New to the group

[Guest guest]

I just found this group today and just wanted to say hi and

introduce myself a bit. I don't have a lot of time to be on the

computer but I'll try to contribute when I can.

I've had psoriasis since I was 12-years-old (I'm 50 now) and

psoriatic arthritis since 1993 though it wasn't diagnosed by a

rheumatologist until 2000, when I was also diagnosed (blood tests)

with rheumatoid arthritis. That same year (2000) I was also

diagnosed with COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) due to a

few bouts of undiagnosed pneumonia, so I have fairly severe lung

scarring.

Currently I am working but I have no medical coverage at all and

haven't had any for the last 3 years. So getting any treatment is a

huge problem for me. I also am not able to use any of the newer PA

or RA drugs as almost all of them (it seems) have either a risk of

infection or lung problems. Due to my COPD I have to be very

careful about any possible infections to my lungs.

I am hoping that through this group I may be able to find some

alternative treatments or advice for managing PA. Though I do have

breathing problems the PA is the more painful condition. Also the

most embarassing for me. My fingers and toes are all permanently

bent at odd angles and very painful. My fingernails and toenails

are all yellow, severely pitted and infected all of the time. I have

no cuticles left and the skin all around the nails looks like

regular psoriasis. I wear shoes that are two sizes too big because

of the way my toes are bent. The people where I work and out in the

world are always staring at my hands, I guess they are trying to

figure out if I have something contagious or something. (That's if

they're not staring at my regular psoriasis.)

I also have severe knee pain (both knees), shoulder pain (both

shoulders, I can't lift my arms) and neck pain. I don't know if the

knee and shoulder pain is more related to my PA or my RA. Right now

I can't afford more tests. So far, my spine doesn't seem to be

involved which I think is a good thing. Mornings are torture for

me, however.

In 2000 I was on Celebrex and methotrexate but it didn't help at

all. I've also been on Ultravate ointment for the regular psoriasis

but it hasn't helped very much except to soften it up some.

Any advice or suggestions are very welcome!