Do I have Psoratic Arthritis

[tiggerroo99]

Hello, this may be a long post so sorry about this. Just want to give some history.

After the birth of my second daughter in 2001 I started getting horrible itchy rashes on my body for no reason. Mainly on my lower back, lower stomach and knees. I went to the doctors and they didn't know what it was but they gave me some cream and it went away. The rashes continued to flare up and I tolerated it for years before I went back again and was diagnosed with Psoriasis by another doctor and given different cream which I get on repeat prescription along with emoliants. Roll forward until around 2014 when I started having knee pain. Again I was diagnosed with strains and sprains and all sorts of things until I asked for an x-ray as the pain was getting bad. I was diagnosed with severe arthritis in my right knee and moderate in my left knee. Sometimes one knee would hurt more than the other but I could never say one knee was the worse. In between the diagnosis of Psoriasis and later Arthritis I have had bouts of Plantar Fasciitis in my right heel. This was eventually dealt with on both occasions with cortisone injections. Last October I suffered torn tendons in my left knee which took until January to fully heal. Then around February I started suffering with stiff ankles when I woke in the morning. The achilles tendon was really tight especially on my right heel. I suffered this for around 2 months but the problem got worse and took ages to walk off. Went back to the doctors who diagnosed pulled ligaments and said to come back in a month where they would inject it with a cortisone injection if it didn't get better. I didn't go back, but I started the same problem in my left ankle and now it is becoming increasingly difficult to walk because of the stiff painful ankles. Last month I have started getting pains in the top of my right foot. Back to the doctors. More tendon damage. I was given 2 weeks of Naproxen. The tablets have run out but the foot is no better.

I seem to be suffering tendon/ligament problems one after the other. I am constantly being put on Naproxen and nobody seems to be asking why I am getting all this damage. Psoriasis seems to be under control and biggest flares are just my fingers and my elbows at the moment. I have asked my doctor in the past if it might be Psoratic Arthritis and he said come back when you have a Psoriasis flare. But I've not really had one worth going to the doctor about. Added to this, our surgery is a large practice and I don't think I've ever seen the same doctor twice in all of these dealings with my problems.

I'm just wondering if these symptoms ring any bells with those that do suffer from the condition and if so how best to get something done about them.

Thank you for sticking with me, if you got this far.

[ITYFIALMCTT]

The tendons and ligaments sound like a huge clue that PsA is plausible and should be investigated. Particularly as you mention both plantar fasciitis and achilles tendons as these are very common finding in PsA.

I have negligible psoriasis (just in my hairline but also a couple of nails, it seems).

I had blood tests for RA and they were negative (hurrah) and that would be a start for you as it gives a hint if the blood work is positive but also an avenue for further investigation if the results are negative for distinctive RA factors etc..

I've recently seen a consultant who said that the "likely diagnosis" for my stiff/painful hands etc. is psoriatic arthritis and am now waiting for tests and imaging. You don't have to be in flare or have extensive psoriasis to have psoriatic arthritis.

If you're in the UK it might be worth your while to make a call to the NRAS Helpline to talk things through and get advice about how to approach your doctor.

Good Luck!

[James53]

Ask to see a rheumatologist.

GP should have referred by now given symptoms.

No use us trying to diagnose - I have PSA and can identify with much of what you say but you need to see a specialist

Best wishes

[tiggerroo99]

Thank you both for your replies. I will certainly ask for it to be looked into further.

[Nettac]

I have PsA and went through the same stuff. Sounds very much like it to me.

I would ask for rheumatologist referral.

[FionaHerts]

As others have said, I think you are justified in asking your gp for a Rheumatologist referral.

Your tendon and ligament problems sound very similar to mine and they have made walking very difficult because they were left so long. I have been diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis and do get some joint involvement, pain and stiffness, but never any swollen joints any doctors can see. I have wondered whether my condition is more like psoriatic arthritis, although I've never had any skin psoriasis.

I have tendon and ligament inflammation and currently have bilateral achillies tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, forefoot bursitis, tennis elbow, all ongoing for over a year now and confirmed recently on ultrasound scan. My feet and ankles stiffen if I sit down for more than half an hour and are worst first thing in the morning. I'm unable to get my heel to the floor in the mornings and cannot walk with bare feet.The doctors seem to find this puzzling as my feet and ankles look normal and my inflammatory markers are normal, so I'm glad to have some ultrasound proof now.

Tendon problems can lead to more foot problems, so you might want to ask your Rheumatologist for a podiatry referral to help prevent any damage to your feet and keep you walking. Ive found that podiatry, physio and ultrasound referrals take so long I wish I'd asked for them earlier; so it might be worth requesting at your first appointment.

Best wishes and I hope you get seen soon. There's lots that can help with medication etc and great support on this site.

Fiona

[tiggerroo99]

Thanks guys, you are amazing. I will definitely go back to my doctor. Well it will be a new doctor as we are in the middle of changing surgery, so who knows I may have a bit more luck. I will keep you posted.

[Someonesmother]

Sounds like you need to see a rheumatologist to get that sorted. It could be, but I am not a Dr.

[ranne21]

Do be calm but firm about getting a referral as it sounds like it's very overdue. It took me ages to ask my GP for one and I should really have been referred much earlier. The GP was fine about it when I asked him.

[Nettac in reply to ranne21]

Yup took me ages too. Feel quite angry about it. I had bilateral knee and Achilles tendonitis for over a year! I wasvin absolute agony. Would waje up crying abd go to bed crying.

All my toenails had fallen off, and I was so stiff I couldn't roll over in bed. I know longer trust my GP I'm afraid.

Good luck, and hope it all goes well.

[tiggerroo99]

thank you everyone.