PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS Vs. OSTEOARTHRITIS
Hi everyone new and need help.
I'm sitting here writing because I'm irritated with my recent diagnoises of OA but, I'm not convinced that this is really the case. My issues started 15 months ago after I had a Thyroidectomy for cancer this is when my health and life went down the drain. Over these past 15 months I've been riddled with tendonitis on the top of both of my feet and Achilles tendonitis on left foot only I also have a numb big toe. I've seen 2 Rheumys, 1 Neurologist and Eye Doc because my eyes get so inflamed to the point the white of my eyes are blood red and painful, the Rheumys keep telling me I'm fine no Arthritis and Neurologist says I'm fine but the Eye Doc insist that I have some type of connective tissue disease and referred me out to John Hopkins Rheumotology dept. I had to collect a years worth of health records pertaining to all my health issues and I got a call from JOHN HOPKINS and they told me it would take 5-10 days before or IF they would schedule me for appointment (they don't see everyone) I got a call next day 2nd in command who specializes in psoriatic arthritis wants to see me.
Little health history of me : Moderate to Severe plague psoriasis for 44 yrs I'm 48 and currently on Stelara, Meineres Disease, thyroid and ovarian cancer. So my Achilles tendonitis and Extensor Tendonitis cleared up overnight after 15 months of torture but now I have this horrible Knee pain and calf pain. I never had pain of any kind in this knee until now. My Primary Doc along with x-rays say I have OA and she can't do anything for me but now I'm practically crippled. Is it possible I have Psoriatic arthritis mistaken for OA or could it really be OA and how would this come and go and attack different joints ? .....sorry so long I'm aggitated with being house bound again, I just want my health and life back.
Hi Grace. I am so sorry that you ar having these problems and it makes life miserable. I also have some major illness and on top of these I have had pain all over my body with so much pain in my hands that now they are so deformed and some of my joints are so badly damaged that I can move them from side to side. I suffered with this pain for 15 years and for 5 years I was told I had Erosive OA. when my nails turned brown and thick they started to wonder if I had PsA. I also had severe lesions on my feet and was given lots of different foot creams to try and it never did any good. A biopsy of one of the leisons showed that it was Psoriasis. I have been on so many different medications and have been on Humira and now from this week will start with Enbrel.
If your eye dr says that PsA is what is wrong with you then you have to fight for yourself. To me it sounds roughly what I went through so I hope you can be diagnosed soon as it is a relief to know what is wrong.
Grace, I was initially diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, always said no because I had muscle pains too, wasn't till I contractred uveitis in my eyes they changed me go psa. I've never had skin conditions.
Thanks for your response. I must have the worse doctors every. I've been having eye inflammation for past 5 yrs and was told I have dry eye I can't find anything that says dry eye cause red imflamed eyes.
, I wanted to link you up with this article that compares PSA and OA:
https://psoriatic-arthritis.com/clinical/osteoarthritis-vs-psa-differences/
I'm actually quite surprised that with a previous history of psoriasis, enthesitis, and eye inflammation they wouldn't be suspicious of PsA. Here's some more on that:
https://psoriatic-arthritis.com/psa-symptoms/tendons-ligaments/
https://psoriatic-arthritis.com/psa-symptoms/eyes-red-pain-vision/
So where are you at now? What did the PsA Rheumatologist think? (also OA?). We're here for you.
-Victoria, Community Moderator
