Nail pitting , joint pain - anyone else?

[Bryonyberries]

I’ve been having nail pitting and have had knee pain for at least five years now. Knee pain needs naproxen to keep me functional. I also get ankle pain that naproxen doesn’t help.

Has anyone had anything similar? Bloods have negative arthritis markers but do show raised neutrophils and basophils as inflammatory markers.

Photo of nails

I have the exact nails as you!! I do have fibromyalgia,vitamin d and calcium deficiencies but have been wondering what is going in with my nails. Never even thought to run it by google. Hope you find out because im interested too.

Do you have any autoimmune issues in your family? There's a few that affect the nails like that.

You have psoriatic arthritis until proven otherwise. Joint and nail changes can occur without or before the rash. Negative autoantibodies but positive signs of inflammation is also strongly suggestive.

Hopefully you have been referred to rheumatology.

I agree with @AnnaMagnanithat psoriatic arthritis is the most likely cause. My nails look like that when it’s flaring. Definitely worth a referral to rheumatology as there are drugs that can stop the progression of the disease.

Wow, is it that strongly suggestive of psoriatic arthritis?
I'm interested as my mum has that too. I've asked her to go to the GP, as I suspected PA. I do have RA, and her rheumatoid factor was negative a year or so ago.

Yes it is. Psoriatic arthritis is sero-negative so doesn’t show up on the test for rheumatoid arthritis. It’s diagnosed by symptoms, by a rheumatologist.

It is often by not always associated with psoriasis. Both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis can be treated with biologics like Adalimumab.

Following, as my nails have recently done the same. I’ve got a GP apt for them to look at them “in more detail” (than the photos I submitted on the NHS app) next week. I do think the might be linked to arthritis in my case, as a lot of heel/foot pain recently too.

Nail pitting alongside ongoing joint pain is definitely worth discussing with your GP or rheumatology, even if the usual arthritis blood tests are negative. Some inflammatory conditions can have normal blood markers, so the symptoms themselves are still important.

My nails have gone like this in recent weeks and I am so stiff and sore all the time. Yoga, stretching, hydration have stopped making any difference.

I’m 48 on HRT, my biggest meno symptom had been painful knees and feet, which it has alleviated. I have had psoriasis all my life although haven’t had a flare up for a couple of years. Thanks for this thread - will get to the GP!