Psoriatic Arthritis and Surgery

Life is indeed hard and painful living each day out with Psoriatic Arthritis. When the doctor tells you the test results you really have no idea of what your life is going to become. I was 39 am now 66. I was told by one doctor that within 10 years I would not be able to walk. I took that as a challenge. It has been 27 years and I am still walking. Some days I have to use a cane or my walking stick, but I walk.

These years have been more than I ever realized... the many symptoms, the devastating pain that leads to pain management, learning what plants help with inflammation and which help aid with pain, and the many injections in my hip and elbow over the years.

Having surgery for my PsA

Nine years ago, I began having severe pain and lack of movement in my left elbow. I had to have an elbow replacement. The bending joint of my elbow fused and could not extend itself. It thankfully was my left arm. One and a half years ago, the cement in the upper arm came loose causing the rod to loosen, which meant I needed a new elbow implant and a new rod in the upper arm.

Finding a surgeon that could do the operation took me several months. All the while being in significant pain and the ulna nerve pain down my arm into my hand from the first surgery. Thankfully, the Lord, brought a new surgeon in my path that was willing and able to perform this second surgery. In the surgery room there were actually three surgeons. Each surgery was months of recovery.

I don't know how many of you have had to have surgeries, but I hope it has not been many of you. Surgery isn't talked about much in psoriatic circles, but it can be a part of living with Psoriatic Arthritis.

My elbow as of now is doing well!