Long road
I have had PsA for at least 10 years. I think the whole thing started when I stepped out of a truck wrong and rolled my Left ankle. I had no broken bones but my ankle was seriously messed up. I recovered from this but had chronic pain and instability in that ankle.
Strangely, I began having right foot and ankle pain as well. I also developed a painful scaly rash on the outside of my right foot. I went everywhere, primary care, orthopedics, podiatry, dermatology. I was getting steroid injections in both feet and ankles. One orthopedist wanted to fuse my feet and ankles. I declined that. A dermatologist recognized my rash as psoriasis.
After listening to my story, he sent me to a rheumatologist who put me through a complex battery of tests. I had developed an erosive deformity of my L distal joint in my index finger. I was rheumatoid negative, had a high ESR and cRP. I was diagnosed with PsA. We started with NSAIDs and methotrexate without good results. I do not remember the order but I have been on Embrel, Humira, Otezla and a combo of Humira and Otezla. The Otezla was like a miracle but I lost my insurance and can no longer afford it.
My symptoms are severe right now. I can hardly walk due to left ankle pain and my right shoulder is killing me. I am concerned I am developing a frozen shoulder. I have had significant loss of strength. My fingers are stiff and lock and click. My left hand is the worst. I just seem to hurt all over, fatigued, horribly depressed. I keep trying to push on but my activities have become somewhat limited. Thanks for listening. I don't like to gripe but I just needed to put this out there. This is my first experience with support groups. I really don't know what I am looking for.
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