Guest guest Posted August 17, 2001 Report Share Posted August 17, 2001 Hello......I joined the other day primarily because I was wondering if i had PA. I have had psoriasis for like 11 years and have been having a lot of pain these last 3 years and havent been able to get diagnosed with anything. (neck, upper back, shoulders, knees, ankles, some finger pain -but i think its from typing and playin guitar too much) I've been on 20 or so different anti inflammatories without results of any kind. No over the counter stuff works. I have taken handfulls of ibuprofin and no relief comes whatsoever. I was wondering what symptoms there are, what to tell my doctor, and if there are any tests to determine if i do or dont. I know that I had some blood tests about a year ago, I'm not sure what all that was for, but I do think one of them was for arthritis. Is there a different test I'd need especially for PA? Well thanks for listening. Peace Star Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 19, 2001 Report Share Posted August 19, 2001 Hi Star, I first want to say this most important thing get involved in your healthcare. If there is bloodwork to be done know what it is for. Document your pain in a journal -including things like when and where do you have pain, stiffness and evaluations on the different medicines you have tried. Did they take away any pain? What were your side effects and can you live with them? Also, if you are on a referral healthcare plan get your Primary Care Doctor to refer you to a rheumatologist. Your regular doctor can order x-rays of your wrists, hands, neck, chest etc. Demand these x-rays - a patient has the right to pain relief. Especially since nothing has helped. Read books about Psoriatic Arthritis. Get educated before you see the rheumatologist. You are your only advocate. No one else knows and understands what you are going through- except people like us. Be vocal, be very vocal. Important, if your doctor will not order the x-rays shop for a different doctor. I will tell you a general practioner knows nothing about arthritis and psoriasis. Being that you have had this for 11 years I firmly believe a rheumatologist will be able to help you. When switching doctors make sure to move your whole medical records file - including the original x-rays. If your doctor's office says they can't send the originals tell them you want to check them out because your new doctor needs to see them. A picture tells a thousand words. And all you need is the right doctor. Good luck . Peace Feel free to email me at sharonvmeixsell@... if you want to chat more > Hello......I joined the other day primarily because I was wondering if i had > PA. I have had psoriasis for like 11 years and have been having a lot of pain > these last 3 years and havent been able to get diagnosed with anything. > (neck, upper back, shoulders, knees, ankles, some finger pain -but i think > its from typing and playin guitar too much) I've been on 20 or so different > anti inflammatories without results of any kind. No over the counter stuff > works. I have taken handfulls of ibuprofin and no relief comes whatsoever. > I was wondering what symptoms there are, what to tell my doctor, and if there > are any tests to determine if i do or dont. > I know that I had some blood tests about a year ago, I'm not sure what all > that was for, but I do think one of them was for arthritis. Is there a > different test I'd need especially for PA? > Well thanks for listening. > > Peace > > Star Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 20, 2001 Report Share Posted August 20, 2001 In a message dated 08/18/2001 12:46:41 PM Eastern Daylight Time, Starrrrrr@... writes: << I know that I had some blood tests about a year ago, I'm not sure what all that was for, but I do think one of them was for arthritis. Is there a different test I'd need especially for PA? >> Hi Star - there is no test for PA - the only way to diagnois it is to rule out everything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 20, 2001 Report Share Posted August 20, 2001 Hi Starrrrrr -- The pain and stiffness you mention sounds a lot like my experience with psoriatic arthritis when I'm having a flare. The first time I knew I had it was when my knee swelled up like a balloon. My doctor at the time put me on aspirin therapy -- 4 aspirins 4-6 times a day. I was to cut back when my ears began ringing. It did the job for me. Since then, I've been on a variety of pain-management regimes. I have stayed away from the heavier drugs, because I don't like their listed side effects. Now I use Aleve twice a day, or three times a day if I'm having a bad day. As far as I know, blood tests and the like give the same indications of psoriatic arthritis as they do for rheumatoid arthritis. My doctors have gone by the premise that since I have psoriasis, my arthritis is probably psoriatic. I got good information about the disease from www.psoriasis.org/b300.htm and from www.rheumatology.org/patients/factsheet/psoriati.html. Hope you get some good help. Jan Starrrrrr@... wrote: > Hello......I joined the other day primarily because I was wondering if i had > PA. I have had psoriasis for like 11 years and have been having a lot of pain > these last 3 years and havent been able to get diagnosed with anything. > (neck, upper back, shoulders, knees, ankles, some finger pain -but i think > its from typing and playin guitar too much) I've been on 20 or so different > anti inflammatories without results of any kind. No over the counter stuff > works. I have taken handfulls of ibuprofin and no relief comes whatsoever. > I was wondering what symptoms there are, what to tell my doctor, and if there > are any tests to determine if i do or dont. > I know that I had some blood tests about a year ago, I'm not sure what all > that was for, but I do think one of them was for arthritis. Is there a > different test I'd need especially for PA? > Well thanks for listening. > > Peace > > Star > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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