Re: RE: [Psoriatic Arthritis] Welcome ed.berg@....

[Guest guest]

Welcome Ed -

I'm not sure if you would say I have a success story as I've only been

diagnosed for about a year. But my first flare of PA was so bad that I was I

would be left in a wheelchair. Through steriods and methotrexate, I've been

able to get some measure of my life back. I'm not back to where I can walk a

mile a day like I used to, and I'm terrified of falling because I know I

can't get on my knees to get up because of the pain, but my symptoms have

gotten much better. I'm able to work 8 hours a day and do some of the things

I used to. I tired very easily and I still don't do well in a mall, but in a

grocery store or Wal-mart type store, using the shopping cart as a walker,

I'm still able to shop, can go out to dinner, swim, do housework (except for

scrubbing floors on my knees), and take care all my personal needs without

assistance. Some days are better than others and I think while I may not

degenerate and I may not be cured, I will go in and out of remissions and

have many good days where I am almost up to my old self and have some bad

days where I need to call on all my support systems to get me through. But

keep your chin up - hope for the best and prepare for the worst. In my

opinion, a rheumatologist who is aggressive, yet sensitive (I've been really

lucky to find one who pretty much matches that description) is your best

defense. You have to attack this disease with as much power as you can while

finding a balance that you can deal with (drug side effects).

Best of luck to you,