Psoriatic Arthritis

[zonedout]

Just come for a bit of a moan really.

I have suffered with PA for around 4 years with, until now, mainly just my fingers and toes badly affected (although I also have awful jaw and neck problems, not sure if related) However now, to round off what has probably been the very worst year of my life (divorce, ds1 diagnosed with severe learning difficulties, middle of the night burglary to name but a few of the year's challenges) I find myself crippled with it. Joints so swollen, red and painful I don't recognise them as my own. In what feels like a cruel twist of fate (I am re training in cookery) my right arm (elbow, wrist, fingers and thumb) are worst effected, rendering me unable to use it at all (I am right-handed.) I barely have a joint left unaffected.

I was sent for urgent rheumatology appt today, given cortisone injection into my bottom as well as Arcoxia 90mg but feeling no better, with what I presume to be a side effect of unquenchable thirst.

To top it all, both of my ds's are really poorly with tonsillitis & ear infection and high fevers. I am a LP and seriously struggling to cope and remain bouyant

Any advice from fellow PA sufferers glady appreciated. Hoping I may drop off at some point so apologies if I don't return to the thread until morning.

Hi PA here.

I've been bad for a few days, I think it might be the weather.

Hot bath and camomile tea might help.

At times like this you have to think 'sod the housework' and concentrate on your health and your sons.

Thanks for replying, sashh, sorry you are a sufferer too. Unfortunately I have no choice re the housework as I cannot use my right hand or arm at all, my elbow, wrist and whole hand have swollen to over double normal size Ankles, toes & knees not faring much better.

Ds1 been up screaming with ear pain all night. Ds2 been up most of the night with high fever & v sore throat.

I am wrecked. Doesn't look like any of my meds are working, I assume the cortisone injection I had at lunchtime yesterday would have kicked in by now? Think I'm a bit beyond bath & chamomile tea this time

The injections can take a couple of days to be effective.

Do you have any pain killers as well as anti inflamatories? You need something strong, not OTC.

And ice can be good. I use a packet of frozen peas to try to get the inflamation down.

Where are you and how old are your children?

Oh, ok. Thanks for that info

Does the Arcoxia not act as a painkiller too?

Am in London. Boys are 4 & nearly 7.

Thank you for your support.

I'm in the midlands.

It will have some pain killing effect but you can take it along side painkillers. I'm currently on tramadol and no antiinflamatories.

Can your nearly 7 year old help? I don't mean clean the entire house I mean loading the washer or collecting plates.

How old are you? I was diagnosed in my 20's, it took me a while to come to terms with it.

My 7 year old currently has a fever of 40 and is lying on the sofa feeling miserable. When he is healthy he struggles as he suffers from very severe dyspraxia. My 4 year old is actually very able & very helpful but he is poorly too.

I am 38, diagnosed at 34ish so not as terribly young as you, poor thing. I don't have the time to really come to terms with it, as a Line parent. But if I stopped and thought about it and all the other things going on in my life I think I'd start to cry and never stop.

Do you have dc's? A helpful/understanding partner?

A Line parent? I meant a lone one!

No cildren.

I have a fantastic friend, he came to stay with me after a round the world trip. I'd go to work and find the washing had been done when I got back so we decided he might as well get carer's allowance and be my official carer.

Sorry you did say your children were ill, what a lot you have going on.

I know about the crying. I kept going to the Dr because I felt run down, she said I was depressed (she had been a registrar in rhumatology before becoming a GP) and prescribed antidepressents, and they work. She said most people with chronic pain become depressed because the pain causes chemical inbalance in the brain so if you are offered them take them.

I'm not saying you are depressed, just that it is possible with chronic pain, the same as it is possible to PN depression after giving birth.

Have you got a support network?

The throat infections your dc have won't be helping at all I reckon, especially if they are bacterial. Triggers mine off every time.

Mine is the worst its been this autumn, steroids helped some joints, but I was on a weeks dose. Anti inflammatories feel like smarties. Yours sounds much worse though (I don't get much swelling at all, some in my hands and one knee though my worst area is my SI joint) I think you will be a good candidate for the really decent medication when you see the rheumy, so hang in there, it will get better. Co-codamol is my best friend at the moment, whilst i wait for my rheumy appt and I have different strengths for different circumstances. If you can bear it, ice your joints. Perhaps splints will help you rest them.
I really hope the rheumy appt comes through quickly.

The Arcoxia will probably take a good couple of weeks to kick in I'm afraid. How were you treating it before?

I was dx with PA about 18 months go.
The injections take about 2-3 dys to work Ime, with symptoms being worse initially til they kick n. I take painkillers and anti inflammatories alongside them.
Are you also on DMards?

I also have nck pain though noone will confirm its linked.

I do find this cold wet weather makes it all worse

Thank you for all your responses. Sorry haven't been back to this thread all day, been rather busy with two poorly ds's. The swelling has reduced a little, thankfully, but I still have a lot of pain. I will be going back to the hospital tomorrow for another cortisone injection.

Really interesting info you have all offered, thank you. A shame you all have to be so knowledgable on such a horrible subject

Sassh, i could do with one of those! And yes, I probably am depressed, if I'm honest.

How are you getting on zonedout? Hope your boys are better now, and that you have found some relief yourself. I was recently diagnosed with PsA and was devastated but trying to find a positive state of mind now, and doing lots of research on diet/exercise - alongside taking meds (which seem to be having zero affect for me at the moment)...I'm also depressed, but hoping to combat that also with lifestyle changes. Did your rheumy appointment come through?