Trying to Keep PsA Under Control While Doubled over in Pain from Another Issue

As I write this I am dealing with a pain that is unrelated to psoriatic arthritis. However, just because it isn’t related to this disease, it doesn’t mean that I don’t have to worry about it. In fact, I have found myself having to think about it more than not!

PsA status

The pain I experience from psoriatic arthritis has been at its lowest during the past two years. This is amazing considering how since my diagnosis in 2003 its mission was to cripple me. Friends and family assume that because I have that pain so well managed, I no longer need to worry or think about it. But they are wrong! It is because I constantly think about and treat it that it is not out of control.

New pain in town

My new pain is a new variation of the abdominal pain I have been experiencing since 2007 when adhesions, from endometriosis and surgical scarring, began attacking my bowels. However, this time it is even more severe. Friends and family currently think that this is my only battle, but they are wrong. While I go to war with my HMO, I am also fighting to keep the rest of my chronic illnesses under control. A little FYI, my HMO refused to treat what I believe is related to the new pain two years ago. Although they agree with me that adhesions are the cause, they refused to perform surgery because the adhesions will just return. On one hand, I agree, yet I disagree because no one should have to feel their inner muscles and internal organs ripping and just have to deal with the damage.

Working overtime

To keep PsA happy while my entire abdomen is under attack, I have to stay out of bed. Even though movement increases my abdominal pain, inactivity increases pain from psoriatic arthritis, fibromyalgia, and degenerative disc disease. If I don’t move, my spine hardens, hips lock up, feet hurt, and legs cramp. I can’t keep up the pace I had been keeping, but I am also not allowing myself to spend each day in bed no matter how much sitting up hurts. On the other hand, I have to give in to every nap demand that my body makes. Fighting fatigue increases the stress that my body is experiencing which in turn increases my pain level.

Doing what has to be done

I know I should be angrier about dealing with a new pain than I am, but considering that I have been dealing with pain from numerous issues since 2000, I have come to expect it. What angers me the most right now is that I finally reached the point of not needing daytime pain medication about a year and a half ago. And yet, thanks to this latest round of “let’s destroy Cynthia’s body” I am back to needing relief during the day. This, having to medicate for pain during the day, is what robs me of my independence more than anything else. I can drive in pain, it’s not fun, it hurts, but I can do it if I have to. I can’t, however, drive when I have medicated for pain.

I just keep reminding myself that this is just a season. Like the others I have lived through, it will pass. I may not like taking extra care and precautions, but it is what my body needs if I want to get through it without setting off PsA or any of my other chronic illnesses.