At War with Physical Stress

When we think about stress, it is usually our mental health that comes to mind. But that is only one form of stress. Through the years I have had a front row seat to how dangerous and destructive physical stress can be on the body. I am currently at war with a health issue that has absolutely nothing to do with psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, or fibromyalgia. Yet it has angered all three of these bad boys.

No hiding from it

I have always considered myself to be extremely fortunate that I am not always bothered by psoriasis. At least that is the rash portion of the disease. With that said, when it does come out to play, it treats my body worse than a schoolyard bully. It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis that I noticed a correlation between when it appeared and when it didn’t. During the years that my spine was experiencing the most pain from PsA, my rash ran down my back along my spine. Later I noticed that I would break out near my genitals and thighs when my sacrum flared. Two years ago while battling abdominal adhesions (they were strangling my bowels) I had breakouts on my belly. As I became sicker from the complication of having my bowels under attack I had my first scalp breakout. Currently, the stress from tearing in my abdominal muscles has triggered a breakout on my belly, chest, and face. There is no hiding the stress that my body is under. Even when experiencing stress from an injury or disease that has nothing to do with psoriasis, it rears its ugly head.

Unfair fight

It is one thing to break out from something that I can address, like inflammation or dietary choices. However, to break out from something that I am unable to do anything about is maddening. Although I am being as careful as I can possibly be, my abdominal muscle is so badly damaged that it tears even when I am lying still. The only way to fix this will be through surgery. And that won’t happen until I change insurance carriers as my current one refuses to perform what would be my 9th abdominal surgery even though they acknowledge the cause of my pain and its impact on my life. Until then, all of my chronic illnesses will continue to have a field day attacking my body and making me work overtime to keep them as quiet as possible. It’s frustrating because I have been managing my terrible trio quite well and yet now no matter what I do, they keep acting up. And if that wasn’t frustrating enough, it is as if PsA and psoriasis are playing a game of one-upping each other. The minute I address and win a battle with psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis laughs and *poof* up pops another rash, then another, and another.

Identifying the cause

Whether mental or physical, stress creates nothing but problems, no treatment of any kind will be able to do anything other than temporarily put out fires unless we address and do something about the cause of our stress. I am doing everything I possibly can to keep my mid-section happy. Unfortunately, it is not enough.

Have you experienced a flare up from PsA or psoriasis due to an unrelated health issue?