Hi, I'm new to the site but am hoping for some suggestions. A dermatologist and gastrologist both felt strongly I have PSA as well as my cartiologist who has the condition (diagnosed Celiac but only after becoming severly malnurished and doing organ damage). But I was sent to a crotchity old doctor who says my skin issues are not psoriasis and I don't have anything wrong as far as he could tell. My primary said it's nerve pain from the Celiac history and prescribed Gabepentin (Neuronting) and Nabumetone (Relafen). I was so-so since but we had a significant drop in temperature here in OR and WHAM I hurt even thinking of moving . Silly as it sounds especially my heels. My fingers are swollen and my nails have bubbles under them too. Any encouragement? Besides calling for another appt w/ the dermo doc for at least one person who seems to understand...
A Rheumatologist would be who I would suggest, if the crothity old Doc was not one, then get your referral to the one your GP would go to himself. Yep, get another as quickly as you can! The first Rheumy I went to spent 2 hours with me, said she did not know what I had, but nothing in her field. My current one diagnosed me with PsA, sjogrens, raynauds, fibro (a condition not a disease) and he said she should have caught it right away, just from my fingernails. Don't give up, you have to be your own health advocate. I have only been on this site for 3 or 4 days, but there is an entire family of ailing folks here and know so very much about the disease and the meds. By the time you get your appointment, the Celiacs will have hopefully had a chance to calm down! Feel better soon!
SK
Thank you. so much for your encouragement. Have you found a good site that lets you know the overall symptoms and their typical treatment that I could read and then take w/me to a doctor's appt? Thanks again
Hi Colleeney,
So far I think the best single page of info on PsA is wikipedia, gives symptoms, it lists all of the different meds under each classification, and photos and x-rays. Do you believe that the Arthritis foundation does not even have a category for PsA, no mention if it at all!
BTW, I just saw an ad for a new gluten free pizza! Papa Johns and Domino's have it!
The gabapentin should help the nerve pain right away, there is also Lyrica, I currently take the latter for Sciatica, both work well. Not sure if I have taken Relafen, sounds good, I take Oxiprozin, and I will tell you that you ALWAYS need to eat with this type of med, even if it is one cracker, as it can tear up your stomach quick! A bunch of folks were recommending Knox unflavored gelatin for heel pain, 1/2 to 1 envelope in hot tea of coffee, said it works fast. Reid said it worked for her after taking 3 doses, so well that she canceled surgery! A good rub is Sports Cream, but you cannot use a heating pad with it.
I hope this answers your question, if I find another good, single web site for you, I will surely contact you!
Be as well and as happy as you can!
Hugs,
SK
Sorry to hear that Colleeney, it can be extremely frustrating when a Doctor doesn’t take the time to listen to a patient and even suggest another opinion if you aren’t happy. I would also suggest a rheumatologist and ask for a blood test for PsA, it can often show the markers in your blood which point to PsA.
I also went misdiagnosed for sometime, Doctor’s thought my pitted and lifting nails were fungal nail infections. I knew it was something else and unfortunately it was only when I could hardly walk from PsA in my knee that I saw a rheumatologist, had blood tests and was diagnosed.
Like SK said, be your own health advocate and don’t give up.
Colleeney,
The National Psoriasis Foundation has a page on the types of psoriatic arthritis, this may also be of some help to you in understanding what you suffer from, it will also be easy to take along to the Rheumatolgist, though he may give you a print out explaining it to you. Will keep you posted on anything else that is informative and compact.
Here is wishing you well and hoping you link up to the right Doctor!
SK
Sorry to hear. I am fairly new with Psa, but it sounds classic of Psa. I would immediately make an appt. with a rheumatologist. Even though, labs may come back normal, usually x-rays can tell if there is an errosion to your joints.. this is how my doctor diagnosed me. You can go onlline and look in your area for a doctor. Sometimes they have where people can rate the doctor, and go from there. I hope you the best of luck, and God bless! KIT and let me know how it goes!
I have to go to a dermatologist tomorrow. I've been diagnosed by a rhuemy, but my GP said he saw no signs of psoriasis and I had to see a dermatologist. I have in the past had patches on my ankles and was diagnosed as a 'good scratcher' but it came back every year for years and nothing helped. Now my son has the same type of patches on his forearms and my daughter behind her upper arms. They are both in their 20s and complaining of stiffness and joint pain just like I did at that age, but I was not diagnosed until in OCT. I think you should see a dermatologist too and find someone to verify it, because it does sound like you have PSA.
So I called to get an appt w/the doctor who has a specialty in PSA as noted by the dermatologist I saw. Middle of May and my appt is for July 9th. I'm more than a little down thinking it will be forever till July. Any suggestions on how to keep going and keep moving till then? I too, Shawn, have had unusual patches the latest on my right hip. Actually all my strange patches are on my right side except hands and feet. Hip, shoulder, scalp on the right. My most severe joint pain seems to be left ankle, hip then right shoulder. Just a pretty off balenced gal:) My hands are so much better since the weather warmed up. In winter they would get so thin skinned then crack and bleed on my weaving and quilting projects. I'm so relieved that's let up so yes dermatologists are a good thing. However, my dermatologist told me I wouldn't need him after I was treated for PSA as it would help the skin patches, gastro doc said it would help the Celiac inflamation too. If I could just get some relief. Sorry for the pity party:(
No, that is not a pitty party, you are just telling the way it is. I know it takes so long to get in to the doctors. To find one that takes you seriously especially. I think the winter weather does make the skin irritations worse, and I notice that stress does too. I use warm coconut oil, and leave it on my scalp and all over my body, then take a shower. It has helped the most. My heels crack and bleed like you said your hands do. I'm so sorry, becaues we are both artists. I paint and do clay sculpture and it is getting harder with such stiff hands. That is the one thing that I want to get stopped, the stiffening up of my hands. Plus they look awful, all knotty, but I guess that's the way it is..lol.
Colleeney said:
So I called to get an appt w/the doctor who has a specialty in PSA as noted by the dermatologist I saw. Middle of May and my appt is for July 9th. I'm more than a little down thinking it will be forever till July. Any suggestions on how to keep going and keep moving till then? I too, Shawn, have had unusual patches the latest on my right hip. Actually all my strange patches are on my right side except hands and feet. Hip, shoulder, scalp on the right. My most severe joint pain seems to be left ankle, hip then right shoulder. Just a pretty off balenced gal:) My hands are so much better since the weather warmed up. In winter they would get so thin skinned then crack and bleed on my weaving and quilting projects. I'm so relieved that's let up so yes dermatologists are a good thing. However, my dermatologist told me I wouldn't need him after I was treated for PSA as it would help the skin patches, gastro doc said it would help the Celiac inflamation too. If I could just get some relief. Sorry for the pity party:(
BUT, they called and said they had a cancellation could I be there at 12:30 today. YES, I went. OMG what a day. We have a tram that OSHU had to build because they are on the top of a hill and ran out of room. I once said I would have to be a dead body to get me on that thing, well guess what. I went to the appt and it wasn't in the building (at the bottom of the hill) as I thought and I had 10 minutes to make the appt. I made myself go on the tram although totally humiliated myself by curling up in the corner and hiding, using deep breathing not to throw up. Made it to the appt. Dr is still not convienced it's PSA as my joints are not appearing arthritic. Seems I have "tendenitis" in my heels, back and possibly shoulder which is considered PSA???? I don't understand but he did ultrasound on my heels, ordered xrays and re-ran blood tests as well as asked me to come back in two days so he can do more ultrasounds on my shoulders. He knows I'm in pain and thinks I'm an "interesting" case as I don't present typically. I did like him, we joked about "strange things" he found in my ankles and another time a doc said that so he seemed nice, took time and ordered tests to be thorough. I don't know what will come next, but I'll find out Wed instead of July, thank God. Will miss this outlet if I don't have a diagnosis, although I "present and interesting case" LOL