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Dactylitis and Psoriatic arthritis

Posted , 7 users are following.

Lauren2107
Lauren2107

I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis approx 7 months ago following a series of mis diagnoses.

I have had skin psoriasis since about the age of 16 and I am now 26.

I started experiencing pain in my feet around 3 years ago and was diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. Following treatment for this for over a year, one of my toes on my left foot swelled. To this date it has yet to return to normal size. I was told that it was likely to have been fractured due to the way in which I was walking following the pain in my feet. I now know that this is Dactylitis.

A few months later the same toe on the other foot also did the same. It was only following further pain in my lower back did one of the doctors send me for bloods and X-rays. At this point they identified arthritis.

I have been put on Methotrexate and am currently on a course of steroids due to a flare in my condition.

I have noticed in the past couple of weeks that one of my fingers (middle finger, right hand) has swollen so that I am left with a 'sausage digit'. What I would like to know is, is there anything that can be done to reduce the swelling or appearance? Out of all of my pain, the pain in my effected toes and now finger is the worst. My toes look so big in comparison to the others. Will it ever go away? Or am I stuck with two huge toes and one huge finger?!

Has anyone else experienced this?

Lauren

0 likes, 30 replies

30 Replies

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  • sheila65847
    sheila65847 Lauren2107

    Posted

    Hi Lauren

    that's great news, you and Robert will be able to compare progress. The deposit should give you a real boost. I had one a fortnight ago and I feel better than I have in months😃

  • Lauren2107
    Lauren2107

    Posted

    Well fingers crossed all of our treatments help us :-)

    Good - hoping the depo has the same effect!

    I take the max methotrexate and will work the sulfasalazine up to 1mg (4 tablets a day)

    :-)

    • robert271163
      robert271163 Lauren2107

      Posted

      im starting on 7.5mg methotrexate but im unsure until i speak to Doctor what the plan is increasing it and reducing sulfasalazine. 
    • Lauren2107
      Lauren2107 robert271163

      Posted

      Ah ok. I take 20mg MTX (8 tablets once a week) and will build up to 1mg sulfasalazine in addition.
  • robert271163
    robert271163 Lauren2107

    Posted

    Had my Steroid injection cancelled as the inflamation has gone down so now put on hold for 6 months if it flares up i can go back to them. but by the time i get an appointment it will have gone down again more than likely. I had a pneumonia injection ready to start Methotrexate however my specialist wanted me to have a flu jab too but they are not available at this time of year. So next step is to see my doctor next Tuesday for the methotrexate. 
    • sheila65847
      sheila65847 robert271163

      Posted

      Hi Robert

      that always happens, by the time your appointment arrives symptoms have abated. Glad you've had pneumonia vaccine, I'm going ask my GP about it next week. I was hospitalised for 6 days in April with pneumonia, I never want to repeat that experience!

    • Lauren2107
      Lauren2107 sheila65847

      Posted

      That sounds dreadful!

      I've never been offered or suggested to go and have a flu vaccine etc.....

  • sheila65847
    sheila65847 Lauren2107

    Posted

    Check it out with your doctor, it was bad, I was extremely poorly. You see, when we take med which supresses the immune system we have no resistance. I go for X ray on Mon to check for damage. All fun!
    • Lauren2107
      Lauren2107 sheila65847

      Posted

      Yeah I'll definitely have to speak to my doctor.

      Well good luck on Monday!

  • robert271163
    robert271163 Lauren2107

    Posted

    So today is the day i start Methotrexate I will be taking them tonight for the first time as i try to take my meds the same time daily. I am Starting on 7.5mg followed by 1 folic acid tablet 2 days later. Bloods are being monitored every 2 weeks for the first 6 weeks. So fingers crossed these meds work. My condition has got worse over the last two weeks I am have a lot of trouble with my fingers on my right hand to the extent i am unable to grip a knife, both knees very swollen and alot of pain to go with it all. So hoping this works it is really getting me down.
  • robert271163
    robert271163 Lauren2107

    Posted

    I have just been reading up on Dactylitis if i am right and understand it correctly it is commonly known as sausage finger / toes but also looking in to it  if i am reading it correctly it can also be caused by Radiation. if this is the case this may explain why my condition has got worse, i am now at the stage where i am unable to close three fingers on my right hand and unable to grip. If the specialist know this why are they still using xray to diagnose the condition. It will also explain why my hand has got worse. I think more reading to understand the effects radiation/xray may have on the condition. As i may have said i am now unable to even grip a knife to cut my own food. 

    I may also be having mild side effects to Methotrexate as i keep getting light tingling/itching all over my body but it passes as soon as it comes. but i have not noticed any other side effects as of yet,however it is early days i have only had my first dose just over 24hrs ago. I am still hopeful that this might help me but as we all know it takes a while for these to start taking effect. 

    • Lauren2107
      Lauren2107 robert271163

      Posted

      I only experienced mild side effects with methotrexate. Mainly waves of nausea but they soon passed when I got used to it.

      I guess it's different for everyone. I'm upping up sulfasalazine tomorrow so keeping my fingers crossed all ok.

    • robert271163
      robert271163 Lauren2107

      Posted

      that is the only side effects i have noticed so far but since taking the folic acid im not even getting that i have reduced sulfasalazine down to 4 a day. I just need them to sort out my fingers so i can grip now as its becoming a pain not being able to do a simple task as cutting my own food up.
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