Painfully Frustrated

[LMM69]

I've had psoriasis since I was a teen. I am 33 now and my body lesions aren't that bad right now thanks to the tanning bed (I know it's not good for me)other than my scalp and loosing a nail. But for 5 years or more I have had hip, knee, foot,back (sometimes I'm down for a week at a time with it) and wrist pain. For the most part it comes and goes with the exception of my wrist (both of them). I have been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome, possible post interosseous nerve syndrome, possible occult dorsal carpal ganglion, synovitis and now tendonitis. The only test that were done was blood test. No Xrays were taken. This has been very frustrating because I feel like I can't seem to get an accurate diagnosis. Has anyone gone through this before being diagnosed with Arthritis? I feel I need to see a different physician that will run more test but am not sure if I am just being paranoid. I feel like I am wasting my time and money.

[sapphire4373]

hmmm interesting. Sounds like we are going through the same thing. I was diagnosed with Carpal tunnel syndrome, tenosynovitis, dequrvos (sp) syndrome, etc. etc. etc.
Went through all the blood work and what not, and sent on my way. These doctors know I have P and I have asked if it could be PsA starting because some days it hurts like hell to bend a finger or grip the handle of the vaccum cleaner and my back and knees bother me too. But I think these doctors just don't understand the pain and frustration we feel.
So to this day (3 years later) I still don't know what I have that causes me this pain.

[winter]

Because of back, hip and knee pain without relief from doctors I was seeing, I went to a very good neurological clinic and went through MRI'S, CAT SCANS ETC. Frankly, X-rays do not do that much towards finding the problems. I now see a rheumatologist on the recommendation of the neurologist and things are improving. Of course, if you belong to an HMO, you have to first get the permission of your "gatekeeper". If you have a support group in your area, join it. If you don't, contact NPF and get help in forming one. We learn from each other and now are having speakers in the field of dermatology at some of our meetings. The more you know about psoriasis, the better you will be able to deal with it. Good luck.

[livsophie]

Could it be psoratic arthritis? I have tendonitis due to a foot surgery. I have never thought to talk about this being a possibility for me since x-rays and mri never showed any damage. I have been wearing a brace for over a year now. Wouldn't it be something if there was something I could take to make the pain go away.

I will tell you that getting diagnosed for psoriasis was a trip in itself. I was told I had some kind of allergic reaction, that I had mites..I was given oral steriods and Eurax for my skin! When it was raging all over my body, I went to yet another doctor..another derm..(been to 4 docs before this one) and was finally diagnosed.

[kee]

Sounds like classic (sneaky) PA. My physician and I was stumped for two years. After many painful ineffective chiroprator visits, the darned arthritis finally popped up as a very faint fuzzy white line on an xray of my chest and spine. After the diagnosis of Psoriatic Arthritis I ate asprin and muscle relaxors (flexiril)-little comfort. We finally found my answer, ENBREL. But working to pay for this stuff is a hardship second only to P. Imuise- Is the pain especially painful when you put your weight on one hip?-leaning. That was my first sign. Bless us all......Kee

[rhop]

Hi - I haven't been on line for some months, so I'm back on and checking all the old messages. I can't believe all the quacks out there who are missing this diagnosis. Anyone with a history of psoriasis who develops widespread joint pains in various areas of the body, esp. in the spine early on, is a classic case of P.A. You need to be under the care of a rheumatologist. My gen. practice doc immediately suspected P.A. due to my spinal pain as well as distal joints and my history of P., and sent me to the rheumie 3 weeks later. The diagnosis was immediate, and I was on methotrexate within a month, as well as trying a variety of NSAIDS to control the painful inflammation. X-Rays are of no use in the diagnosis and are a waste of time. Blood tests in the early stages very likely won't have elevated rheumatoid factor, etc. which are later markers. It is the whole picture, not the tunnel vision, which provides the diagnosis, and THE SINGLE MOST CRITICAL THING is the history of P!!! Get thee to a rheumatologist and BEST OF LUCK!!! Rosemary

[redhead]

That PA is tough to prove. Since I had plaque and pustular so bad it was easier for my Rheum to make the connection. He xrayed every joint I have -- but no significant damage showed up. However, the blood tests he runs shows a SED level - which is how much swelling is present. (Swelling indicates problems). They can't seem to prove PA - it is more a matter of elimination. My thumbs were giving me the problems you wrists are. For the thumb that was 'catching' my Rheum injected it with cortisone and that helped. The 'catching' was a tendon problem, which can also be from PA. The mtx is the thing that got rid of my constant elbow pain and has helped significantly with thumbs. The fact that mtx helps is proof in itself that I have PA. Be sure you are seeing a Rheumatologist -- not just a md, that could be all the extra help you need to answer these issues.
Good luck,
Lauri

[LMM69]

Thank you for replying to my questions.
I asked my "gatekeeper" for a referal to see a rheumatologist and she agreed it would be a good idea. The one they sent me to pretty much wasted my time. I asked my Derm who they refer thier patients to and got my gatekeeper to give me a referral for him. I have an appt. in Nov. It's really nice to have somewhere to go to discuss this. I have always kept it hidden until now. I know there is nothing to be ashamed of as I have been in the past.

[lilunder]

Have them do the electrode tests for the carpel tunnel. I always thought I had that since I was in the comuter business. Then I started having pain and weakness in my hands which was really strange because it effected my non writting hand more. it was in the 2nd joint of 2 fingers mainly. I would drop things in my hands (not because they were numb) I just would drop things, doorhandles and gas caps were painful to deal with, and the electrode tests actually showed I didn't have nerve issues or carpel I had psoiatic arthritis. See a Neurologist for the carpel tests.

[lilunder]

Opps forgot in my last post, I had x-rays that showed nothing as well. It will show cartilige damage but not cell damage to the tendons at the joint (Psoriatic Arthrtis). My Neuro is who sent me to the Rhummy. I'm now on Methotrexate (MTX) and see some improvement. It slows the progression of PA and helps with psorisis skin too. I can at least open my hands in the morning now =) I couldn't before. In the morning just after waking up was the worst for me. Anyway good luck!