Introduction

[Guest guest]

I've been on your list for several days. My son, age 30, had a preliminary

diagnosis of PA from our local PCP. Thursday he saw a specialist -

a physician's assistant in a dermatologist's office in the nearest city -

and got a firm diagnosis of PA.

He has had joint and muscle pains since early childhood with different

diagnoses - growing pains, Oscgood-Schlotter, damage resulting in two

knee surgeries, and finally fibromyalgia and arthritis. The pain has grown

worse and

worse with time. His employment record is sporadic because of this, and

his college studies have also been interrupted and never completed.

He was turned down for SS disability a couple of years ago, but the

medico he saw Thursday told him there are many programs to make

Enbrel available and he probably will qualify for one of those.

He's had a recurring skin problem for about 2 years, diagnosed several

times as a form of athlete's foot, and had prescription pills that helped

but never cleared it all up. Just recently the PCP here diagnosed it

as psoriasis which led to the PA diagnosis and specialist's visit. We

found photos on the Internet of guttata psoriasis after reading about it

on this list and it looks to be exactly the skin rash he had.

There are no known cases of either PA or psoriasis on either side

of the family. My husband's mother did have lupus erthymatosis,

and one of my first cousins has MS - those are the only immune

deficiency syndromes known to me in a large family. There's a strong

family background of thyroid, fibromyalgia, allergies, asthma, and

some Bi-Polar disorder. My son has level 2 BiPolar - the mild form.

My first question is, are there any rheumatologists or clinics

specializing in PA, especially in the Pacific Northwest?

There are so many issues to sort out - medications and their various

side effects; whether a move to a milder climate and sea air is in order;

and more.

Any advice, comments, suggestions for reading and research,

advice about specialists, or any information will be greatly

appreciated.

Kathleen, grasping at straws in northwest Montana.