Psioratic arthritis

[Luluissleeping]

Does anyone know about this condition. The indicators are that I have it. I have a doctor appointment next week. Hospital tests have ruled out all the (other) nasties. Do you get benefits or help with living costs as I am scared by what I have read on related forums online. I want to keep my part time job which involves a bit of walking. I also have a high earning husband who is not always nice to me so I am considering all possibilities. I am in my 50s.

I'm not an expert but I have had a form of arthritis similar to psoriatic arthritis for 12 years, I'm now 50. I imagine that, as with all conditions, people's experiences will vary enormously but wanted to give you a positive story because you don't always see those on forums. I am on medication and now lead a very normal life, I work in an active job can jog 10k and it hardly impacts my life at all at the moment. I was really worried when I was first diagnosed but it has worked out fine for me. I know this isn't the case foe everyone. I have fantastic support from the local muscular skeletal team, e.g. physio, podiatry when I needed it, access to a helpline etc. I hope you have similar help and things improve for you.

Thank you my friend

@Moorlander I read your post with interest. I've just been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis based on a swollen finger and toe. About to start meds soon. Do you have that too?

I don't know if this will help, but just in case it does - I have rheumatoid arthritis, so still an auto-immune disease.

I'm about as close to full remission as is possible, thanks to medication and low impact exercise - such as swimming and walking

A lady I know with psoriatic arthritis is just as good - she walks her dog daily and has meds similar to mine

Hope some of that helps

Edited to add - stress is not good for these conditions
If your husband is being a bit unpleasant then it really will help to find ways to reduce his impact on you

I did have swollen toes yes, so painful I genuinely thought they were broken! Luckily it never affected my fingers. As an update I have now stopped my medication altogether and am still doing well. I just stopped it as an experiment to see how I got on. I was on it for 13 years. So things can change even after such a long time!

There's really good information here and they have a helpline https://versusarthritis.org/about-arthritis/conditions/psoriatic-arthritis/

My sister, in her 40s, was diagnosed with PA a few years ago. Her mobility was very much affected at the time, this greatly improved over a few months with weekly oral medication and fortnightly blood test monitoring under the care of an NHS rheumatology team. She remains under their care. She's had to learn to recognise when she's tired, stressed or working too long hours, as some joints become painful and swollen again, but not to the extent that she was affected at the time of diagnosis.

@Moorlander @FredWinnie @Rosebud21

Thanks for taking the time to reply, it's really much appreciated. I am at the stage that I feel every niggle is a joint getting eaten away! I have been stressed recently but think that issue is working itself out now thank goodness. I'm an active person, probably in best shape and health that I've ever been so this has been a bit of a hammer blow for me. It's so good to hear some positives! I joined a Facebook group which gave me severe anxiety with tales of pain and disability!

@3dogsnorth I was exactly the same, I was in so much pain and everything I read was doom and gloom and I thought things would never improve. With the right medication and support it's possible to live a very full and active life, although I do understand that that's not the case for everyone. I feel very lucky!