Newly diagnosed - Psoriatic Arthritis

Hi Adele 

I'm 36 and have also recently been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and have never suffered with psoriasis previously.My joint pain started a few months ago with swelling in my fingers and now it seems to be affecting my hips, back, knees and shoulders.

I have developed the odd small patch of psoriasis which seems to come and go and leaves white marks. I also have endometriosis and have wondered if the two are connected??

I am waiting for an appointment to come through any day with regards to starting medication..sulphasalazine. The rheumatologist was going to put me on methotrexate but decided not to,due to be being prone to infections at the moment. Anyway I cannot offer any advice to you I'm afraid being a newbie myself,but just wanted to send you my love and I hope you are soon feeling better. Feel free to pm me if you need to chat.

Take care Nat x

It takes some people a few months for MTX to kick in. And yes, it's often hard to adjust to MTX at first, which is why typically most rheumatologists will start you off at 5 mg and will increase the dose each week or so, depending on how you're tolerating it.

Also, you should be taking 1-2mg of Folic acid to offset the effects of the MTX.

Most people take NSAIDS or a short course of Prednisone to help with the pain and inflammation.

It is a board certified rheumatologist who is prescribing and taking care of you, right? [Please don't say it's a consultant because my next question will be, WHAT KIND of consultant?]

Hang tight. It will be worth it. I was diagnosed over 20+ years ago and the MTX served me very well. Nowadays I take MTX with Humira and it's been a total life changing experience [for the better].

Hi Natalie & Lynn

Thank you so much for the reply, I am also 36 and it's come as a big of a shock. It started with a pain in my hip which went to both hips and then my fingers started to swell. It's now pretty much in my toes, knees, hips and fingers! I also suffer with my neck too. I never get psoriasis but the Consultant said its likely that will come. I started the Methotrexate 6 weeks ago and tote first couple of times I was so unwell I got sent home from work. 

My Consultant specialises in PA. He started me on 10mg I'm now on 15mg and am waiting to be referred on the NHS so that I qualify for the biologics. I have to prove that I have tried the other medication for at least 5 months. It's getting to the point where I'm wondering if it's really bad enough to be feeling this sh*t the whole time. I know the illness can make you feel tired but I'm just so exhausted and have no energy or interest in anything. I don't think the pain was as bad as this! 

Sorry to whinge! Xx

 

Hi Adele

I have had Psoriasis for 35 years and in 2001 i was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis

I now have 2 bent toes because of it and also my finger would have been the same but i wore a splint to keep it straight and have no problems with it today.

My rhuematologist started me on Sulphasalazine after months of NSAIDS but had to come off it after a month as my white blood cells went down to border line, i had to take antibiotics until the count was up again.

I was told they would try me on Methotrexate next, but i didnt need to take it as my Psoriatic Arthrits pain and inflammation went and i have not had it back since, just the Psoriasis.

So my advice to you is dont ever give up hope that one day you could be free of this like me, get rid of the negative thinking be positive, eat healthy foods, just live your life as normal as possible. I had to look after my 2 sons on my own when i had this as i was divorced and had no help from my ex husband. I remember my feet hurting so much and limping everywhere. Dont ever think you have this for life, be strong.

    xxx

We all usually try to treat the consequences, not the causes (inflammation). People are different but the principle is the same - you must lose the cause of the disease! I had psoriatic arthritis and about six years ago it really flared up in my joints so I couldn't exercise anymore and about two years ago patches started appearing on my skin and under nails- diagnosis code L40.0(-) and now I’m fine using a new 100% natural Omega 3 product from a North-European producer (they promise a ratio of 3:1 or lower).  As I was sceptic I measured, and still do, Omega 3 effect and Omega 6:3 ratio due to its importance!

I use a blood test from leading independent laboratories. This is a simple dry blood-spot test for home sample collection. Leading laboratories analyze the sample to determine your fatty acid profile as a reflection of your diet. The balance test identifies levels of 11 fatty acids in the blood with 98% certainty. You will learn your blood levels of omega-3 and your ratio of omega 6:3 for balance, plus receive a report to increase your health and dietary awareness. Test results will show whether your diet is balanced or unbalanced.

My first test ratio was 8,4:1, second after four months 3,4:1 and third a year later 1,6:1 and I´m fine.Finally, if you hold a ratio 3:1 or lower then all life style diseases (skin, joints, asthma, allergies, diabetes 2, high blood pressure, thyroid, osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases etc.) will start disappearing and I know lot of recovered people now.

Hi Adele, I have not got psoriasis, and could not tolerate Methotrexate, and 3 others. I then started on another one working up slowly. This all happened over about 8 months, and I felt ill all the time and very depressed, which has never happened to me before. When my blood pressure went up significantly, I investigated the side effects further, as my hands were no better through all this. I then wrote a list with pros and cons, and against dangerously high blood pressure and possible failing kidneys, plus all the other effects that I was getting, I suddenly saw the light and stopped taking the meds. Within a week I felt back to me! and all the side effects started to go. I took my life back, and I felt reborn. Okay, so my hands hurt most of the time, and I take painkillers, but I would much rather that. People said to me, 'surely they wouldn't give you anything dangerous' but my answer to that is - All they care about is curing the problem in their department. If you end up in another department that is not their problem. For me, I made the best decision and I will not consider any of those medications again. I have lots of animals so I have to be active, I just get on with it, but at least I feel healthy. I am 65.

Hi, I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis about a year ago and all I have is one small patch of psoriasis on my foot which comes and goes. I was first put on sulfalazine which didn't do much good because I kept getting infections and had to come of it. I came of it permanantly after I was losing control of my bladder at night without realising, The doctor put it down to some sort of seizure and I came of it completly . I am now on Methotraxate, 15mg like yourself. I feel so drained, No energy and flu like. It is difficult as I have an 11 yer old and dont have the incentive to do anything with her, I feel really quilty about. But I keep hoping like some of the other stories in here that the situation will get better with perserverance. 

Hi Adele, I don't know whether you will still be following this after three months, but just in case...

First, hope that you are feeling better now and that the Metho isn't causing you as much discomfort.

I was diagnosed in 2005 and have been taking Methotrexate since 2006. I was first tried with Sulfasalazine, but that made me ill. Since starting with the Metho I haven't looked back.

I have had a lot of pain, in various joints, and have a slightly twisted toe, but nothing that causes problems. I am 62 now, and do Tai Chi, jog, go out with friends, and generally feel fine and enjoy my life. It takes a while for the pain to abate, but don't give up. It will do in time.

Good luck.  

Hi Adele, I was  finally diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondilitis about 15 years ago and moved around a lot with work, so lots of different rhuematology departments visited from Oxford to Bath.I suffered with Arthritis in most of my joints aswell as psorasis. after trying all the front line drugs Methotrexate etc and all the skin creams  which didnt do it for me  my rhuematolagist (a wonderful understanding person) fought to get me on to the newish  at the time anti tnf drugs. I started on enbrel then on to humira and it totally changed my life, hardly any joint pain except the odd flare up and no psorasis It totally changed my life. we all know how painful and depressing this illness is but I just wanted to share with you my experience. there is light at the end of the tunnel. good luck asnd I hope you find the treatment that works for you.

Hi Everyone,

Sorry for the late reply, I've had a bad few months. I was attacked by a dog whilst walking my dog just before Christmas which resulted in my arm being "crunched" and requiring two operations! Not great to be honest but after having a plate inserted I'm getting there. They stopped my Methotrexate as they said it would affect the healing of the fracture so I'm now waiting to go on the biologics! My fingers are really bad at the moment - not sure if I can post photos on here but it's completely crooked which is very upsetting and it's happened quite quickly but hopefully the biologics will help once I start them.

Natalie how are you getting on?