# Realistic expectations-duration of symptoms **URL:** \ **Category:** Symptoms & Treatments\ **Created:** [March 21, 2014, 2:26am UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/realistic-expectations-duration-of-symptoms/3133 "2014-03-21T02:26:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tom\_Geiger](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/tom_geiger/32/1786_2.png) [@Tom\_Geiger](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/u/Tom_Geiger)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 2:26am UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/realistic-expectations-duration-of-symptoms/3133/1 "2014-03-21T02:26:59Z")
Started with acute pain in both elbows on one day…out of the blue. Acute elbow pain was soon replaced and persist to this day with a dull pain from shoulder to wrist of both arms. Notice burning sensation in my eyes. Hands have become hyper-sensitive to temperature. Cold water now feels like freezing water and warm plate feels like it’s scalding hot. Extreme fatigue. Zero energy. Not tolerate or patient with anything or anyone. Concerned about maintaining employment as I travel 50% of the time. Is this just the way things will be from this point forward? I’m into only my second week of meds (methotrexate+folic acid) Thank you to any who care to comment. If my symptoms are permanent and illness progressive…why not proceed with applying for disability and try to enjoy life before symptoms prevent such activity? I’m typically a super positive person but feeling like I don’t want to live in denial if this is as good as it gets. Tom ---
**Author:** ![michael\_in\_vermont](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/michael_in_vermont/32/640_2.png) [@michael\_in\_vermont](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/u/michael_in_vermont)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 3:55am UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/realistic-expectations-duration-of-symptoms/3133/2 "2014-03-21T03:55:10Z")
I find PsA waxes and wanes. I am still better than I was before I was diagnosed. Most jobs can be adapted somewhat and it is a really tough long road to get disability. But it is best to wait and see whither mtx will help you or not and if you will need a biologic which may help you immensely. I hope something works soon for you. Stay in touch and let us know. ---
**Author:** ![Seenie](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/seenie/32/4466_2.png) [@Seenie](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/u/Seenie)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 1:31pm UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/realistic-expectations-duration-of-symptoms/3133/3 "2014-03-21T13:31:00Z")
Tom, you refer to “symptoms permanent and illness progressive”. In fact, it’s more like “illness permanent and symptoms progressive”. Yes, the illness is permanent. But the symptoms and the damage can be greatly alleviated with aggressive and effective treatment. Stay postitive. I know it’s hard, but you can do it. ---
**Author:** ![Seenie](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/seenie/32/4466_2.png) [@Seenie](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/u/Seenie)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2014, 3:36pm UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/realistic-expectations-duration-of-symptoms/3133/4 "2014-03-21T15:36:06Z")
Just to clarify, the symptoms CAN be progressive, but don’t have to be, if you get effective treatment. So it’s more like “illness permanent and symptoms often progressive without treatment”. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyCat](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/grumpycat/32/969_2.png) [@GrumpyCat](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/u/GrumpyCat)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2014, 3:16am UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/realistic-expectations-duration-of-symptoms/3133/5 "2014-03-30T03:16:02Z")
It gets better, and I’m not just saying that to placate you. I’ve walked; rather, limped, a mile in your shoes. It takes a while for any of the meds we take to “kick in” and live up to their full potential. It can also take time to find the right combination of meds. Give yourself time, and things will start to look up. Two years ago, I think I was right where you are now, but today, I went to the gym and did an entire aerobics class without dropping dead. I feel good and plan to do another one tomorrow. It took me a while to get my med situation sorted, but in the meantime, I simplified my life, made adjustments at work, and pushed forward. There were days that I was in tears just trying to get ready for work, but I kept moving. Slowly, it did get better. The beginning months are the worst part of this disease, and it’s the time when most feel like their lives are ending. There is grief, anger and despair to contend with, along with the pain, fatigue and fog of the disease. However, once the meds are right,slowly, things really start to look up. There may be permanent changes that you need to make in other of make your life work for you now, but it ain’t over yet. I still work, and thanks to a new medication, I am getting the rest of my life back as well. I hope the very same for you, only in a shorter time. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Geiger](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/tom_geiger/32/1786_2.png) [@Tom\_Geiger](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/u/Tom_Geiger)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2014, 4:44am UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/realistic-expectations-duration-of-symptoms/3133/6 "2014-03-30T04:44:28Z")
Your message doesn’t align with your name… More like “happy cat”. Thanks for positive message… I’ve always put off taking meds for anything preferring to gut it out… Not going to be able to pursue that course of action with this… Just completed first month of mx+folic also steroid … Not much improvement…listless with no energy and dull pain in both arms… The thought of still tinkering to find right combination of meds in 24 months is not good… I’ll explore filling for disability at work so that I can at least suffer on a beach somewhere… Thanks again not so grumpy cat Cheers Tom GrumpyCat said: > It gets better, and I’m not just saying that to placate you. I’ve walked; rather, limped, a mile in your shoes. > > > It takes a while for any of the meds we take to “kick in” and live up to their full potential. It can also take time to find the right combination of meds. Give yourself time, and things will start to look up. Two years ago, I think I was right where you are now, but today, I went to the gym and did an entire aerobics class without dropping dead. I feel good and plan to do another one tomorrow. It took me a while to get my med situation sorted, but in the meantime, I simplified my life, made adjustments at work, and pushed forward. There were days that I was in tears just trying to get ready for work, but I kept moving. Slowly, it did get better. > > > > The beginning months are the worst part of this disease, and it’s the time when most feel like their lives are ending. There is grief, anger and despair to contend with, along with the pain, fatigue and fog of the disease. However, once the meds are right,slowly, things really start to look up. There may be permanent changes that you need to make in other of make your life work for you now, but it ain’t over yet. I still work, and thanks to a new medication, I am getting the rest of my life back as well. I hope the very same for you, only in a shorter time. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Jen1](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/jen1/32/322_2.png) [@Jen1](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/u/Jen1)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2014, 7:28am UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/realistic-expectations-duration-of-symptoms/3133/7 "2014-03-30T07:28:04Z")
Hi Tom, you are in what we call here “the Gap”. Seenie even dedicated a post to it the other day! My gap was about 11 months long. I had some very dark thoughts, and certainly contemplated quitting my job every day. But I’m really glad I didn’t - it’s a big part of my identity and would have made me feel awful to not feel that I was not contributing in that way. Everyone’s different, and this may not be important to you. We all have the ability to change, and ironically two years later I could quit mine without that being a significant issue any more (small children and the value of volunteer work). Despite all that, I’m so glad I didn’t make a big life decision while I was in the depths of desperation. It does get better - for most of us the symptoms improve markedly - for the very few who don’t, they tend to find that their improved management of the disease allows for clarity of thought that was not possible at or near onset. Take care 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyCat](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/grumpycat/32/969_2.png) [@GrumpyCat](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/u/GrumpyCat)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2014, 2:21pm UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/realistic-expectations-duration-of-symptoms/3133/8 "2014-03-30T14:21:26Z")
Each persons experience is different and mine is just one. When I started Humira for psoriasis, my results were almost immediate. Within a month, I was clear. My story is a little longer than it should have been, and it was my own damned fault. I think my PsA was under control a long time ago, but I continued to experience pain related to fibromyalgia. I refused treatment because I refused the diagnosis. (Nurses are horrible patients) Anyway, desperation does strange things to a person, and within a week of getting in the right med for that, I was a new person. My story is a little atypical. Looks at others before you make any decisions about your future. ---
**Author:** ![GrumpyCat](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/grumpycat/32/969_2.png) [@GrumpyCat](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/u/GrumpyCat)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2014, 6:41pm UTC](https://discussion.livingwithpsoriaticarthritis.org/t/realistic-expectations-duration-of-symptoms/3133/9 "2014-03-30T18:41:42Z")
I mean to n y that my PsA and pain story was longer than it should have been. GrumpyCat said: > Each persons experience is different and mine is just one. When I started Humira for psoriasis, my results were almost immediate. Within a month, I was clear. My story is a little longer than it should have been, and it was my own damned fault. I think my PsA was under control a long time ago, but I continued to experience pain related to fibromyalgia. I refused treatment because I refused the diagnosis. (Nurses are horrible patients) Anyway, desperation does strange things to a person, and within a week of getting in the right med for that, I was a new person. My story is a little atypical. Looks at others before you make any decisions about your future.