Hi new member

Jayneyb

Hi
I am new to the forum. Many years of psoriasis and 11 months of joint pain and PA. hoping to chat with other people who have PA to learn about managing it and treatments.
Thanks for reading.

[Deleted User]

Hello
Welcome to the forum, I am sure you will find support, advice, friendhip and light relief here.
I'm one of the moderation team, we all have one or more arthritis "hangers on" or look after family with the same. If you need help with the technicalities of the forum just get in touch via a personal message.
Best wishes
CK Mod.

ron1723

Hi, I'm new here, looking for help and advice. have arthritis of facet joints, bulging discs, trapped nerves and arthritis in shoulder. Taking too much meds to mention. DWP recon I'm fit enough to work so gizza job, ha.

barbara12

Hello Jayneyb and Ron and a warm welcome form me
Jayne there are quite a few people on her with PA..so mif you put any questions in LWA someone will be along with some answers..
Ron I have facet joint arthritis among others..it no joke and for them to expect you to work , well what can I say..you just keeping fighting them..good luck..

stickywicket

Hi Jayneyb and welcome from me too. As Barbara says, there are several people with PsA on here but they're more likely to see your post if you copy it to the LWA forum. (I have RA, not PsA though the meds are basically the same.)

What are you currently taking for it? As for managing it, I guess it's quite an individual thing depending on you and your situation ie are you working? Do you have children? etc, etc

Try here for some basic info https://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/managing-arthritis

Jayneyb

Hi
Thanks for the replies. I am currently taking over the counter pain killers but I can't take many as I don't tolerate them well, and using voltarol gel. I have just started using a home uvb lamp for my psoriasis and am hoping that will help with my joints too. I am still working full time in a fairly stressful job which probably doesn't help! I have found heat is great for the back pain. Any advice for finger and toes would be welcomed.
Thanks

stickywicket

Stress is definitely a bad thing for arthritis. It does tend to make it worse. I don't suppose there's any means of lessening the stress from your work?

You don't mention Disease Modifying Anti Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDS) such as sulphasalazine and methotrexate. Have you seen a rheumatologist and been offered them?

Heat, gels etc are all very well in dealing with the symptoms but don't hold back the disease itself.

(Sorry, I'm in a rush. Need to cook :roll: )

dreamdaisy

Hello, I have PsA but without much of the P. I was officially diagnosed in October 2006 but only the label changed, not the meds. I didn't start them early enough so am now in a right old pickle! I take injected methotrexate and tablet sulphasalazine (both are DMARDs) plus an injected anti TNF, humira. For pain relief I get by on four cocodamol per day - they dull enough for me to get on but by no means render me pain-free and I know that nothing will - 'tis the nature of the beast. I know the meds are working because my bloods are good.

Ron - can you be a little more specific please? We all have arthritis of one kind or another (or in my case two kinds, PsA and OA) so it's hard to know how to answer you. The best thing I did to help myself was to retire but I am fortunate in that I could afford to do so.

I wish you both well. DD

Jayneyb

Hi
I have seen the rheumatologist last week. They have sent me away for 3 months to see the dermatologist first to look at treating my psoriasis and nail psoriasis. They said a lot of it is in my tendons. I am having hand and feet X-rays. I'm supposed to see how I manage on over counter meds for 3 months as its early stage but it's getting worse every week.

dreamdaisy

To my way of thinking that's not good thinking. PsA does go for the tendons and entheses and disease activity needs to be reduced to prevent any damage to the joints. From my experience three months is not that long but my hospital now believes in hitting early and hard so as to get things under better control: I wish they'd thought like that when I first saw them! Y0ur dermatologist can do nothing to affect the arthritis due to their specialist area. If you are started on the right drugs you may well find that they ease the skin too. What have your blood tests shown regarding inflammation levels? (Usually the CRP and ESR figures.) DD

stickywicket

When do you see the dermatologist? I ask because it does seem odd to me not to start you on the 'proper' meds straight away but I think I've read on here of dermatologists prescribing them anyway for someone with PsA. I can understand your rheumatologist wanting to work together with the dermatologist on this but, if things are deteriorating quickly, it might not be a good idea to leave it. The stress won't help either. If your dermatology appointment isn't soon I suggest you make one with your GP to get his / her view on it.

ron1723

Hi Dreamdaisy, sorry to be so vague. I have OA, had it for about 18 months now and seems to be getting worse. Currently taking Celecoxib, Zapain, Amitriptyline, Diazepam, Gabapentin and omeprazole. Have been offered some sort of patch similar to morphine but not sure about that one as I'm a bit spaced out on the meds I'm taking now. Just had a bad couple of weeks with severe pain, could hardly walk/move.
I have an amazing wife who brings me up when I'm down, and support from my son and two daughters.
DWP say I'm fit enough for work (ha) and am on the work related support group. Have tried to set up a small business from home but would make about £40 per week if lucky.
My contributory ESA runs out end of February and not sure what happens then, seeing someone from Welfare Advice centre on Friday.
Sorry if I've gone on a bit.
Thanks for reading my post .
Ron

ron1723

Hi Barbara12, thanks for reading my post, I will fight them, just can't believe how people are treated in this prosperous land.
Ron

barbara12

ron1723 wrote:

Hi Barbara12, thanks for reading my post, I will fight them, just can't believe how people are treated in this prosperous land.
Ron

Its terrible Ron, easy target has they say, but we have had a few on the forum that have appealed and won, so good for you getting help..and dont forget we have the working part of the forum I would have a read through it..let us know how you get on..

Jayneyb

Hi
If my joint pain is getting worse as is psoriasis and nail psoriasis but blood isn't showing inflammation what should I be asking for?
Thanks for your advice.

stickywicket

I guess it depends who you're asking. The GP can only prescribe pain relief, anti-inflammatories and topical creams. Both the dermatologist and rheumatologist should be aware that PsA is sero-negative. When do you see them? Maybe it would help you to just read up on PsA https://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/what-is-arthritis/resources/297-psoriatic-arthritis

dreamdaisy

I suspect things might be worsening because it's not under control as yet. You are also maybe more aware of what is going on so feel things more acutely, the brain is a powerful thing. Have a chat to your local pharmacist and see if he can recommend anything.

Ron, I apologise for not getting back to you, I missed your post - that can happen when contributing to another's thread and I've not been well. I too have OA but I don't take the same level of pain relief as you, I learned fairly early on that the pain relief merely dulled things rather than eradicate them so I cut it back; I prefer being able to feel the feedback when I'm close to overdoing things. I'm on some fairly heavy-duty stuff for my PsA so that inhibits my adding more and more to the mix, it is also possible to over-medicate and thus not find the relief one expects, and the more we take the more we need to get just the basic level. Males feel pain more acutely than females so no wonder you are taking all that, living with chronic pain is far from easy. DD