Just ONCE I'd like to wake up pain free!

[liz]

My pp has been doing *great*!!!!!! Almost no splits or cracks and when I do get them, they heal pretty fast. However, I was wondering if I've exchanged it for pa. My back (and sometimes hips) hurt every single day when I wake up. It does get better thru the day, but some mornings I could just cry.

Is there a sure way to tell if it's pa? Bloodwork, x-rays, do any of them say yes it is or not it isn't? I'm 32 and I don't think it's normal for this to happen. Does your p tend to flare or go into remission when your pa flares?

I lost my job and now I'm in college full time (and our ins stinks!) so money is really tight. Before I go to my dr. I'd like to have a good idea of what to do.

Any advice, opinions or ideas are more than welcome.

Thanks!

Liz

[pandora]

Hi Liz!

I have very mild pa and I take Aleve (it's an OTC medicine) when it really flares up!

I wish I had more advice for you, but that's what works for me.

God Bless!

Theresa

[brown123]

Hi Liz , with the pain I know it hard but you need be stress free,but I fine when I am in stress mood my neck,sides of my body, hands,legs hurt real bad then I try exercise,not alot, just to get body moving and that help,also I am into yoga and that really kept me going without the yoga most likely I would be in a wheel chair. peace

[rantalek]

Hi Liz, my PA started last spring (I was 32) after I'd had skin psoriasis for 10 years, and the flares of PA seem to have nothing to do with the flares on my skin. When my PA flares, my nails split and crack. The thing that helps most for me is to swim...I found an arthritis class at the Y, and that keeps some of the pain at bay. But I would see a DR to get something like Bextra to keep the swelling down, for me, OTC stuff isn't enough. Hope that helps

[web63]

My PA has not quit flaring for over 3 years now.
NO, there are no x-rays, blood tests etc... to tell that you have PA. If you could get to a Rheumatologist tha would be great. He will do blood work. Mainly checking for an RA factor in the blood. That would only tell that you have Rheumatoid Arthritis. Also the blood work will check the SED rate. That is to show how much inflamation you are having.

My PA started in my hip also. It has now spread throughout my entire body.
I have been on everything.
As of now:
Methotrexate - 1 shot per week
Enbrel - (just started) 2 shots per week
1500 mg Azulfidine - daily
1 mg Folic Acid - daily
Prednisone - 10 mg daily
And to top it off I have
High Blood Pressure (Cardiazim 120 mg daily)
High Colesterol (Lipitor 10 mg daily)
Well that is my story, and I am living proof that it can sneak up on you, and do you in.
PLEASE get to a Rheumy and let him find what would be good for you. If it is bad enough, it will need aggressive treatment.
E-mail me if you woulf like to discuss it further <pa@web63.com>
Good Luck,
Scott in Atlanta, GA

[IreneF]

Liz,
My PA definitely is worse upon waking in the morning and gets a little better when i've moved around some. According to my rheum. there is no definite test, if you have arthritis and you have psoriasis, then they put 2 & 2 together....there are some physical clues such as swelling, heat and tenderness.
Good luck I hope you don't have it!
Irene

[LMM69]

Liz

I am 33 and it sounds like we are in the same boat. There are times when I get up in the morning and I feel like I've been hit by a truck or nailed between the shoulders with a sledgehammer and times when I is very painful to walk because my hips and legs hurt so bad. I saw one Rheumy who made me feel like an idiot and dismissed me with a prescription of motrin. My primary doc has been much more concerned and gave me 550mg of Naproxin and Zanaflex, it works great but irritates my stomach. I am currently being seen by my second Rheumy who has done the Xrays and blood test, he has not confirmed that I have it but is sending me to physical therapy. The paperwork that was submitted to my insurance company to get approved stated something about soft tissue ???? I didn't get the rest. I don't really think that there is a rheumy near me that is up on PA, the only thing I can do is learn as much as possible to try to my current one to learn more about it. Sorry this is so long.
I hope everything works out for you.

Lisa

[PJ Leary]

Hey Liz,

Altha here. Sorry to hear you are in pain. I can relate. I am very glad to hear that the pp is under control after the serious problems you've had in the past, especially since it's January and cold in NY.

I find Celebrex effective for pain management during the cold when the pa flares. The condition of my skin does not seem related to the pa. I tried many others, not helpful with the exception of Vioxx, but I didn't like that because it made me "wonky".

Perhaps the best doc to see for pa treatment is your derm?

Take care,
PJ Leary