I have hip, shoulder, neck, ankle, feet and tailbone pain and sometimes rib pain which have been dismissed as not being PsA but it all feels the same type of pain. Nothing on most of the xrays but some problems with the bones collapsing in my feet. I am not asking for a diagnoses just how I can find out for myself if my Rhuematologist has made the right diagnoses.
I can't change my specialist because of the distance from where I live so I need to learn how to put things to him so he won't dismiss my symptoms and give me a satisfactory answer to back up his words. My appointment only lasts between 5 and 10 minutes and most of that time is taken up with him reading my blood test results and writing new prescriptions and the only thing he looks at are my hands. I almost went around to his side of the desk once. I wore sandals so he could see my toes as I knew I wouldn't be able to get him to look at them if I had to take my shoes off.
I already saw another Rhuematologist 2 years earlier at a Public Hospital which is 3 hours away and I was told it was Osteo arthritis. I wasn't convinced then as I also suffer from Plaque Psoriasis. It wasn't until I had swelling in my toes and couldn't wear a shoe on my right foot for a year that I got to see my current Rhuematologist who diagnosed my feet and hands as PsA
I need to know whether I have PsA in these othe spots and I need to be convinced that my diagnoses is the right one. Any tips or words of wisdom out there.
I know that you said that access to doctors was a problem. The only way to guarantee that your current doctor is correct is to get another opinion. It's funny that you mentioned x-rays. I haven't had these in conjuntion with this at all. My rheumy tracks progress with looking at my joints, all of them. She also checks range of motion in joints that I have a history of trouble with, such as my hips.
In terms of treatment, while there might be discussion concerning whether specific joints are problematic due to psoriatic arthritis, as long as you are being treated for PsA, it shouldn't matter. Does that make sense?
So for example, I have had pain in my left knee for ever. It has been treated for patella-femoral syndrome, which is no longer a problem. If I decide that I need to do something further about it, I will get a prescription for physical therapy. Otherwise, the NSAIDs will work on that joint, regardless of whether it is patella-femoral syndrome, osteo-arthritis or psoriatic arthritis.
I wish you luck. I'm meeting with my rheumy tomorrow, and trying to figure out how to make my unhappiness with my current treatmenet clear. All this while dragging my almost 6 yr old with me.
Louise Hoy recommended the book 'Psoriatic Arthritis, the Facts' in her blog. I would recommend it to you as it clearly sets out how the disease is diagnosed properly and where it can cause pain. It seems that most doctors still lack detailed knowledge of our disease and it is up to us to push them with knowledge that easily available to us in books and on the web.
Thanks for your comments Allan. I will try and find a copy of the book you recommended. I agree that the doctors lack the detailed knowledge and I think that my best way is to get the information and ask for my doctors thoughts when I find new information.
Thanks Stoney for your comments. I understand where your coming from but I disagree as I believe it is important to be sure of my diagnoses even though I believe it is all the same and the same medication works on all of it. What if I am wrong and I do have a different problem in some areas other than my PsA and there is other types of treatment thay might help? I am have had to reduce and cut out some of my meds because of side affects.