My News Broadcast for Psoriatic Arthritis

If I was allowed a few minutes of air time on a syndicated news broadcast, it would bring me great joy. If you would like to know why, it’s because I feel that the real agony of people who suffer from psoriatic arthritis has not been told. If I would have been told years ago that I’d have psoriatic arthritis along with my psoriasis diagnosis I would have said; no way!! However, this is not my case. I would come on the news broadcast and my 5 minutes broadcast would sound something like this.

Good morning world...

And welcome to the 9 am broadcast segment of psoriatic arthritis! Briefly, for all you all out there in radio land who has never heard of psoriatic arthritis, let me briefly give you a quick lesson of what it is. This is an inflammatory arthritis often called psoriatic arthritis. Your body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue which causes pain, aches, stiffness, and swelling. This disease can just linger in the body until something triggers it, like strep throat.

I have had psoriasis for 50+ years and arthritis for 25+ years, so I am speaking from personal experience. See, I’m a long time patient, and I go through these symptoms on a daily basis. This condition has left my feet so swollen that I have had to go without shoes on my feet. It’s has brought me so much pain that when I bend forward it would hurt. Pain can be so awful that just moving or getting around can be a major challenge. There are times I feel like a prisoner in my own home; isolated and alone. I have lost friends because they don’t understand what I am going through.

It’s not a good feeling when your body motion has been impeded because of this disease. I want the radio world to be supportive of us and try to understand what we are going through. I want to share my story on the air. We are a community of hurting people. The inflammation can lead to permanent joint damage if not caught early enough.

I’m trying to get everyone to understand the day-to-day struggles that we have to endure. How do we get the word out? How do we educate people? It’s wonderful that there are support groups and caretakers. It can be hard on the caretakers as well. I don’t feel that it’s easy to be around someone in constant pain every day.

I know for me I would like to see more mentioned about this disease. It is often confused with other diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other joint diseases. I take this disease very personally and I know that others who share this disease do as well. When I look at the numbers of those who are confined to wheelchairs, had to quit their jobs, can’t drive anymore, or be on permanent disability it is astounding. PsA is not prejudiced toward anyone like some other forms of arthritis. It can affect everyone the same way.

And signing off...

This is my news alert that the numbers for us are staggering and alarming. Psoriatic arthritis is a topic that is worthy of a news alert. So until next time be understanding to that man, woman, boy, or girl that you know that may be suffering from psoriatic arthritis.

(End of Broadcast)