teenPA18
11-19-2007, 03:04 PM
Hello I want to give an overview of myself as I am joining the club =(.
I'm 18 years old, i got Psoriasis at 15 years, and Psoriasis A (I never say that word, i hate it with all my heart) at 16 and I'm now 18 years old. I'm from England, and studying at university with high hopes for the future.
About my condition:
Basically, it started after an athletic training session (i used to be very athletic and do a variety of sports), during which, i injured both my knees by applying too much force, and continuing exercise even with the injury. The injury didn't heal, so i went to the local GP, who referred me to the physio. I then had the Physio for about 4 months untill they decided to refer me onto a specialist physio, who then refered me onto someone else. Then i had an MRI scan, and saw a special doctor.
The MRI scan showed slight wearing of the knee cartilidge (nothing too unusual), and my blood tests showed nothing abnormal - including the inflamation test. However, the next doctor diagnosed me with PA, asked for another blood test (3 months later), which showed inflamation.
I then started taking Sulphasalazine ever since, along with NSAIDs.
Then it got worse:
I now have inflamation in both knees, my index finger on my right hand, left jaw bone, and right hip. And i have psoriasis on my scalp, which isn't that bad atm due to a steriod based scalp application.
How i think PA limits me:
Well, i can't do much running anymore, and ofc there is almost constant pain (sometimes i don't feel it, just normally in the evenings and when i think about it), and sports generally i can't do. I have recently done martial arts, sailing, swimming, although i stopped the martial arts.
I would say, swimming/ cycling is a good way to stay in shape with PA because it doesn't really stop me from doing these.
The thought of my children having a chance to contract this makes me not want to have children; maybe i will just adopt a child and help destroy PA (although its not as bad as many hereditary diseases).
Well, basically I don't tell anyone i have PA, only most of my family knows, and no one seems to question me. If i feel pain, i take it and walk normally, no limping, no signs of weakness. As i said before i hate the A word, and ask for my family not to say it; especially when my parents ask me how I am. I say alright, but i can't tell them can I, they wont understand, how can they? I remember my mum complaining about a soar tooth and I thought; you think you have problems...
Anyway, this is a long read so I'll cut it short:
I always say A as the thing old people get; i never really thought young people could get it, and now i have it. It makes me sad to know i have my life ahead of me, but i keep telling my physio, only a few more years for a cure now =D. She says there wont be a cure and I argue; what do we have if we do not have faith? Well, on the bright side, when I come to my final years, i will have a hell of an autobiography to write. 'Normal' people are boring, they live plain lives, but i have something different.
I would give everything but my life and soul ( I don't believe in a soul but I also don't tempt fate), for a cure.
....
The worse feeling i ever have is when i think my PA is getting worse, If i feel another joint is being infected it makes me feel bad. Reading about other people's PA problems makes me feel bad too, but i have had 2 years of ignoring this disease, and I have joined you guys to talk about my problems.
So hello.
I'm 18 years old, i got Psoriasis at 15 years, and Psoriasis A (I never say that word, i hate it with all my heart) at 16 and I'm now 18 years old. I'm from England, and studying at university with high hopes for the future.
About my condition:
Basically, it started after an athletic training session (i used to be very athletic and do a variety of sports), during which, i injured both my knees by applying too much force, and continuing exercise even with the injury. The injury didn't heal, so i went to the local GP, who referred me to the physio. I then had the Physio for about 4 months untill they decided to refer me onto a specialist physio, who then refered me onto someone else. Then i had an MRI scan, and saw a special doctor.
The MRI scan showed slight wearing of the knee cartilidge (nothing too unusual), and my blood tests showed nothing abnormal - including the inflamation test. However, the next doctor diagnosed me with PA, asked for another blood test (3 months later), which showed inflamation.
I then started taking Sulphasalazine ever since, along with NSAIDs.
Then it got worse:
I now have inflamation in both knees, my index finger on my right hand, left jaw bone, and right hip. And i have psoriasis on my scalp, which isn't that bad atm due to a steriod based scalp application.
How i think PA limits me:
Well, i can't do much running anymore, and ofc there is almost constant pain (sometimes i don't feel it, just normally in the evenings and when i think about it), and sports generally i can't do. I have recently done martial arts, sailing, swimming, although i stopped the martial arts.
I would say, swimming/ cycling is a good way to stay in shape with PA because it doesn't really stop me from doing these.
The thought of my children having a chance to contract this makes me not want to have children; maybe i will just adopt a child and help destroy PA (although its not as bad as many hereditary diseases).
Well, basically I don't tell anyone i have PA, only most of my family knows, and no one seems to question me. If i feel pain, i take it and walk normally, no limping, no signs of weakness. As i said before i hate the A word, and ask for my family not to say it; especially when my parents ask me how I am. I say alright, but i can't tell them can I, they wont understand, how can they? I remember my mum complaining about a soar tooth and I thought; you think you have problems...
Anyway, this is a long read so I'll cut it short:
I always say A as the thing old people get; i never really thought young people could get it, and now i have it. It makes me sad to know i have my life ahead of me, but i keep telling my physio, only a few more years for a cure now =D. She says there wont be a cure and I argue; what do we have if we do not have faith? Well, on the bright side, when I come to my final years, i will have a hell of an autobiography to write. 'Normal' people are boring, they live plain lives, but i have something different.
I would give everything but my life and soul ( I don't believe in a soul but I also don't tempt fate), for a cure.
....
The worse feeling i ever have is when i think my PA is getting worse, If i feel another joint is being infected it makes me feel bad. Reading about other people's PA problems makes me feel bad too, but i have had 2 years of ignoring this disease, and I have joined you guys to talk about my problems.
So hello.