To Orin

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/2/2005 10:12:48 P.M. Eastern Standard Time,

> orinok@... writes:

>

> I am not convinced on whether the apparent digestive problems cause

> psoriasis or whether the problems in the skin of the digestive tract are

> psoriatic

> lesions but observation of the upper small intestine in psoriatics shows

> a

> higher prevalence of shortened villi as compared to the general

> population. I

> dont know that psoriasis can be cured by appropriate treatment of the

> digestive

> system but there is a definate correlation between skin and digestion.

> Orin

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

That shoulder has been my worst joint problem recently. It started being

painful I guess about 2000 and has waxed and waned since then with being pretty

much normal at times but it's getting worse lately with anything more than very

casual use of the joint.

I had some inflamation and swelling of fingers and toes back in about 96-97

and one knee blew up for about 2 weeks for no apparent reason but other than

fingers, knees and elbows being knobbier than the average person there are no

obvious, outwardly visible signs of arthritic activity. I havent had any kind

of imaging on the joints to see what condition they are really in.

I have never noticed any numbness anywhere but I do get an electric feeling

down my legs occasionally when bending over the wrong way, mild nerve

impingement in the spine from psoriasis related ankylosing spondylitis I

suppose. Had

a lot of problems in the spine and ribcage from probably 1988 to 98 but other

than being inflexible the spine hasnt caused any significant, chronic pain

for several years. Seems that numbness and other nerve symptoms related to PA

usually are in persons with significant swelling of joints which apparently also

signals a greater risk for permanent damage and resultant disability of the

joint.

I just went back over this as I usually do to make sure I didnt make any

spelling errors and to change a word here and there and maybe add a detail or

two.

I havent really done it in a while so I thought for a minute, inventorying

my joints and realised that perhaps as the years go by I have learned to just

deal with each joint that acts up and dont really take concious notice of, for

instance, the left thumb being sore all the time and it brings back a phrase

another member came up with years ago. " You have to adjust to a new normal. "

Who came up with that phrase? C'mon and identify yourself so the next time I

repeat it I will know who to credit.

I cant complain about my condition much on this board because I know there

are a great many of you here who have much greater challenges from PA than I do.

I have gained a lot from hearing the experiences of others and in all honesty

I would probably be fertilizer if it werent for the encouragement and advice

on how to deal with it from the veterans here. Thank you all. Orin

In a message dated 12/13/05 6:17:13 PM Central Standard Time,

cranefamily6@... writes:

Orin,

What type of shoulder problems are you having? I too am having

a right shoulder problem. It started with numbness in my right two

middle finger tips. The numbness comes and goes. Sometimes my

right index finger is numb too. Then I realized my right shoulder hurt.

This disease throws us a curve every now and then. I guess it's a

reminder for the blessings of being pain free when we aren't having a

flare. That's the trouble, I'm in the middle of a flare now. Then

everything hurts.

Thanks for letting me vent!!

Rhonda

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/13/2005 6:15:26 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,

orinok@... writes:

OTC that would require a prescription in the US and for those that do

require

a prescription in Mexico the Farmacia will refer you to a doctor nearby to

verify your condition and write the script for a charge that is very modest

relative to US prices. Well I chickened out on going across the border into

Ciudad Juarez alone and at night and those I work with questioned the wisdom

of

" self prescribing " and/or trusting the judgement of Mexican healthcare

Professionals so I didnt get to go.

I sit here staring at an empty tube of betamethasone dipropionate thinking

about the fact that it costed more to get that US doctor who looked at me

for 5

seconds to write the script than it did to fill the script. Orin

Hey Orin, for whatever it is worth, I have checked to see if you can get

Bextra in Canada or in Europe and it is not being produced anywhere anymore:-(

So unless they have backstock in Mexico, I think we're out of luck...there is

a list on the Bextra website that you can put your name on so if they ever

decide to make an exception and produce a small amount for those that really

depend on it, you would get it.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/14/2005 12:27:33 A.M. Eastern Standard Time,

orinok@... writes:

" You have to adjust to a new normal. "

Who came up with that phrase? C'mon and identify yourself so the next time

I

repeat it I will know who to credit.

Hi Orin, I don't remember if it was me, but my therapist tells me that

regularly and I think I've posted that here before. I went to see a therapist

to

help me cope with the many changes brought on by PA, and she taught me to

grieve for my old normal and adjust to a new normal:-)