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I've been diagnosed with psoraitic arthritis.

Posted , 3 users are following.

CB1964
CB1964

diagnosed in June 2014 after 12 months of severe pain and stiffness in neck, shoulders, hips and legs. Originally GP thought it was polymyalgia and prescribed huge dose of prednisilone. Due to steroids I'm still overweight by 2 stone.  Can anyone give me any advice with this condition. It's treated like RA. I'm currently on 20mg tablets methotrexate and folic acid. I also have to take ibuprofen and omeprezol for reducing inflammation and paracetamol for pain. Was prescribed sulfasalazine in March 2015 but I had bad reaction and was told to stop. I have found out today that the next appointment with rheumatologist is not until June 2015. In the meantime I'm not taking anything along with methotrexate which I was told I should be. Anyone else feel like rheumatologists are hard to find and understaffed????? I'm fed up of feeling stiff and I'm unable to do anything like housework, exercise. Shopping is also hard work. I'm 50 and have 3 children who are reliant on us at home. Before symptoms started in 2013, I was super fit - now I can't face gym or can't swim because of stiff neck etc. I also can't over do anything as it will make me more stiff which it does! Sorry for rant, please let me know I'm not the only person experiencing this form of arthritis and severity! 

Just to add I have a very loving husband who does let me rest when I need to but I do wonder if all my problems were brought on when he was diagnosed with lung cancer in April 2013. I've been through his surgery and chemotherapy all while I was undiagnosed!! My symptoms started in April around the time we suspected cancer (he's never even smoked)!

Also I'm at that wonderful age when menopause is possibly happening! Anyone else think arthritis could be linked? Rant over I promise ! 

0 likes, 3 replies

3 Replies

  • sheila65847
    sheila65847 CB1964

    Posted

    Hi CB, gosh it's difficult! I was diagnosed in Oct 2011 and still struggle. I am the same age as you and like you, used to practice an active, busy healthy lifestyle. I too, had a bad reaction to sulphasalazine and also to methatrexate which resulted in a hepatic reaction so I stress how important it is to get your bloods checked each month. Can you make contact with a specialist nurse within your local rheumatology dept and make them your new best friend? That way you will have ongoing support which I think is essential. Currently my meds are Humira and Leflunomide though as I am recovering from pneumonia I can't take any immunosuppressive drugs for a few weeks. I lost my job in Oct due to ill health and find life empty and lonely. The fatigue aspect of PsA wipes me out completely. My hope is that it will get easiwe😕
  • marshalll527691
    marshalll527691 CB1964

    Posted

    hi CB1964

    hey it's alright to have a rant been feeling there myself, lately. our systoms are very similar i have it in my shoulders hips and legs. i was skating about 15 hours a week when it really hit and in the summers played 80 to 90 rounds of golf and went for 2 mile walks with my wife, now i can't skate i play about 20 rounds of golf (no where near the level that i could before) and to walk to the coner is dificult at times, so we all go through it. i also have a wife that is great and does so much that i can't any more. i take Humira and methotrexate and it has been very good for a year, but the last two months my hip has been very bad, so hang on it gets better and worse, i think the best thing i saw was Sheila65847 comment about finding a nurse or a group that you can talk to to help through the tuff times, that's what i am looking for and why i regstered for this site, it helps knowing that you're not the only one going through this. good luck

    • sheila65847
      sheila65847 marshalll527691

      Posted

      Hi Marshall,

      yes we all need support particularly as PsA turns our lives upside down and inside out. I totally understand you missing out on your sport, mine was horse riding 15 hours per week. Nowadays it's a rocking horse. I can't complain at the moment, I'm back on Humira after a long period of infections. Humira is a wonder drug, I'm so grateful for it. Happy days!😎

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