I was able to identify that I was having a PsA flare today

Since being positively diagnosed with PsA, RA, and systemic lupus in Dec 2019, I have come to realize that I have suffered from PsA starting in my teen years. I am among the 'no psoriasis on my body' population of PsA patients, which is probably why it took decades for me to be diagnosed with PsA.

My relatives who did/do have psoriasis, do not have PsA. Strange, right? I will be 70 at the end of June, so it's been a long time of suffering. Since my diagnosis, I have tried to learn all that I can about these 3 illnesses because I can't understand what is happening to my body and how they have caused me to have more severe symptoms in the last 10 years that has prevented me from being able to continue to make excuses for what's happening to my body.

I'm sure everyone here can identify with the excuses: "Oh, I must have stepped down on my foot wrong and strained my ankle,' 'Oh, I must have banged my hand that's why my fingers hurt when I make a fist,' 'Oh, when I bent over to pick up the dog I must have twisted my back' etc, etc.

Connecting the dots after diagnosis

After I was diagnosed I had many 'AHA!' moments. Like when my Achilles' tendon (one or both) prevented me from walking without limping, when my hand would cramp trying to open a factory-sealed jar or bottle for the 1st time, and when I woke up in the morning and couldn't stand up straight for 2+ hours. The biggest mystery of all was, what caused me to have pericardial inflammation, cardiac tamponade, cardiac arrest, and emergency heart surgery 2 1/2 years ago? After I told my cardiologist about my inflammatory diseases he said to me, "Well, now we know what happened to you last year!"

The importance PsA education

I found this wonderful website a few months ago and have been so grateful ever since because everyone's stories, facts, questions, and answers, etc. have contributed to my inflammatory disease knowledge. Today I was able to identify that I was having a PsA flare and deal with it in an educated way instead of letting it frustrate, anger, and stress me to the point of tears. Before today, I didn't know if I've ever had a flare because I didn't even know what flare was.

Realizing I was in a flare

Today I knew and it was quite a revelation. I woke up in the morning with my back twisted to the right, I was bent over and my right sciatic area was throbbing. My right shoulder felt like it had a knife sticking in it. As I walked to the kitchen, my right knee had a stabbing sensation and my left Achilles' tendon was throbbing and I had to very gingerly take steps with my left foot.

I had a hard time using the coffee scoop with my thumb and forefinger to put coffee in the brewer and I had to ask my son to open the bottle of water for me. I then went to do my morning routine of getting dressed, washing my hands and face, brushing my teeth. What an ordeal doing all that was!! I even dropped my toothbrush because my left thumb wanted nothing to do with teeth brushing motions. I knew immediately today would not be a good day.

Taking it easy

I tried to do nothing for a few hours except sit and watch tv, but, my son had a doctor's appointment that I had to drive him to. I can no longer walk more than a few steps without my walker because I lose my balance or my knees want to give out and even though my car is not parked far from our apartment, I can't get to it without using the walker. By the time I got into the car (very carefully and gingerly of course), I had to flex my hands from holding the handles on the walker. As I flexed them, my right hand felt 'funny' and I took a good look at the knuckles and finger joints and to my horror, I saw my hand was swollen, red, and hot to the touch.

It was then the light bulb over my head lit up and I said to my son 'OMG I'm having a PsA flare! My body hurts so bad everywhere! Now I understand what a flare is!'

Taking care of the flare

Of course, he asked me if I took my hydroxychloroquine and I told him I never miss a single dose and a flare is the nature of the beast. Believe me, I counted the hours until I could take more Tylenol and jumped on it exactly on the time mark. After we returned home, every 1/2 hour or so I would run warm water over my hands for a few minutes. The cold water made my finger joints throb. After doing this for about 4 hours my right hand finally responded to the warm water soaks and Tylenol and returned to its normal PsA/RA condition.

I was even able to knit 2 rows on a baby blanket I am making. My knee stopped hurting, along with my Achilles' tendon. My shoulder pain has eased, but, I have to be very careful how I use my arm or it will stab me.

Lessons learned for the future

Hopefully, today was an exception and tomorrow will see me back in my 'usual every day' inflammatory auto-immune condition, but, I am still going to be very careful about moving my body parts very gingerly over the next few days so as not to add insult to injury and re-ignite the flare.

Most people would look at me funny for saying what I'm about to say, but, I know everyone here will understand what I mean... I'm glad today happened because now I will always be able to tell when I am heading towards a flare and take appropriate steps to try to lessen the painfully debilitating effect it will have on me. I know I can't stop flares, but, I can learn how to cope with them.