
Psoriasis Support Group
Psoriasis is an immune-mediated disease which affects the skin and joints. When it affects the skin it commonly appears as red scaly elevated patches called plaques. Psoriasis plaques frequently occur on the elbows and knees, but can affect any area of skin including the scalp and genital area. Psoriasis can also cause inflammation of the joints. This is known as...
I do know that the earlier they catch it and start treatment, the better. They can stop the progression and the damage, even before the damage starts on your joints.
It is a degenerative form of arthritis, very similar to rheumatoid arthritis. It can cripple you if it goes untreated.
Once you start the treatment (either pill form, injection or IV) you will start to see an improvement. It can take up to 8-12 weeks to see noticable improvement, but the longer you are on treatment, the better you feel.
I do have flares in my right index finger and my right knee, but as of right now, 3-4 months into treatment, I'm doing pretty well.
I'm on Methotrexate as a first drug of choice because it's in pill form. So far, so good.
Good luck with your new journey. Please keep in touch with your doctor and follow his/her instructions.
You might want to visit a rheumatologist. Psoriatic arthrits is a little hard to pinpoint as far as diagnosis. If you are in the earlier stages (pre-joint damage) it won't show up on x-ray.
A lot of doctors will dismiss it as something else, but a good rheumatologist will see your psoriasis and start looking more closely at psoriatic arthrits.
I went months with only a fibromyalgia diagnosis for my pain/inflammation and fatigue, but he was unable to pinpoint the inflammation cause and the elevated CRP and ESR levels in my blood. Fibromyagia alone will not cause those elevated blood levels and that much inflammation of joints.
Then my index finger on my right hand and 4th toes started to swell-up big time. They call that "sausage fingers and toes" that that's a dead give away for psoriatic arthritis.
Once you start treatment, the psoriasis will start to improve quickly, then your joints/pain, etc. Unfortunately, the "sausage" digits are the last to improve and it is the hardest to treat with the meds.
Treatment is a process and not a quick fix. It's extremeely important to get started as early as possible to stop the damage to the joints and improve your quality of life.