I'm so sorry you are feeling so bad. I hope you can get a handle on the pain. I was recently diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis too, after consulting with 5 different doctors or specialists. For me the arthritis came first, which made it much more difficult to diagnose. I felt I was going to burn out my liver and kidneys because I couldn't go without ibuprofen and still I was miserable. I take mobic now as a once a day anti-inflammatory. I'm still in pain but we tried one medication and it didn't work. I understand how difficult it is to deal with the pain, care for a family who needs you, and to feel depressed and old. It started in my wrists and hands. They hurt so bad, went numb and the muscle under the thumb on my right hand began to waste away. That was scary. I had carpal tunnel surgery on both hands, but my right one got really numb and painful again in less than a year. They did a "revision" surgery on it and found inflammation tissue crowded into my hand, along with tendonitis. They called it synovitis. The surgeon informed my husband and I that it was due to an underlying inflammatory disease. The rheumotologist finally decided it must be psoriatic arthritis, based on one little patch I have had under my right thumbnail for about a year, all these tests that were negative, and the fact that my sister has plaque psoriasis on her scalp. Now the bones in my feet are hurting, especially in the ball of my right foot.. I have a friend who also has psoriatic arthritis. She recommended buying slippers with memory foam to wear around the house. I prefer being barefoot, but i got some foamy slippers a size too big and then added memory foam inserts. This helps so much while I am doing the housework. I limp less. But I do feel like an old lady whenever I sit even for a little while. At first i was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, even though I insisted that it was more than just muscle pain. I also have chronic headaches, jaw pain that radiates forward, eyes that feel swollen, sore bones in my shoulders, sore knees, ankles, one elbow. It was recommended by one physician that I add vitamin D, magnesium, and fish oil to my diet. I have done that. My friend is doing quite well on humira. Of course my doctor wont recommend that until he's exhausted all other less expensive ideas. So, that's my story, in a nutshell.

Hey- I LOVE my slippers- 2sizes too big:) I am wearing them right now with fuzzy slipper socks from Walgreens. Pain is ok as long as I take meds on time, and don't overdo things. I think I am learning to live with it- I really have never done pain very well... You seem to totally get where I am coming from! It's good to know that others "get it".
When I told my friends that I had psoriatic arhritis- they all thought I said " Sorry I got arthritis" LOL it does kinda sound that way! I have heard though that this is the same as rheumatoid arthritis, just that it has a few differences, but basically acts the same. So other people who hear I don't have RA, are thinking " oh then it's not that bad" and I have to say I was thinking the same thing until I read up on it. so far, my spine is fine- no pain there- maybe my neck a little bit. I wonder about the jaw pain- it hurts to chew and to smile- is that part of this disease too? I have found that when I get out of bed in the morning I am clenching my teeth against the pain in my feet. i wonder if it is what is causing the jaw pain?
NT

Oh my goodness! I was reading you comment and it floored me. I have psoriasis basically from the neck up and I have had it since I was 11 years old. Anyway, I have been having severe jaw pain and all my joints, especially my hips and knees. I have always wondered if I have psoriatic arthritis but I am almost afraid to mention it to my doctor. I feel like I tend to overreact sometimes. But I went to the ER once thinking I was overreacting with shortness of breath and chest pain thinking it was just severe indigestion. It was bilateral Pulmonary embolism. Maybe I should tell my doctor.

you might be right, lefty- and it shouldn't hurt to ask- I have experienced doctors treating me like my symptoms were no big deal and it was all in my head- I guess that is common for autoimmune disorders, unfortunately. If you get thst kind of treatment from your doc- and you can f=get a new doc- fire him, he is not on your side!