Psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis .

[CindyCT]

Hello. I have just been diagnosed with psoriatic arthoropathy and psoriasis. I'm 45 yrs old.

[Nottobad]

Hi Cindy I was dx with psoriatic arthritis and I also have a bit of psoriasis. Witch I thought was dry skin but the rheumytolagist I saw said it was psoriasis have you been given any medication. I was given sulfasalazine and Leflunomide. I also have OA and COPD

[CindyCT in reply to Nottobad]

Same here. I was told the lumps in my hair was dandruff. Not psoriasis. I had bad rashes down my chest, under my arms and the back of my knees. I was told by the GP, that was eczema. So I used to go on sun beds to get rid, which it did and has not come back. But recently my finger nails and toe nails are changing. So when I kept pushing to see someone, GP eventually sent me to Rheumytolagist, who diagnosed with in 10 minutes that I have psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis. I now take folic acid then methotrexate . It's only been 5 weeks. No change yet, but they say it can take up th 3-4months . I'm also on pergaberlin, codeine, paracetamol , amatripaline. The pain in my hips and back are bad, and my feet and hands are aching.

[Crafty-Al]

Hi Cindy, I was dx with Psoriatic Arthritis at 18 years old. I had always had a touch of psoriasis on my scalp, I am now 48 years old and I have my struggles as well as other common conditions which are linked to PSA like fibromyalgia. I am on Tramadol and Cocodamol as well as Methotrexate and Embrel, which I have via two injections I give myself weekly. I also have oramorph for bad days, Don't get me wrong I started off with just Co codamol and sulfasalazine but over the years my conditions have got worse, my worst problems are my pelvis and sacroiliac joints.

Cindy,it could be worse honestly I am sure you are panicking at the moment, but hopefully you wont be too badly affected.

There are two types of PSA - there is a milder type and the most severe type, I have the worst type, it's easy to find out which you have as it shows up in a genetic mark, I think its H7, but don't quote me it's so long ago for me it could just as easily be called ABC marker!!!

Good luck Cindy and if you want to message me and ask anything please do. KEep your chin up, positivity really does help, x x

[CindyCT in reply to Crafty-Al]

Hello crafty-al. How you doing today?

Thank you for your messaged.

Years ago I had painful lumps in my hair, and the hair dresser said it was dandruff. But they were painful when they came through, then turned to scabs and itchy. I also had exma, on my chest and down my arms. I used to use sun beds to get rid, which worked. My toe nails, I lost years ago, which I also thought was through wearing army boots. So when the nails grew back they were never the same. Just three months ago my thumb nails. My back and hips, again I though it was through being kicked by a horse in the back on the YTS years ago, I was about 16/17 years old. Had back ach ever since.

[CindyCT in reply to Crafty-Al]

Hello Crafty-Al.

Cindy here again. I failed my breath test and they stopped my methotrexate straight away. The headaches and pains in my feet/heals and ankles was horrendous . When the main RA doc came back from his holidays but me straight back on my meds because I have never smoked. Luckily me. Things are now starting to settle abit. My doc at the medical centre just doubled all my pain killers. Amatripaline, pre gabbling and codeine. Tiredness is another one to add to my list.

But my hips and back are still very painful to move, and now my joints are adding to the list of pain. My poor boys who love to cuddle, can only do very gently now. It's so sad. Every joint in my body aches when my touched or walk. More often now. PA is happen soo quickly.