psoriatic arthritis- what were your early symptoms

[User129867588]

(Also Posted this on the autoimmune forum) I’m 42 and 2 years ago I lost a toenail followed by one fingernail pitting over. No other symptoms until mid 2022 when I started with mild joint pain in my wrists and foot. Pain foot is on the joint with my big toe. My foot seems worse in mornings and goes through flare ups. It’s not excruciating and not stopping my usual activities but it’s there and can be uncomfortable at times. During a flare up if I step on my foot a certain way it can be very painful. Same with my wrist, it’s not constant but I feel some discomfort . In the last 3 months a second fingernail has pitted over and nails don’t look as healthy. I am starting to get a bit more concerned so have booked a GP appt for mid January.

I don’t have any psoriasis on my body.

I’m within a healthy BMI, have pcos and androgenetic alopecia linked to pcos but hair thinning so bad I wear wigs when out .

I follow intermittent fasting for last 2 years and have a good immune system since I started. I don’t catch colds /flu , didn’t get Covid when it made the rounds on two separate occasions in my house and I feel good apart from this niggling feeling about PsA

If anyone has been diagnosed, what were your symptoms?

thank you

I have psoriasis of the nails - for last 6 months.
I take supplements for my nails but am still waiting for improvement.
I don't have pain.

Sorry. Not much help

I also suspect that I have psoriasis and PsA. A few months ago my nails started to pit and lift up from the nail beds at the side. I've attached a photo of the worst one. I also have skin problems, just thought it was eczema between my fingers, but now I have a scaly scalp, itchy red dots on my back and elbows, and inflamed itchy skin in my groin (not thrush, tested negative). My joints all take it in turns to hurt, my fingers, wrists, elbows, shoulder blades, knees, ankles, toes, and I get random pains in my feet. Lots of clicking and crunching that I never used to have.
Contacted the gp and initially triaged to the nurse, who completely dismissed my concerns about my skin, but sent me for blood tests and then an abdominal ultrasound. I've been diagnosed with non-alcoholic fatty liver and gallstones. Blood tests all fine for inflammation but do have high uric acid which suggests gout, but I don't really have typical gout symptoms. I'm seeing a gp face to face finally next week to discuss further.

Do you have any family history of psoriasis?

@CazY777 sounds like you have done well to have quite a few tests. Hope your appointment gives you some further answers. I booked an in person appointment with the GP hence the long wait! I want to make sure I tackle this before it gets serious - hopefully they will rule it out but I need to know for certain.
I have very little communication with my family, especially on my dads side but am aware of one grandma and one aunt having rheumatoid arthritis. Not sure about psoriasis but not easy to find out.

@LesLavandes can I ask what supplements you take?

My DH has this. He’s had psoriasis since early 20’s and early 30’s he had a lot of problems with his knees one in particular and it took several months and was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. However, the flare up settled and over the years he’s had some problems with his feet and they are swollen but ge says not much pain. X-rays showed problems with the arthritis in his spine and wrists but it’s not bothering him in these places. He’s mid 50’s now

I have it. Never had actual psoriasis until very recently, just started at hairline.

overriding-symptoms are joint pain. Wrists, elbows and knees. Also base of heel pain. Nail pitting. Recently started getting back pain which is a new jolly addition.

I have hypothyroidism, immune issues caused multiple miscarriages and I had pre eclampsia with my first term pregnancy. Manage to avoid most colds and Covid.

Getting diagnosed was hard, despite the numerous pointers, I ended up queue jumping by going to see a private consultant who then fast tracked me back into the NHS.

I have the pitted nails but so far not much else. I have joint pain but I think that's my weight more than anything else. Not been officially diagnosed. MNetters told me what it was likely to be when I posted photos of my nails.

Can I ask your age if you don’t mind? Is your joint pain manageable without meds?
I have private medical insurance with work so if my gp refers me I can go privately, including tests. I assume GP will do some blood tests first.

@kkneat sorry to hear your husband has this but good that it’s not bothering him too much.

Thank you for taking the time to post. I went for a 2 hour walk yesterday and no discomfort while walking but felt it in my foot in the evening. It’s the worst it’s felt . I love long walks so this really concerns me 🙁

I have this also rheumatoid arthritis thrown in . I got diagnosed at 32 I'm now 48 , my early symptoms were knee pain and swollen fingers . My nails flair up but usually only my ring finger don't know why. I've not seen my consultant for years mainly due to covid and mainly because she's horrible, she thinks I'm just fat although all my blood tests show I have both types of arthritis.I'm not denying I'm overweight but I'm not obese by any means

Ho OP
I take Hair Jelly Protein Capsules from Victoria Health.i also take zinc, high dose vit b complex, high dose omega 3 and magnesium