Diagnosis After Psoriasis and Joint Pain
I bet I'm not the only one who experienced the symptoms of PsA over a number of years but was sent away with no answers from their doc. I first had psoriasis, but thought it was dry skin at the time due to my job and crawling around on my knees a lot. A change of job and I started to experience swollen and painful toes along with pain in my heels and the underside of my feet.
Every time I went to see my GP he would tell me there's nothing wrong. Obviously feeling frustrated at what was going on, I kept at them every time it got bad, waking up on mornings and collapsing onto the floor because of the pain. Eventually, I saw a nurse who said it could be plantar fasciitis. Gave me some sort of answer, but again nothing was ever done about it. My job was a lot of being on my feet, so I would experience intense pain after every rest and again kept on at the doctors' but still got nowhere.
Seeing a rheumatologist
After around 5 years, I was seeing a doctor under different circumstances and by chance, she suffered from PsA herself. Next up was a referral to a rheumatologist who then confirmed it. Confusion was my first feeling due to being only 25 at the time. I thought it was elderly people that experienced arthritis. Well obviously I was wrong and experienced a bit of progress with the arthritis side of PsA in such a short time where it went from my toes to other parts and it was becoming a nuisance.
Seeking the right treatment
I gave the wrong answers on my second visit to the rheumatologist and was given no further treatment at the time other than 1 Lodine tablet a day. My circumstances changed and I had gone back to my family GP who straight away sent me back to the rheumatologist where I gave the right answers this time around after a thorough examination I was given methotrexate. The next few weeks were horrendous with the side effects but I have persevered with the treatment having the dose upped to the maximum they are willing to go and although still get the side effects, I am starting to feel a difference. The pain's still there but not as intense. And I still get some swelling but feel a lot better compared to how I felt a year ago.
Try everything you can
My advice to anyone is to try anything that's recommended. It's a hit or miss process until you find something that helps. I've tried home remedies, rubs, heat, supports, and have found what works best for me at this point. Plenty of rest on bad days but keep mobile to avoid stiffening up. We can beat this condition together. I Just need to figure out how to deal with the mental effects of it all.
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