New to NPF

[shawgirl]

Hello to everyone. I am new to this site and can already see that it will be very beneficial to me. I have had p for 27 years with not many remissions. In fact, my last one was about four years ago. I won't go into much detail about my condition right now, but, I will say that today has been very difficult coping with this disease. I get into a depression sometimes because of the p. It takes a major toll on me emotionally. I have not been able to work since January of this year and had to resign because of medical reason's, with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis being two of the major reasons. I have applied for SS disability and will not know the outcome of that until August sometime. Has anyone here ever applied? Just wondering if SS recognizes p as disabling. It is good to get on line and read the message board. Sometimes I feel so alone with this psoriasis, having anyone to really understand what I actually go throough! The message board is a good thing and I will be reading them regularly. God Bless Everyone

Gloria

[mrwood]

Gloria,
I too have been unable to work due to psoriasis. I have applied for disability and should know the outcome in another month or so. I know that they recognize it as disabiling in some cases. I have p on my hands and feet and when the outbreaks happen I am unable to do anything for up to 2 weeks. The longest it has ever been clear is about 4 days. My feet have never been clear and some days I can hardly walk. I never go barefoot but can only wear flip flops. To put shoe on my feet would be unbearable.
Keep us informed as to your outcome and I will keep you informed.
My doctor told me that he is extremely worried that I may be getting p athritis in my hands because they stay so swollen and it hurts in my joints so bad to move them very much. Please let me know how this effects you as I do not know anyone that has it to know what the symptoms of it are.
Good Luck!!
Melanie

[shawgirl]

Hey Malanie, I guess you can see by my greeting that I am from the south (Hey). I am from Georgia now living across the river in South Carolina. I am happy to get a response from someone. It seems as though you are having the same symptoms I am experiencing...sorry for that. I can imagine how unberable it must feel for you to have psoriasis so bad on your feet. I mostly have it on the heals and ankles, however, it covers my legs from the knees down. I have not had any swelling of the joints of the feet, only my left wrist and joints and right hand in three joints. I had to resign from a position of medical secretary. The last several months of my time there was so difficult for me, not only physically but mentally. I would have to wear long sleeves and slacks ALWAYS, and still others would ask what was wrong with me. People just do not know what an impact it can be emotionally hearing those remarks. Anyway, the answer to your message about the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis that I have experienced, which can be I think different in everyone, is swelling and stiffness of the joints involved. This makes it very difficult to grasp items and even write things. The mornings seem to the worse time of the day for me. Today, however, I am moving much better than last week. I just keep saying my prayers that this will not spread to other areas. My dermatologist decided that I needed to see a Rheumatologist because the swelling was getting out of hand and becoming so painful. I had a body bone scan in which nuclear medication was injected in my veins. Then an xray was taken from head to toe. The doctor wanted to see if I had any "hot spots," which meant arthritis is in those areas. I also had some blood work done. I didn't mean to go into detail, but I think it would maybe help anyone else that will have to go through this. The doctor prescribed, after the diagnosis was confirmed, a medication to help with the swelling and pain called Bextra 20 mg once per day. I was given samples for two weeks to see the effect it will bring if any. If anyone else is reading this message and is already taking this Rx, can you let me know how and if it is helping? Thanks. So, I go from day-to-day saying my prayers and hoping for a cure one day. Oh yes, I am experiencing pitted finger nails now, another symptom of psoriasis. Okay Melanie, it was nice of you to write. Thank you so much and I will keep you updated. Good Luck to you also!
Gloria

[redhead]

Hi Gloria and Melanie:
I started getting P about 4 years ago. Started as plaque on knees, elbows, back of hands. Then got the pustular on palms and soles. Couldn't walk, except on my toes. Had to quit working. I applied and received my Soc. Sec. Disability. Was approved first time. Since then have begun having problems with Psoriatic Arthritis. I take two Bextra per day. Works the same for me as my Celebrex did, but not quite so hard on my stomach. It helps some. In addition, my rheum has now put me on Methotrexate. I am having less joint pain with it. Still have pain and swelling. My hands and feet have mostly cleared after getting away from stress. If MTX continues to improve me, hope to go back to work by next year. If your hands and feet are involved heavily and you have a certain percentage of your body involved with p and/or pa - the disablity should be approved without much problems. However, if you are not approved, do not give up. After two denials you can have a lawyer take over. Lawyer only gets paid if you do. Important to stick with it. You will get paid from the date you first filed, except for the first 5 months.
If I can help with any of this, you can email me at LaurindaCG@hotmail.com
Welcome to the site Gloria. It has been a huge help to me, and I am sure it will be beneficial to you too.
Lauri

[shawgirl]

Thanks Lauri, for the encouragement and info about SS disability. So far the Bextra is helping some with the pain, but still have swelling and stiffness in my joints. I really don't think that there will be a problem of getting disability because of my psoriasis and arthritis, and I do have other medical problems that hinder me from working also. I may mention MTX to my Rheumatologist on my next visit. Thanks again for your response and I will email you if I have further questions.
Gloria

[bjs561222]

Hi I am new to this disease but it has hit me so badly all over the joints are bad scalp is bad and my body I am in complete shock to what has happened to me. Bobbi