Hi everyone, I stumbled upon this site in my web surfing and am glad I found it. I am in my 40s and my doctor has long suspected I may have PA. I think I am in the "be patient, patient" part of the diagnosis process. I did recently have a positive ANA 1:80 speckled test, my understanding is that may indicate RA or PA? But my doc has yet to refer me to a rheumatologist. I suspect he's just waiting around to see how I deteriorate next. :-(
My history: I have been dx'ed with psorasis since I was a teen - the psorasis comes and goes. Currently I am in remission from that part, and have actually been enjoying a fairly long remission this time (at least 6 years).
I also have a long history of lower back problems, they also come and go, since my early 20s. I have been from doctor to PT to osteopath for this. My x-rays all check out - no signs of arthritic joints. The back pain (L4 &L5 area, often with sacroiliac joint involvement) will come on suddenly and then last for months on end, easily an 8 or 9 on the pain scale, gets bad enough I can barely walk. I will have lots of muscle spasms - it seems more muscular than spinal, if that makes sense?? The last episode was bad enough I ended up switching to full-time telecommuting because I had problems sitting for long periods of time.
I thought it was the yoga that finally got me over my last bad bout, but who knows... maybe it was actually a PA flare-up and I simply went into remission? All I know is, it takes me far longer to recover from these events than one might think would happen with "normal" back problems... and that physical therapy never works - actually makes it worse. There have been days where I just feel like my whole body is falling apart, know what I mean?
But I have been blessfully back-pain free for about 2-3 years now. However, a little over a year ago, I developed acid reflux. I went on nexium to treat it. I also cleaned up my act - quit smoking, changed my diet, lost weight, and started a regular program of running (again - this is something I used to do, but had to give up when the back/hip pain got too bad).
The nexium worked fine and everything was going well until recently, when I developed acid reflux again. Along with chest pain (heart tests all came out fine) - tenderness over the breast bone (I can press the spot where it is tender) as well as alarming attacks of tightness/palpitations/squeezing - on the right, not left side though.
And then pain between the shoulder blades that was excrutiating, radiating to the right along the bra line, and really hurt to inhale. I've had pleurisy before following a bronchial infection and this felt like that - except that the nexium helped, so we suspect it's my esophagus acting up again.
All my blood tests are normal, cholesterol, BP, etc are great, heart tests were fine, chest x-ray normal too. All was normal, except the ANA.
I am on a course of protonix now to heal the esophagus. Meanwhile, during all of this, I also started developing arthritic-like joint pain. Started with my thumb, moved to the entire right hand. Noticed it first while running - my hands would get hot and start to swell and get tingly. Then the tingling and achiness in my hands just seemed to settle in and stay. It comes and goes, sometimes spreads to both hands, sometimes clears up except for the right thumb (where it seems the worst).
And I have a new symptom that just started (yeah me): sore/achy muscles in my neck (back of the neck, not the front) and on the sides of the neck near the upper shoulder. I don't think I did anything to pull my neck, nor did I sleep on it funny. I don't think it's postural issue. It just came on suddenly and worsened overnight. My neck feels achy like my thumb and hands do.
Okay so I'm a mess, I guess. And that's my introduction! Anyone who can relate, let me know. Anyone with any advice, let me know. Sympathy good too. :-)
Whereithurt - every member with some form of arthritic condition in here can relate to you on some level. Welcome aboard and best of luck - you sound like you will fit right in. Take care ~~ Cathy
Unfortunately you sound just like the battle I have been waging. You are smart not to wait. I waited another two years before going in and having my levels checked again. PA is a very frustrating disease, because it takes on the form of RA and fibromyalga. So, some of the muscle/tendon pain is all a part of the disease, also is the acid reflux or ulcerative colitis and CROHNS disease.
Push for some sort of disease modifier like Plaquinil or Methotrexate, they will help and will help with the Psoriasis. I cannot tell you when you will feel better, because I am only five months into treatment. I also waited way toooooo long to go back to any Rhumey.
Take care of yourself and know that this is the place to ask questions. You may want to make a trip to your local Natural food store and get some Colostrum, and it will help with the stomach issues. (this was advice gleaned from the forum). I have been using it for almost a week, and can tell some difference.
What is PA??[QUOTE=catlynn]What is PA?? [/QUOTE]
Psoriatic Arthritis. It behaves very much like RA, but has the added gift of psoriasis. It is usually treated with the same meds.
I recommend having your vitamin D levels checked. Vitamin D deficiency is rampant among RA & PA patients, as well as other autoimmune diseases. I was just found to be profoundly deficient, and am taking high dose weekly supplements to boost me up to where I should be.