Psoriasis :: Diagnosed With Psoriatic Arthritis - Tips / Advice?


Mar 16, 2016

I'm 40 years old, mum to 2 girls 16 & 11. I just been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis and I'm so scared and confused, I'm looking for people in the same boat to help me understand what I'm going through. I have suffered with scalp psoriasis for about 10 years. For about a year I had the odd pain here and there, but nothing I thought was worth going to the doctors about, but 6 months ago my knee started to hurt more regularly but I still put it down to getting old. One night I woke up in excruciating pain on my knee, could not move it at all, took a couple of hours with a bag of frozen peas to ease the pain and after taking painkillers the pain went and I carried on with my life. Just under 2 months ago that same pain came back but not just my knee, my shoulder, my elbow and my neck were affected too. I felt like I was paralysed by pain and had to be practically carried to the GP. That was the first time I ever heard of PA...I didn't even know it existed. My GP suspected it and sent me to loads of blood tests, and prescribed a load of tablets. A week later the pain was not easing so back to the GP and this time he gave me stronger co codamol and the pain started to get better. Another week and the blood tests results came back and showed inflammation, very low vit D and folic acid, so GP gave me supplements and decided to give me a 3 vial steroid injection, which he was hopeful could relieve me of pain for a month, while I was being referred to the rheumatologist. I was pain free for 3 days and then it came back with a vengeance. Back on the co codamol and naproxen but the pain was easing just a bit, I couldn't sleep as I any position made something hurt. GP asked for an urgent referral, but that got lost and despite me trying to get things moving, nothing was happening fast enough so I went private, got an appointment within 2 days and a diagnosis. I started methotrexate 2 weeks ago, which makes me very sick and  diarrhoea for 3 days, then it settles. Still on co codamol for pain as I refused the steroids the rheumy wanted to prescribe. My life has been turned upside down, almost every day I wake up with different joints hurting. I feel like the pain is eating me away, it's so disheartening when I can't even prepare my child's lunch box because my hands won't allow it. I work through an agency and they are on the verge of getting rid of me because I have taken the odd day off when the pain is just too much. I have been on anti depressants for years and I feel my depression getting worse, I don't want to leave the house or see anyone because I feel so so low. Will it ever get better?

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I remember the first few days I felt a weird sensation when swallowing (simply felt like uncoordinated swallowing, where the food/drink seemed to be going at the wrong velocity towards its target). However, after a while and increasing dosage this symptom vanished more or less. 

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I can only hope that things will start to get better. I have no idea when these things would begin to get back on track. Doctors seem to be quite oblivious to my suffering, not really believing that withdrawal could be so powerful yet not finding ANYTHING else wrong. The situation is really frustrating.

One thing is clear to me: I’m never, EVER going back on this horrendous drug. It was a huge mistake beginning with it, and for all of you who need these kind of drugs: ask your GP or Psychiatrist what are the withdrawal difficulties expected for the medication. I know I sure wish I had asked it.

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