Hello, partner of a new PsA sufferer and I have many questions...

AlexS
AlexS Member Posts: 2
edited 11. Dec 2024, 13:48 in Living with arthritis

Hi,

My partner was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis earlier this year (after going round in a few circles of being treated for gout and other things for a while!)

After a few months of taking methotrexate and Lefluonmide, it feels like the pain and inflammation is getting under control.

This morning though, he woke up in lots of pain in his side, we have spent the day at hospital checking for lung clots and we need to go back tomorrow for scans.

I am wondering though if it could be arthritis in his ribs, has this happened to anyone?

Thank you

Alex

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Comments

  • frogmorton
    frogmorton Member Posts: 30,026

    Hi @AlexS

    Pleased to meet you, but sorry to hear your partner has been diagnosed with PsA. There are a lot of people here who also have it so do just ask away!

    I don't know whether this might be relevant to his recent rib pain, but I have had costochondritis before which is inflammation I think of the ribs more towards the middle it's happened a few times and has always settled back down for me after flaring up for some weeks.

    It's excellent that he is being cared for and checked out properly though.

    take care

    Toni x

  • Ellen
    Ellen Moderator Posts: 1,841

    Good morning @AlexS welcome to the online community on behalf of the moderating team

    I see you have already 'met' one of our regulars. As Frogmorton said quite a significant proportion of our members have Psoriatic Arthritis so please do ask any questions hopefully somebody will be able to help.

    It's very good to see that a combination of Methotrexate and Leflunomide has helped get your partner's condition under control.

    I did you a quick search of the condition Frogmorton mentioned:

    https://community.versusarthritis.org/search?domain=all_content&query=costochondritis&scope=site&source=community

    My best wishes

    Ellen.

  • AlexS
    AlexS Member Posts: 2

    Thank you, it has settled down a bit now, I'm going to have a read through the informtion and discussions on here 😊

  • Arciere
    Arciere Member Posts: 65
    edited 14. Dec 2024, 20:15

    Hi @AlexS

    I have PsA and actually it can just cause pain everywhere. I remember going though diagnosis and finding it hard to describe where the pain was. It wasn't simply joints, it wasn’t muscles but maybe tendons. At my worst I think I had Enthesitis - if you Google that it talks about inflammation of various ligaments including where ligaments attach to the ribs. I had it bad in my lower back at the worst point of this disease, but also in my hands and feet.

    It’s nice to hear you are supportive of your partner. My partner would fail any question asked about RA or the Medication!


    Fatigue can be really hard to manage along with physical pain. Warmth helps - cold hurts I find. Sleep can make no difference. Hydration helps - maybe.

    Stress or stressful scenarios contribute I think. As in a stressful scenario can manifest in physical inflammation.


    I also think we are what we eat. Despite taking an immunosuppressant (Adalimumab) I have changed my diet significantly and for me, I think it’s helped - along with distancing myself from a stressful scenario.

    I cut out gluten, artificial sweetener and the deadlynightshade veg. All very personal and possibly just a coincidence of taking the Adalimumab, but I feel good for it.

    Steroids (oral) were really helpful to me when in real pain. The rheumatologist said my body was on fire when we first met. The steroids helped reduce that as I worked through the various medications.

    Hope this helps

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