Diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis

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Wonderwoman1
Wonderwoman1 Member Posts: 4
edited 7. Nov 2024, 09:06 in Living with arthritis

Hi I am a Newbie and just been diagnosed with an aggressive Psoriatic Arthritis. I took a voluntary redundancy 9 days before all this hit me suddenly and I am not sure what benefits are available to me at the moment as I am unable to work. I tried to call the helpline but it’s not working. My PA doctor has said it will take 3-6 months to get me back to good health. Any advice would be gratefully received, thanks.

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  • chrisb
    chrisb Moderator Posts: 801

    Hi @Wonderwoman1,

    Welcome to the versus arthritis forum.

    The versus arthritis helpdesk should be able to help with your query. I believe they are running on a skeleton staffing level today and tomorrow due to attending our annual conference but you can email them on helpline@versusarthritis.org or perhaps call later in the week.

    Best wishes

    ChrisB (Moderator)

    Need more help - call our Helpline on 0800 5200 520 Monday to Friday 9am to 6pm

  • Arciere
    Arciere Member Posts: 123
    edited 10. Oct 2024, 20:05

    hi @Wonderwoman1

    I’m sorry to hear about your work situation and your diagnosis.

    Talk is cheap I know, but everything will be ok.

    Firstly I hope you have not been encouraged to take VR following any frequent periods of absence or change in your performance due to your condition. If the reasons or process used by your employer have been discriminatory at any stage, then you may have a claim, no matter your length of service or whether your redundancy was voluntary or otherwise. If you have any concerns please do take some advice. You can start with ACAS and Citizens Advice.

    As for benefits support the NRAS has a good page on this:

    https://nras.org.uk/resource/benefits/

    You mention aggressive PsA. I expect this is tough. I trust you have got things to help the pain. If your health provider/NHS trust has a rheumatology advice line, do call that or your GP if you are struggling.

    Things that helped me previously included oral and injected steroids, naproxen, staying warm.

    I think hydration makes a difference and I have lots to say about diet / look at my other posts.

  • jamieA
    jamieA Member Posts: 864

    Hi @Wonderwoman1

    I was diagnosed with PsA in 2020 and it came on really quickly - 6 weeks from an initial swollen knee to full blown multi joint immobility and walking on crutches. I know we are all different so my case may not be that relevant to you. It took a year to find the right combination of drugs to get me stable but I'm now able to walk my dog 50-60kms a week albeit with a limp as the damage to my knee means I'm waiting for a knee replacement. I'm on sulfasalazine, methotrexate and the biologic adalimumab.

    One piece of advice I'd offer is to be as assertive as you can be with your medics - it's you who is suffering not them. Ask about pain management and whether your local health authority has a clinic. Also ask about physio and occupational therapy. I found all of these helpful.

    Hope you get the treatment you need quickly.

  • Wonderwoman1
    Wonderwoman1 Member Posts: 4

    thank you all very much. For clarity I took the VR before I had the PA occur, it literally came in 9 days after I left work, I think an element of stress led to this happening but looking back it was lingering in the background but I had put it down to the menopause.
    mum lucky in some ways it came in so aggressively as I was in hospital and have been diagnosed straight away and now commencing treatment of methotrexate which after two weeks has made me anemic and feel rough for the first three days I take it but they are looking to start the sulphasalazine from the 25th October. I am picking up after a month but can’t do much, I did start a claim for ESA at the weekend though but not sure if I would qualify for PIP at the moment? I’d rather be in a job and in a good day feel a bit guilty I’m not working but there’s not many good days in the week so I think that’s not possible at the moment.
    thanks for your support and advice.

  • Hummingbird
    Hummingbird Member Posts: 3

    Hi @ Wonderwoman1,

    I'm still on the road to having 'controlled' Psa after 3 years of trying various meds. I guess my advice would be listen to your body, rest and medicate. Don't try to push yourself as the fatigue will most probably overwhelm you and remember - you're not alone on this path x

  • HMF
    HMF Member Posts: 10

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