Psoriatic arthritis?

[flakingscalp]

Update…Jan. 2022.

Have seen a dermatologist for my scalp finally after nearly 3 years of suffering, and I do indeed have scalp psoriasis. Everything prescribed has not worked. I have been told by my GP when I asked to be referred to a Rheumatologist , as I have had osteoarthritis for years, to see if this might be psoriatic arthritis,….he refused. Said I had osteoarthritis due to old age, and psoriatic arthritis sufferers have inflammatory arthritis. Totally confused so going to try another doctor at the surgery. Anyone out there diagnosed with osteoarthritis and psoriasis that also have been officially diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis? Please help me ….anyone.

[Surami2020]

I was diagnosed with severe OA in one knee after a baker's cyst burst. This incident though started the symptoms of what I now know is psoriatic arthritis throughout my body affecting me from my neck to my knees. It took 18 months and to the point of not being able to walk up stairs that a new GP after many months of previous blood tests finally gave me a diagnosis of PMR which fitted in with my symptoms but my inflammation was only elevated. Another 6 months later and the diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis and another 3 months before a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis. It is a long process and throughout it I saw an orthopedic surgeon who did lots of work on my knee and who started the investigative process because he thought I had myeloma and forwarded requests onto my GP. Hang in there and definitely get a second opinion and stick with your gut feeling. I waited way too long before admitting I couldn't handle the pain any more and could have been treated so much earlier.

[flakingscalp in reply to Surami2020]

Thanks so much for this. I think certain GPS cannot be bothered to investigate due to back log of patients on waiting Iists due to Covid. But I am going to persevere regardless.

[Batty1]

Your doctor is not a bright person and people with PSA can also have OA its not uncommon to see these 2 together…

what your up against is a dummy who only thinks PSA causes sausage shaped fingers and toes and if you don’t have that you can’t have PSA what he doesn’t know is PSA in its severe form attacks the tendons that attach to any bone in your body “sadly Im living proof of this” its a nightmare you can hardly walk, can’t bend your knees or ankles, standing is next to impossible and standing from a sitting position is awful.

The other issue with getting a diagnosis for PSA is testing their really is none it comes down to X-rays and process of elimination blood test are not necessarily helpful for PSA either although a high CRP and ESR blood test for inflammation is standard testing.

[flakingscalp in reply to Batty1]

Funny thing is Batty1 is that I do have sausage shaped fingers as well…I think GPs are just ‘passing the buck’ because of Covid…thanks for your reply…and hope you are keeping as well as you can be.

[Batty1 in reply to flakingscalp]

If I were you I wouldn’t just sit idly by and wait for him to do something or send you to someone who can …. This disease is no joke and as quick as if comes it can destroy your body …. It took me 2 years to get diagnosed even though I had psoriasis my entire life didn’t matter I did not have sausage fingers or toes as this seems to be the one thing that Doctor pay attention to. My form of PSA attacks my tendons and you do not want this it’s relentless and darn near impossible to get it to go into remission…agh

[flakingscalp]

Thanks. Got an appointment in Feb to see GP to discuss appt for Rheumatologist, at least it’s a step.