Long Term PA Sufferer, Surgery & Pain Management

keithrs
keithrs Member Posts: 2
I was diagnosed with PA about fifteen years ago, (aged 31) and having endured every treatment known to man for the psoriasis itself over the years, i.e. creams, lotions, potions, etc, amazingly, this part of the chronic condition has actually all but vanished. However, as for the 'arthritis' element, nothing further from the truth could be true!

Having had various steroid spinal injections, three surgical fusions on my left hand/large thumb joint and two more on my left foot, (toes '4' and '5'), it has raised it's ugly head once more in Nos. '3' and '4' of the same foot. However, now under a foot/ankle Consultant surgeon, he said that toe joints should never be fused and that amputation of '4' and possibly half of '3', may be the only answer? Meanwhile, I carry on, as I have done for the last twelve years, taking 200mg Diclofenac/day, 200mg-300mg Tramadol/day, (depending on the weather?) and 300mg Ranitidine/day, whilst having annual blood tests to monitor for the adverse affects on the kidneys of ingesting NSAIDs on a long-term basis.

So, the question is, with nobody seemingly being able to assist with effective non-NSAID use for pain management and my facing yet another CT-guided injection of steroid in the face on the 1st December, (yet more steroids pumped into me!!), can anyone suggest any alternative approach that may have worked for them? PLEASE??

Comments

  • helpline_team
    helpline_team Posts: 3,463
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    keithrs wrote:
    I was diagnosed with PA about fifteen years ago, (aged 31) and having endured every treatment known to man for the psoriasis itself over the years, i.e. creams, lotions, potions, etc, amazingly, this part of the chronic condition has actually all but vanished. However, as for the 'arthritis' element, nothing further from the truth could be true!

    Having had various steroid spinal injections, three surgical fusions on my left hand/large thumb joint and two more on my left foot, (toes '4' and '5'), it has raised it's ugly head once more in Nos. '3' and '4' of the same foot. However, now under a foot/ankle Consultant surgeon, he said that toe joints should never be fused and that amputation of '4' and possibly half of '3', may be the only answer? Meanwhile, I carry on, as I have done for the last twelve years, taking 200mg Diclofenac/day, 200mg-300mg Tramadol/day, (depending on the weather?) and 300mg Ranitidine/day, whilst having annual blood tests to monitor for the adverse affects on the kidneys of ingesting NSAIDs on a long-term basis.

    So, the question is, with nobody seemingly being able to assist with effective non-NSAID use for pain management and my facing yet another CT-guided injection of steroid in the face on the 1st December, (yet more steroids pumped into me!!), can anyone suggest any alternative approach that may have worked for them? PLEASE??

    Dear Keithrs

    Thank you for your posting on the forum. It sounds as if you are having a very difficult time at the moment and I have listed here links that contain information about the condition itself and about treatment that I hope will be helpful to you. If you follow the link http://www.arthritiscare.org.uk/AboutArthritis/Conditions/Psoriaticarthritis this will lead you to our information on Psoriatic Arthritis which includes our factsheet which includes treatment of the condition. There is also a link on this page to the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance (PAPAA) that has lots of information about treatment and management of the condition.

    Please also look at the Arthritis Campaign’s booklet on Psoriatic Arthritis on http://www.arc.org.uk/arthinfo/patpubs/6029/6029.asp that also contains information on how it can be treated. You have not said in your posting what health professional is managing your pain but asking for a referral to a pain clinic may help as they specialise in the treatment of pain. I would also like to encourage you to contact our helpline on 0808 800 4050 (open Monday – Friday, 10am – 4pm) to receive more support from our helpline team. I hope that this information is helpful.

    Best Wishes
    Dawn