p.a. & fingernails

[BTVSLAYER78]

I'm new here and have been reading oalot of info, and leaving what I know. I see alot of people talking about P.A. and there fingernails. Are you refering to pitting of the nails. I'm 24 and have been diag. last year. I swear i have every kind of p almost. They say 1. I feel like a medicine cabinet, Keeping all meds locked up so kids can't reach. I would really like to get some info about the best treatments & drugs. It's bad when you can't grow nails,let alone paint them:( I'm going to se the dr for s.s. and would really like to get all the goods I can. Just tired of being bounced around and spending outragous money on prescriptions, like a testing animal.

[dj88tpry]

Hi BTVSLAYER78!

I have psorasis, psoriatic arthritis, and spondylitis. The doctor put me on sulfasalazine and it has worked great. I have been taking it for three weeks now and have never felt better! The arthritis in my knee has improved greatly in a short time.

Thank You,

David Walker
dwalk75@aol.com

[kmfitzpatrick1]

I have psoriasis of the nails, pustular psoraisis on my heels and occasionally on my elbows and fingers, and psoraitic (sp) arthritis. From the information that I have seen in the year that I have been diagnosed with P and PA it seems like different things work for different people. My nails started out with pitting and then became loose from the finger. Infection set in and there is a nasty color and thickening that developed under the loose nail. In the beginning (for 2 years) I was told it was fungus. Finally I went to UCLA Med Center and the diagnosis of P and PA was made. I also had been having major problems with back, neck, and hip pain, etc. My fingers that have the nail problem started to develope huge swollen joints and they were extremely painful. I could not even hold a toothbrush or sign my name at times and there were many other things I could not do. The back and neck were still bothering me but the methatrexate seemed to help that a lot.
I have been taking oral methatrexate for almost 9 months now and although it helped and stopped the arthritis from progressing (I think) it did nothing to cure the problem and pain relief was slight. I have just started Enbrel injections last week and there is an amazing difference already. The pain is almost non-existant. I also have a cabinet that looks like a pharmacy. Sometimes things work for a while and then they stop. Then I try a new thing and then go back to the old meds. I have creams, gels, and liquids of all kinds. My suggestion is to keep an eye on this message board. There is much valuable information here and in the magazines put out by NPF.
Right now the Enbrel is like a miracle to me.
Thank God for this relief. ( - :
Kathy

[winter]

I have had psoriasis for 32 years now. Been through many medicines and treatments. A bad flare put me on methotrexate. That improved the condition of my fingernails and even the toenails are better. The very best skin treatment for me over the years has been tar prescriptions - see your doctor for that - and ultra-violet lamps. I still use them to a limited degree while on M. but my dermatologist knows what I do. Since I am on low dosage of M. and he wants to keep the dosage as low as possible, I need to supplement with the tar and lamps. Incidentally, I found that the cortisone etc ointments left my skin red and uncomfortable. The tar loosens the plaque and the skin underneath is a normal color.

Good luck

[craig]

im new to this board and sure am happy to find it. i have a lot to ask but first would like to know if anyone is taking interleasional injections of Kenelog for nail psoriasis? i tried a Dermajet regime but it didnt do much good. these are needle injections right into the nail bed area. thanks for any feedback, this has been a 20 plus year ordeal. craig