Psoriatic Arthritis - Advice

[minniecookie]

Good evening all, I am looking for some advice. I have had psoriasis for as long as I can remember and have recently been experiencing stiffness in my joints (wrist and fingers) and pain under both my feet. The pain started about 3 weeks ago. I believe this maybe psoriatic arthritis. I did not know this even existed until 2 years ago when I visited my GP as the psoriasis on my skin flared up. This was my first time seeing this doctor. The GP examined my nails and informed me i had nail psoriasis. I have seen many doctors and dermatologist about my skin and no one ever checked my nails so this was a surprise to me! This doctor advised me to make an emergency appointment should I ever experience any joint pain. Anyway this Doctor has unfortunately left my surgery I have seen another doctor today with regards to my joint pain and while he did confirm it maybe psoriatic arthritis he did not seem very bothered about it. He has prescribed me naproxen but has said there is not much else he can do.

My concern is that I know the importance of psoriatic arthritis being detected early so would you push for a referral to rheumatology or would you wait to see how the naproxen goes?

Sorry for the long message. This has really got me down as I am only in my 20s and have had to stop running due to the pain.

Push for a referral. PSA is a progressive disease but can be managed with medication.

GP cannot kick start the prescription of a DMARD drug I believe so you need rheumatology to do so. Waiting lists are pretty dire near me - a lot of people will pay for a private review and diagnosis.

Thank you for your reply. I will have a look at private route also. Thank you

Yea, absolutely agree you should push for referral to see a rheumatologist. As it happens, I went down the private route initially for assessment and diagnosis - though moved back into NHS care once care plan was established.

Agree - please try to go private initially

Maybe was started by the AZ jab - confirmed/agreed by rheumatologist

Jab April, onset - April
Appointment- May - steroids
Another flare - September and put straight into methotrexate

Methotrexate has been amazing and worked within about two weeks

I have other issues with it but the benefits to my joints has been incredible

@Ella did you already suffer with Psoriasis or did the arthritis symptoms just appear spontaneuously after your jab?

I ask because I am having some similar symptoms to PsA which have also appeared since my AZ jab, but without any actual Psoriasis. I've seen a private Rheumatologist who doesn't think it is because when he saw me I didn't have any skin rash or obvious swelling . My bloods show no inflammation but I did have a mildy positive RA factor and a postive ANA which he disregarded as not significant.

I am in so much pain though! My left knee aches in a way it never has before. My ankles & feet have also been really painful and an MRI showed I have tears in the PB tendons of both my ankles but apparently no inflamation or joint effusion. I've also had this weird deep pain in my calf muscles since it all started but ruled out as clots by A&E.

At my MRI follow up appointment he said that because he cannot see any inflammation either physically on me, in my bloods or on the MRI he doesn't think it could be either PsA or RA.

However in the week or so since then I've developed pain and slight swelling on the outer sides of my wrists and pain up my lower arm into my elbows.My fingers throb a lot but no swelling in them and I've also got really tender spots on the side of my hips.Oh, and my right shoulder hurts too! Basically everything hurts!

Aside from the skin rash, it all seems to fit with PsA symptoms and I'm convinced I've got it

@minniecookie sorry to hijack your thread.
Here are some as I can totally empathise with your pain and the fustration of not being taken seriously.

I also have this. Haven’t been on any drugs yet, was told about methotrexate but am kind of hesitant to lower immunity with COVID and having had the Vacc.

Not sure if I will do anything as I was diagnosed over 3 years ago and symptoms have gone far down. Hasn’t affected my life, so try not to worry.
I know getting the diagnoses was a relief, I was expecting something far worse and had been really anxious for months.

Gosh this is a very timely thread. I have psoriasis and am on humira ( or now the new equivalent Amgevita] I have started having loads of aches and pains in my joints that I have never had before - and particularly in my dominant thumb which keeps locking. I've never linked them to the covid jabs but thinking about it i only started going downhill after my top up jab. I feel like I'm turning into an old crock all of a sudden and I'm only 58!
I'm going to contact dermatology and see if I can get a referral because based on this thread it needs checking out.

@NoelFieldingsBlouse

I’ve pmd you -just saw message

I hope everybody on this thread is getting better. I’ve ditched the methotrexate and am going to attempt some clean eating. I couldn’t cope with it psychologically 🙄

There is a big support group on Facebook for PsA. They work with all the big PsA agencies like PAPPA and Brit-Pact. It is called Psoriatic Arthritis UK Group and has a picture of a cup of tea as the profile picture. Great support and knowledge in there. Hope things are getting sorted for you x