, I saw my dermatologist every three months. It wasn't until I started telling him about the back pain that I was first introduced to the term "psoriatic arthritis." I still remember his statement, he said that it was almost a guarantee that with me being so widely covered with psoriasis that the diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis was surely developing. From what I can remember, he didn't even perform any tests - he only made that clear-cut statement.

I sat there thinking that it was just my luck, to have yet another condition to live and deal with. I mean, why not? The psoriasis was already bad so why not add some more pain. I took the doctor at his word. At the time, it never dawned on me that he had not conducted any tests. He was very knowledgeable about psoriasis and I believed him when he diagnosed my psoriatic arthritis.

Can a rheumatologist diagnose psoriatic arthritis?

After that dermatologist appointment, I shared the news with every doctor I met. Fast forward five years and an insurance change, I no longer see that original dermatologist. My primary care physician soon referred me to a rheumatologist.

Here I went again, explaining everything from my psoriasis to psoriatic arthritis. She ordered x-rays to confirm my PsA and on my next visit, I was shocked to be informed that I do not have the condition. She diagnosed osteoarthritis. Around and around we went.

The answer: There is no formal test for diagnosing psoriatic arthritis

The problem with all this is the fact that there is no formal test that confirms a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis. I am sure most of you can relate to the frustration of that fact. The doctors only want to do x-rays and nothing more. The problem with x-rays is they do not reveal the specific joint activity that is synonymous with PsA.

Since those x-rays, I have had several other tests including a CAT Scan. My primary care doctor noted they could see evidence of arthritis in the results of the scan. Was it was psoriatic arthritis or osteoarthritis? He said it really didn't matter the type and that any joint damage is irreversible. Why is diagnosing PsA so difficult? My hope is that there will soon be a definitive test for the diagnosis of PsA.

What does the future hold for getting a psoriatic arthritis diagnosis?

I do know the National Psoriasis Foundation is spending money on research but how long before a solution? How long must we go through the debate of whether it is psoriatic arthritis or not? I hope to see it in my lifetime.

How about you? If your story is similar to mine of whether it is was a debate of psoriatic arthritis or some other type of arthritis, let's hear your story in the comment section below. I always wondered if it was just me or if others had to deal with the same runaround.