r/PsoriaticArthritis

Hello! I am 35 and I have psoriatic arthritis, my mum has it, I have a more gentle versione of hers, my joints get sore quite rarely and only 1 to 2 times a year I get very painful and swollen inflammations.

I am pharmacist ,but I am studying to become a tattoo artist, I wanted to ask if someone has experience of being a tattoo artist while having psoriatic arthritis. I am worried that with time I may be no more able to hold a tattoo pen :(

Hello PSA community - sharing some observations with my fathers condition in an effort to gain insight from this group ( whether you’re a clinician , patient or relative of patient etc )

Father is 70 years old and has had psoriasis for several years . About a year ago he was taking taltz injections which seemed to have his skin condition under control . That drug was reclassified and the rheum switched my dad to methotrexate once per wk.

A few months later I visited my father and he had excruciating joint pain - could not fit his foot into his shoe . Since then he has had similar pains in various parts of his lower body ( knee , ankle etc )—> PSA

Aside from the mobility issues , there has also been a noticeable change in his cognitive state . Last year he could sing / play 40 songs on the guitar . No sheet music etc . Now he can’t get through a single verse. Example 2 of dramatic changes - He worked as a computer systems director for 30 years and now he fumbles to download an email attachment .

My mother is now involved in taking him to his appointments but she hasn’t had a ton of luck disclosing her observations in detail ( doctors rush appts , she’s an introvert and also doesn’t want to hurt my dads feelings … I’m working thru this with her )

Curious if others have encountered any observed cognitive issues from this medication

We’ve successfully convinced him to abstain from alcohol ( which has harmful effects on liver when mixed with the medication ) . We do see a slight improvement with alcohol removed .

He’s had an mri and recently did a neuro psych evaluation which we are waiting on -

TIA for your Help

Quite honestly I am hoping it’s not vascular dementia and hoping he will return to his normal self if I can get him off this medication

I've been excessively late to work recently because of how terrible my foot pain and general body stiffness/achiness is in the morning. I'm also beginning to think there's an anxiety element to it, dreading what sort of pain and fatigue awaits me each day. I'm very recently diagnosed and brainstorming ways to make my mornings easier, especially while waiting for my first dose of biologics (specialty pharmacy taking forever, they're already approved by insurance).

So, tell me what you do? Get up extra early? Yoga? Stretching? Certain breakfast, if any? What sort of supplements? What do you do for your mental health to face the day?

Mine are wrecked from this disease. Summer is around the corner and my pool is ready, yet I am embarrassed to take off my shoes because my nails look so bad.

Anyone have any good tips? I’m seriously thinking of painting them and I am a 48yo dude.

We’re often understandably focussed on things that aren’t going well, so here’s a positive story intended to share some good news and hope to keep us all going.

I’ve had moderate but well controlled PSA for c6 years and skin psoriasis for c15 years.

I’ve been on methotrexate, various doses and sometimes in combination with other drugs. Recently my libido had mysteriously disappeared and methotrexate was suspected to be the cause (it’s an uncommon side effect with long term use). Anyway, to test the hypothesis and in agreement with my rheumatologist I reduced and then came off my methotrexate. She also said we could take a meds free period to do some MRI scans and see how my joints are looking.

The first week of being meds free was really tough. Lots of joint pain and stiffness which was very dynamic and seemed to change from moment to moment + fatigue. But from the second week meds free, everything just seemed to clear up. I’ve been meds free for a month or more now and feel like I’m in remission (& my libido is coming back). I realise that this is a short timescale and things might change but I am having so much joy in not taking loads of meds. Occasionally I think I can feel a bit of stiffness in some joints, but it’s not an issue, not even enough to make me want to take an ibuprofen.

In the last 6 months or so I’ve really tried to clean up my health a bit. So more exercise, weights, cycling and yoga type stretching, have almost completely cut out alcohol, most weeks I drink nothing but still have an occasional few drinks for a special occasion. I’ve also tried to focus on gut health, drinking kefir every day, eating fermented foods, mainly sauerkraut and kimchi, trying to get 30+ different types of fibre a week. Doing some fasting (usually one fast of between 24 and 40 hours per week) and trying to minimise any UPFs.

It’s hard to tell whether any of this or if so what parts have made a difference. I’m not a scientist and my body’s not a laboratory! 😂

I’m waiting for the MRI results to then plan what the next steps might be with the rheumatologist, but I’m hoping that I might continue like this for a little while at least. Even a short period of meds free remission feels like heaven.

I realise I’m very lucky and am not taking it for granted.

Good luck to everyone who is currently suffering. Maybe you’ll get lucky next. There have been times when this disease has made me really down and I’d never imagined I’d be writing a post like this. Keep going with my best wishes.

Has anyone tried acupuncture?Everyone is telling me to do this and red light therapy. Just curious on thoughts..

Hi all, im extremely new to all of this 24 M.

Recently got diagnosed with PsA. Ive had a pretty baseline pain for over a year in my back. My wrists and knees will become upset from time to time, and those I can see being flares.

Though those started a whole year aftet my back pain.

But my lower back is just... all the time...

Im on methotrexate right now, and on the Mediterranean diet.

Sadly ive lost 10 pounds 145 --> 135 in about 3 weeks on it.

Though, im doing about 30% better day to day. Still not enough to make getting groceries ruin the rest of the day.

Are flares radically different for everyone? I feel like there's NEVER been a time In which my back isnt in pain.

Side note: mri, blood, and all the test in the world are negative. No physical damage, no nothing.

Hey everyone,

It appears I have developed sciatica in my left hip/leg, usual symptoms of pain and tingling but I have noticed my right foot is becoming tender and starting to sprain (due to me putting most my weight there). Unfortunately because I have arthritis in both my feet I think the uneven pressure is starting to aggravate it.

Would using a walking stick help even out the pressure?

I have been on Enbrel sureclick autoinjections for 5 weeks. and despite great results, I am going to have to try something else. I started having injection site reactions, which normal, but week 4 was double the size of week 3 (it was about the size of a half dollar), and week 5 was double that size and still spreading a bit even though it's been 4 days. The last 2 looked more like a chemical burn than a reaction.

I am doing all the things: rotating sites, allergy meds, icing, meds left out for a few hours, etc. Nothing has helped.

Doc has already agreed we need to look into something else. Where do we go from here?

TLDR; healthy 35M. Sudden onset of multiple tendinopathies. Over a year of rehab and not resolved any of them. Diagnosed with PsA. What does this actually mean for me? What should I do?

I was diagnosed with suspected PsA last year. 35M fit and healthy, always been to the gym and played sports. All of a sudden started getting tendinopathies left right and centre (Achilles, elbow, hamstring, quad, forearms, scapula), despite no change in activity. Battled with that for 6-9 months trying to rehab all these different tendon injuries with not much improvement (I have had a tendinopathy years ago and know how to rehab them). Had a load of blood tests which all showed up completely normal. Went to see a rheumatologist and he said I probably have PsA. I’d never even had psoriasis and I’ve never had any swelling or any other symptoms so tbh I thought he was probably wrong. Fast forward 9 months later, no improvement and now I’ve started getting psoriasis too, so I suspect the consultant is right and it is PsA (I was starting to come to that conclusion anyway).

I basically can’t do anything remotely athletic without injuring my tendons. They’re so sensitive to the slightest thing. I haven’t solved a single one of the tendinopathies, despite meticulous rehab.

Is this my life now? Are my tendons just never going back to normal?

The rheumatologist didn’t seem that fussed once I said I could sit, stand and walk pain free. I get there’s people in worse positions than me, but I was strong and athletic less than 2 years ago and my life has completely changed. Am I supposed to just accept this is how it is now?

It’s massively impacted my mental health and I’m struggling to enjoy any aspect of my life now

I see a lot of posts about people struggling with their nails. I struggle with my fingernails from this disease, they get paper thin, splinter, and break so easily. I started using the hard as hoofs nail cream by onyx. I got mine off amazon and it has worked wonders. It does take a few weeks to notice a difference, as the nails need to grow, but just wanted to pass this along to help out my fellow people :)

Before I was diagnosed, I had a couple rounds of shots in my hand which helped quite a bit. (Decreased swelling, stiffness and pain, increased function. My hand felt almost totally normal.)

Since I’ve had a diagnosis and have been seeing a rheumatologist, no mention has been made of getting shots anymore.

Several drugs haven’t worked out yet (Otezla, leflunomide, adalimumab), my hand is much worse again, my foot is getting bad (and my main exercise is walking 3miles/day), my rheumatologist has me on prednisone now for a long time while some third party (a “specialty pharmacy” his office seems to contract with, but not the specialty pharmacy approved by my insurance?? I really don’t understand this) ISN’T getting me approval for the next med we decided to try (Rinvoq) — when all that needs to happen is for the office to give the prescription to my actual approved pharmacy and I’d have it in a day or two because (lucky, I know) I have excellent insurance which approves things quickly — but for whatever reason, they can’t/won’t do that! They’re giving my prescription to some random “specialty pharmacy” that is less than two years old and doesn’t even have a webpage — which seems to do nothing week after week — and I’m getting more frustrated, more in pain, and less functional.

Editing to clarify: I’ve been on a couple of prednisone tapers which work really well at first, then when I’m off, symptoms come back. Currently instead of ending the last steroid taper, my rheum told me to keep taking 5 mg (daily) for several weeks now while we wait on that third party to get approval from my insurance, and during this extended 5 mg/day (which I’m not thrilled about, since all I hear is how bad it is for you to take steroids) it’s gradually getting worse.

So do people with PsA get shots, or is that just something they do for people who are undiagnosed when they don’t know what your problem is? If anyone is familiar with this, I’d like to hear about your experiences!

And if anyone has insight into the “specialty pharmacy” issue — or how to navigate that — I’m interested in that too!

I'm considering getting a smart ring and just want to know if it will actually give me insight into what's going on in my body or not...

Hi I’m 21 F. My mom has psoriatic arthritis, and though not diagnosed we’re 90% certain I’m close to diagnosis myself (going through all the blood tests and stuff. Seeing as my results come back nearly the same as my mom)

But it just hit me today, that I’m going to live with this for the rest of my life. I’ve suffered with severe mental health as early as 6 years old. I was hospitalized for the first time when I was 9. I want to die so bad at the thought of not only being in permanent fluctuating mental pain, but also fluctuating physical pain. In the past year the fatigue has hit me like a freight train, and I don’t even know if I can hold a job without sleeping in and losing it so I can move out on my own. Like I’m so tired that 9 times out of 10 I could honestly sleep through a house fire once I’m asleep.

I’m a huge crafter too… it’s been an outlet for me since I can remember. But it’s starting to hurt to draw digitally, and sitting up for more than an hour a day to do anything in my room is too much. Especially since I crochet. I get nerve pain in both my fore arms often now, and my fingers go slightly numb from it. Every morning I wake up practically crying out in pain cause my neck, back, and arms hurt so flipping bad.

Because of preexisting knee issues and pains, I haven’t run around more than like a minute max just having fun… I YEARN to run and sit up on call with my friends drawing in sketchbooks again. I haven’t finished a whole sketchbook in years. I used to fill one a month.

I just genuinely don’t know how to cope with this all, and I’m feeling so broken and lost right now

38m. Been struggling with worsening symptoms for a couple of years now. I am self employed in residential home construction and remodeling. Been in construction for 19 years full time now. I typically work between 60-100 hours per week but anymore I struggle to get 50 hours per week. The pain and nausea get so bad I use a small step ladder as a walker. I also have sever osteoarthritis is my knees, back, and neck. I have had countless x rays and mri’s and every surgeon says I’m due for double knee replacement but I am way too young. My rheumatologist looked at my x rays and said “wow, your back is worn out.”!I don’t want to live on steroids the rest of my life. So if you’ve changed careers was it worth it?

51/f here and 5 years ago I underwent months of physical hell before being diagnosed with PMR by Rheum #1. Elevated CRP and ESR.

Pain began literally overnight in shoulders and upper arms/biceps. After a few days, I couldn’t lift my arms. This continued for months while doctors tried to figure out what was going on. By the time I got in w Rheum it had progressed and by the time he diagnosed it PMR, I was practically bedridden. I’d been taking high doses of Aleve for months and even prescription painkillers did nothing. Within 36 hours on 20 mg prednisone, I was practically perfect again. All was well. No pain and I could move normally.

Rheum1 left the area and I saw rheum 2 who put me thru all the paces before reluctantly diagnosing me with PMR (I am young for this diagnosis but it’s not unheard of). I saw Rheum2 for 4 years while tapering on prednisone but never quite able to get fully off without a flare. Rheum2 closed their practice.

Rheum3 walked into the room really arrogantly and told me he refuses to diagnose anyone under 50 with PMR. He told me I have enthesitis type PSA. He checked my fingernails and put things in my visit notes that were not accurate.

I’m very confused and honestly just want a true diagnosis. My symptoms have always been so incredibly textbook PMR and everything I read about PSA and enthesitisis just doesn’t seem to fit my symptoms and experience.

Can anyone with this type of PSA shed some light? I feel like he diagnosed me more as a refusal for PMR than because of PSA symptoms.

Thanks for taking the time to read all this.

I am male 31 years old and had symptoms since I was 24. I was born in India and live in Canada since I was 16 (Incase genetics have anything to do with this). My gene marker test HLA B27 is negative. No abnormalities on X-rays. Blood work consistently showing high CRP in 20s from past 5 years at least but doctors weren’t able to figure out what was wrong until I did MRI that confirmed inflammation in my lumber spine and mild erosion in my SI joints due previous inflammation.

Symptoms I had were back and pelvic stiffness in the mornings and sometime whole day. Gut bloating and inflammation.

Currently NSAIDs making me feel better but stiffness is still there and waiting for Rheumatologist’s appointment.

Looking to some insights from fellows about this unfortunate situation like how their life is going, how they are managing this and stuff?

My Psoriasis was managed well but I developed psoriatic arthritis and the pain has been awful. Seven weeks ago, the dermatologist recommended it switch to Cosentyx. The Cosentyx people were nice and said they'd take care of the switch with my insurance company six weeks ago. I've heard nothing since and have followed up (no response).

The Psoriasis symptoms are returning and my arthritic pain continues. So frustrating.

I’ve been having a lot of pain and stiffness and have a rheumatology appointment tomorrow to see if it’s PsA. I’ve been using Motrins to help my symptoms and they usually make me feel almost completely better (for the time being). If I don’t take any before bed tho I wake up in pain but it’s even worse if I don’t take my meds for a whole day. The longer it’s been since I’ve taken Motrins the worse my symptoms are. Would it be dumb to not take any Motrins today (I also didn’t take any last night) so that when I go to my rheumatology appointment tomorrow it’ll be at it’s worse or basically it’s base line? I fear if I take Motrins it’ll mask it too much :/ idk pls lmk what yall think!!! Im also concerned cause that would mean going through a whole shift tonight without Motrins and idk if ill be able to do it💔

So im a 20M and i have had scalp psoriasis diagnosed since 10. I never put much thought into what the condition could become because i was diagnosed when i was a kid and i wasnt exactly thinking about anything and as i grew older it just became a normal aspect of my life. This changed like a week ago when i woke up with my left wrist swollen and i could barely move it up and down. It wasnt really due to the pain more like it was locked from moving more. My mom called my rheumatologist (who until that point i thought was useless, im sorry) and they booked a consult the very next day to check it. She told me it was most likely either Psoriatic arthritis or rheumatic arthritis and i had never seen my parents as distressed as they were. I had no idea what it meant because i never bothered to look it up but apparentely its really bad. Im waiting to do my tests but ive been kinda stressing because when i searched what both were it seems like hell.

So is it really that bad? If its really psoriatic arthritis whats gonna happen to me? Is the pain that unbearable or are those extreme-cases? Is the pain and the locked feeling permanent or do they just randomly appear?