What is it really like to live with psoriatic arthritis?

Hi members, we have created a group dedicated solely psoriatic arthritis.

Please join in on this discussion and begin to share with others with psoriatic arthritis.

@tadhouse1‍ @curtaincall‍ @Twiggi‍ @selano!‍ @psori!!pt‍ @stward‍ @ribston1‍ @Darnell‍ @insaenguihim‍ @hawksofchi‍ @Anthony75002_US‍ 

Hi everyone, I was diagnosed with psoriasis at 10, not too long after chickenpox. Around age 26, I finally got the diagnosis of PSA and that has kind of taken to be the source of my pain and concern. The flare-ups are hell... My whole elbow, hand. knuckles, fingers are stiff and sore. My hips have started to become stiff also.

Life has not been easy... arthritis is not something I would have thought I would have had to deal with in my late twenties and into my thirties. I feel old and useless at times. I want to do active things or help my parents with certain things, and I do try - I try to do it even if it hurts - but it is depressing come to realization that there are things I cannot do!

@psori!!pt Living with PSoriatic Arthritis is tiring and exhausting and, when a flare comes... the exhaustion is just magnified. Biologics can help - though. You have days of intense soreness, exhaustion, and brain fog. The brain fog is somewhat always there, which means there are times where times passes and what feels like was 5 minutes was actually 30 and you have hard time paying attention or engaging in conversations. You will go from up and downs with depression as well. 

It took quite a while for me to be diagnosed correctly. Even though I had severe psoriasis all over my entire body from age ten, which at the time was treated with tar and steroids and occlusion (Saran wrap, rubber gloves, shower cap etc…)in the seventies.

the join pain started in my lower back when I was 16 and my fingers would swell. My pediatrician thought they were unrelated. It wasn’t until my late twenties that I made an appointment at a local rheumatologist. He diagnosed the newly discovered fibromyalgia since my sed rate was not elevated on his test. I even had surgery on my left elbow after a year of continued severe unrelenting epicondylitis (no. I did not play tennis). The surgeon said he had to clean a lot of inflammation out of my elbow- it was PA. I was fed up with local doctors so I searched online. First I did a search for the definition of PA and read about the changes in the nails which I clearly had. I also noticed that the doctor who wrote the medical dictionary definition was at Columbia Pres in NYC. I called and made an appointment. He diagnosed me right away. I went there for over twenty five years until he retired. Now I have a wonderful new doc in my town who is excellent. Lucky for me after being on first methotrexate, then cyclosporine and several different meds and DMARDS over the years, now at 62 my PA is finally quiet.