Last time I wrote I was wondering if I had PsA and you all gave me some great information. :) Now I am quiet certain I have it but still have no diagnosis. I have given up on doctors and I am now seeing a Naturopath, who also does Bowen Therapy. She took one look at my hand and said "that's Rheumatoid arthritis". I still think it's PsA due to the fact I have had psoriasis since my teens and have pits in my nails.
I have added a photo of my hand in the section for photos. Could you please have a look and tell me what you all think......I would be very grateful for any more insight!!! :)
I have similar deformities with PsA but as I understand you can also have similar deformities with RA. But the pits are almost always PsA. Does this help at all:-)
Thank you, it does help. I guess my point of putting up the photo was about the fact that I can see deformities but the doctors can't......so I was wondering if everybody else can or is it just me!!!
I am tired and in a lot of pain and can't understand why doctors won't help. I have psoriasis, pits in my nails, arthritis in neck,bone spurs on both Achilles, kneecaps maltracking inwards and deformities of my hands.........yet they just tell me it's fibromyalgia and treat me like a hypochondriac!!!
Time for a new Rheumy than. Any Rheumy should know nail pits means PsA. Do you see a dermatologist, she should also know. Yes I do see deformities but only a good Rheumy could tell you from what. Though treatment for RA and PsA tends to be the same.
Michael's right. . . You would be best off seeing a new rheumy. Fibromyalgia doesn't present with inflammation or bone changes. That's very odd that you're being written off. Also, while seeing a naturopath is not a bad idea, you will want to work in conjunction with a rheumy. While medications can be scary, they are typically needed in order to avoid joint damage.
I agree with Stoney. I see both. The naturopath helps with the side effects like fatigue, stiffness, tummy trouble, etc. The Rhumey helps with the PsA and my internist with the the infections, and derm for the P. If you get all the reports from everyone they can all work together. I do have to defend my naturpath, he is a MD by the way, for my others do not understand him all the time but they do not tell me not to do what he recommends . As long as he understand the herbs can do damage with MTX they mostly agree.
You also need to remember to fear the condition not the meds.
Sunny, I took a look at your picture. I must say I definitely notice a change in your hands. No you're not crazy. My right hand looks the same with little differences. I would have to agree with the others re: the rheumy. I hope you have a great holiday and some relief soon.
Yep! If I were a dr. I'd say PsA. But I am poor so I cannot be one. Sorry. But my money is still on PsA. Unfortunately, you need a real Dr.'s diag to get the right meds. Sorry again. Please do not get discouraged and search until someone does all the testing, takes all the facts at hand into consideration, and doesn't talk like he/she doesn't have time to really care about your health. You are too precious and valuable for nonsense.
I spent a lot of money in appointments until I found the right kind of Dr. Who knows? Maybe there is an idea here where we have a blog of good Rheumy referrals posted for people looking for one....
Thank you.....I really needed to hear those words, "No you're not crazy"!!!
I have printed out 2 sheets(which I will take with me to the doctor), which talk about the fact that PsA is under-diagnosed and one in particular is from a blog of a rheumy in Sydney who says " If a person has psoriasis and joint pain, then PsA should be considered". I will be underlining that bit, as they should at the very least, be monitoring me for PsA.
Good idea about Rheumy referrals........if anyone knows of any GOOD ones in Victoria, Australia, I would love to know!!!
Hi Courters.....it's nice to see another Victorian on here!!! I am on a farm just out of Hamilton. Where abouts are you? And if you don't mind me asking, which rheumy do you see?
I was researching yesterday about having P., PsA, and Lupus simultaneously and the cases are so rare that many drs. even question if it is possible, or if it is a side effect of the meds. The case studies lead to more questions but the reasearchers do not fully deny the possibility.
Oh well, I have been known for defying odds. I have been thrown out of drs.' offices because my case is beyond their knowledge. I do know that my docs now are always researching because of me. I'd say, "Keep them on their toes." They are all professors in a teaching medical school who do research anyways. Mmm, I cause them learning moments. Not bad for a sick retired teacher, huh?
I have read that once you have one auto-immune disease then you are prone to having others, so I don't see why the doctors would find that hard to believe......but then again, doctors seem like they DON"T want to diagnose things. Not sure why!!!!! I'm sorry to hear you have Lupus as well.