I need some help explaining to GP.please.

[beaton]

Diagnosed psoriasis 1980,PsA 2008,couldn't tolerate meds.so discharged to GP,2nd endo. didn't want to know.

How do I explain to GP that although there is no erosions but possible new bone,the pain and swelling I get in my hand and feet. I'm sure he thinks I'm pulling the wool.

[Hidden]

Have you got more than one GP in your practice? If so see that person instead, tell them all that has happened and ask if you could be referred to a Rheumatologist.

Which medication could you not tolerate as I have been on all the dmards for my PsA and I have not been turned away. I could not understand when you say 2nd. endo. did not want to know.

[beaton in reply to Hidden]

Hi Georje,I think it's down to money. When I was diagnosed I was on Sulphasalazine but had no response and then I was put on Methotrexate which made me dizzy and the liver ALT tests showed damage so that was stopped. The rheumatologist then discharged me back to my GP suggesting co-dydramol. I was on ESA at the time because I had given up work due to this illness. My ESA stopped after the twelve months and I had no more paperwork from the hospital to show them,so they rejected my claim.

I asked to be referred to another hospital and took the relevant paperwork with me. The rheumatologist examined me and read the paperwork. He agreed with what was written but offered nothing. My next appointment was with his registrar, she was a dragon and at one point I nearly walked out of the consultation. I did get x rays and reluctantly she agreed an ultrasound on my feet. Which showed Morton's neuromas on both feet. When she wrote to my GP she offered steroid injections and closed the file on me.

I am due to have those injections next week but after that I've nothing.

I don't think the Morton's are all that is wrong with my feet, I have gone up at least a shoe size and have swelling and pain in both them and my hands, which get painful with use.

I think part of the problem is money. I live in Cornwall,we only have one main hospital so no choice. The second hospital was in Devon.

I also have Hashimoto's thyroiditis,so some of the symptoms overlap.

The problem is no one wants to do anything. I'm having similar problems with thyroid meds.

Sorry to ramble on. xx

[Hidden in reply to beaton]

I think they only thing I can offer is keep going back to your gp until they do something about it. Sorry have nothing else to offer, perhaps another person on here will be of better use to you.

[beaton in reply to Hidden]

Hi Georje,Thanks for listening, It's good just to get things of my chest. xxx

[earthwitch]

I'm not surprised that the GP doesn't understand PsA, when so few rheumatologists seem to understand spondyloarthritis in general, but that doesn't make it any easier for you.

If you were diagnosed back in 2008 and that was when all the available treatment failed, it would be well worth getting referred back to rheumatology as treatment options have changed considerably with several biologics being licenced for use in spondyloarthritis. If you have failed MTX and SSZ, then you could well now meet criteria for biologics - criteria are different for PsA and AS than they are for RA. Even being referred back to the same hospital could be useful.

[beaton in reply to earthwitch]

Thank you Earthwitch,I might just do that. See if I can get a different rheumatologist. I think once I've had the morton's injections I can go back and say now lets get this sorted. Thanks again for some very usful info. xxx