Is it Psoriatic Arthritis

butterfly

Hi

about 18 months ago I was told I had psoriatic arthritis (psoriasis is in my family) All the research I have done implies that I should have psoriasis but I don't and I have never had any problems with my skin i.e. eczema and other similar conditions.

I do have fibromyalgia which does flare up sometimes and I feel that I was having a flare up when I was diagnosed with the arthritis

When I was diagnosed with arthritis my fingers looked liked sausages and my wrists were puffy and painful as was my back. My knuckles are fine, not misshapen or painful (only very slightly sore if they are sausage like!) When there is a flare up I also have times when my body feels really hot although that is generally during the night.
Can someone tell me if they feel I am or if I am looking at this all wrong and I really do have psoriatic arthritis.



Many thanks

dreamdaisy

We are not rheumatologists so cannot diagnose but I have PsA with very little psoriasis - that began nine years after the joint troubles started and the meds, for the most part, keep it in check. I have a friend with PsA and no P whatsoever. DD

dreamdaisy

I've had a further thought: PsA usually begins in the smaller joints of the body (fingers and toes are the preferred sites, my friend's affects only his hands and has done for years): mine is now present in my fingers and toes but began in my left knee.

I also have fibro which affects me by making me tender all over and more tired than usual. I too run hot which may be a result of the combination of arthritis, fibro, meds and pain. We may have convenient medical labels such as RA, PsA, As, OA etc. but how we are affected is as individual as ourselves. DD

stickywicket

As DD says, we are not rheumatologists just long term patients but I can see nothing in what you write that would suggest you don't have PsA.

I don't think fibro produces sausage fingers but certainly auto-immune forms of arthritis do. Nobbles and deformity only come later and maybe not at all if you got on DMARDS quickly.

Maybe you are wishing you didn't have to take the meds but they are essential for us. I suggest you have a word with your rheumatologist when next you see him/her but, unfortunately, I think you do belong in our gang.

butterfly

Thank you so much for all the comments, of course I realise you are not rheumatologists but sometimes it is good to talk to people who suffer with it to enable us to make any sense of what is going on.

DD that is really interesting that your psoriasis didn't start until 9 years after the event. That puts it into perspective for me. I think it was this that was getting to me and making me disbelieve in my diagnoses.

Stickywicket I think you may be right, I m probably wishing I didn't have to take to the meds although at present the only thing that works for me are steroid injections. I suffer greatly with awful side effects from the meds tried so far. But I will be seeing my consultant next month and I am sure he will insist I try something else now

Although I have a great team at the hospital I feel more comforted now with the short conversation/messages from you guys.

Thank you so much.

stickywicket

I do hope your rheumatologist will offer another DMARD as steroids are no long term plan. Which DMARDS have you tried? Have you had them by injection? (This usually produces fewer, if any, side effects.) If you have failed on two or three DMARDS biologics might be given.

butterfly

I have been given Methotrexate by tablet then by injection, the side effects were really bad but I did persevere for 6 months. They then put me on Sulfasalasine this was the worse one, I had a really bad reaction to this and thought I was going to die, my heart rate shot up and I nearly fainted, sickness and severe sweating. They stopped it instantly. Then back on the steroids. But at that time I was seeing the team and not the specialist. The nurse wanted me on Leflunomide but her manager spoke to a doctor and that is when they put me on the Sulfasalasine. I see my own consultant in February so heres hoping.

I do feel though that I can now ask the questions that are going through head even though I felt they were silly questions before.

Butterfly

stickywicket

No question is silly, butterfly, if it's something that's bothering you and no doc worth his or her salt would think so. Ask away. Take a list of questions if you like. It 's always a bit scary going on new meds especially if there have been problems with others but we do need the meds nonetheless and things will be much better once you've found the right one for you.

butterfly

Well today I have got up from bed in such pain, my back, my neck and shoulders. Yesterday my toes were painful when I walked to the shops! I am now feeling sorry for my self which isn't like me. Clearly the steroids have suddenly stopped working (if I am truthful I think the pains were getting worse very slowly)

And believe it or not I have dry flaky skin in my eyelids!!!!

I have another 4 weeks before I see my consultant so I need to stay positive.

Sorry, I know others are in a far worse state than me but I needed to speak out what was happening.

Stickywicket I think you have made me realise that I am not accepting my diagnosis. That isn't new to me, I am terrible and often think the docs are not right, and who am I to question their expertise.

Sorry everyone, you are all so positive and here I am bleating on instead of just getting on with it.

I need a cuddle as I am quite tearful today.

daffy2

No need to apologise,that's what we're here for. You are hurting, unhappy and worried and that's not nice.It's not a question of whether someone else has it worse than you and so you feel you shouldn't complain, we're not into competitive suffering! Apart from anything else that takes up energy we don't have or could put to better use.
Keep posting, it's better to get things off your chest, and just sharing can often make you feel a little better.
You might want to move across to the Living with Arthritis board for ongoing support, that's the busiest one, although things can be quiet on the forum at the weekend.

butterfly

Thank you Daffy2 your word are a comfort. |i will definitely post on the Living with Arthritis