Hi all, Another newbie here. I have just been given the PA tag monday but I also tested pos. for Lupis. Was told not to worry about that yet. Doing more test to be sure I have it first. Any who, my xrays showed no sign of bone damage as of yet but my feet, ankles, wrist and elbows really hurt! I could not believe I am having this much pain with no sign of bone damage. I walk around work like an 80 (really 48, no offence to the 80 year olds) year old, although I have seen some 80 year olds that could beat the pants off me in a race right now. My skin problem is mostly knees, elbows, butt and ears (on the inside) which is a real bother. I did have problems with my scalp and tried everything short of shaving my head and doing a daily scrape until I found that alternating days with a 2% coal tar shampoo and regular shampoo did the trick. ( Tried it in my ears, no such luck.)
I was on Celebrex for the past couple years which has been doing nothing as of late so since I am in the early stages he (my Derme) started me on Naproxen which he said would not work but he wants to try it before moving me onto meth.
I guess I really don't have a question right now other than the pain has me puzzled. I once walked around with a broken arm for three days and didn't know it until I tried hanging from a tree (long story) and could not hold on. The balls of my feet and ankles are extreamly tender and hurt no matter what position I am in.
OK OK OK: I know this is starting to be a book so I'm going.... I really am a quite person.
Glenn
Hi all
Hi Glenn, Welcome to the forum. I too have PA along with RA, OA and complications thereof. I was just diagnosed with PA after I had xrays of my hands. The deformities were the typical "cup and pencil" deformities of PA. Two years ago my hand xrays didn't show any damage.
I didn't start MXT until 6 months ago and biologics 18 months ago. I wish that I had started them sooner because I'd have less damage. I was diagnosed in 1999 with RA and went into spontaneous remission a year later with no flares till 2 years ago. I'm still in that flare even though I was on 35 mg. of Pred, Enbrel, and just recently started Remicade and MXT.
I think you'll find many people on this forum that will agree with me that it's important to start treatment early in the disease. The drugs will be more effective and they'll keep you from having erosion and damage. Damage can come on very quickly. The drugs may not stop the damage entirely but they'll slow it down. Don't wait to start biologics are DMARDS. Talk very seriously with your RD about starting them as soon as possible.
At work I ask staff who are 20 years older than me to do things I cannot do any more as my wrist is so weak. So I do understand when you say you feel years older than you should.
I also get psoriasis on my scalp and found using the same technique as yourself works for me too.
I am also glad I found this web site as it is such a relief to hear other people's experiences being very similar to my own. I don't feel alone anymore
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