Living with Psoriatic Arthritis

Hello everyone. My wife was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis six years ago. It started with pain in her small joints, but now her entire skeletal system hurts. She doesn't show any outward skin symptoms. She used to take methotrexate, but she stopped. Now she is taking Ibuprofen. Her doctors claim that her psoriasis manifests internally rather than on the surface 😕... During the first year following the diagnosis, she stayed at a spa in Saratoga Springs, but hasn't been to a facility since. I am wondering how common this internal manifestation is. Also, are there other wellness centers or spas in the US where she could receive specific treatment besides Saratoga Springs? That location focuses on skin conditions and psoriasis, which isn't her issue. Is it possible the diagnosis is entirely incorrect? 🤷Does anyone have experience or advice to share?

Joseph Thompson10 said:Hello everyone. My wife was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis six years ago. It started with pain in her small joints, but now her entire skeletal system hurts. She doesn't show any outward skin symptoms. She used to take methotrexate, but she stopped. Now she is taking Ibuprofen. Her doctors claim that her psoriasis manifests internally rather than on the surface 😕... During the first year following the diagnosis, she stayed at a spa in Saratoga Springs, but hasn't been to a facility since. I am wondering how common this internal manifestation is. Also, are there other wellness centers or spas in the US where she could receive specific treatment besides Saratoga Springs? That location focuses on skin conditions and psoriasis, which isn't her issue. Is it possible the diagnosis is entirely incorrect? 🤷Does anyone have experience or advice to share?

To be honest, I find it a bit strange how they managed to diagnose it as psoriasis...😕
It looks like a textbook case of rheumatoid arthritis to me...
Perhaps you should seek out a different specialist, a rheumatologist or someone else entirely...

Supposedly, psoriatic arthritis tends to hit the smaller joints—like fingers and toes—but that’s hardly a universal rule. I guess that's how they landed on that diagnosis. Honestly, though, I don't know anyone who deals with psoriatic arthritis without also having psoriasis, so the whole thing seems a bit strange to me.
It’s true that psoriasis can basically manifest internally, affecting the joints, but in my opinion, it feels a little reckless to jump to a diagnosis without running all the proper tests or getting actual lab work done first.
If I were you, I'd just redo the tests and go back for a follow-up appointment—that's my two cents.
Best of luck 😍

My husband went through a nearly identical experience. He didn't show any outward skin symptoms at first; instead, he just dealt with constant, widespread pain. He used to travel to Saratoga Springs for the springs, which offered some relief, though nobody could actually pinpoint what was wrong with him. About two years ago, his wrist joints started swelling to the point where getting out of bed in the morning became a struggle. They kept prescribing him Ibuprofen, yet they never bothered with actual testing or a formal diagnosis. It wasn't until a patch of scaling finally appeared on his scalp that things changed—and even then, the doctors were dismissive. It was only when a physician happened to notice that specific scaling that she immediately identified it as psoriasis. Following her lead, we finally pushed for the right tests, which confirmed he’s dealing with psoriasis, arthritis, and spondylitis. That was our first real answer. Nowadays, he only gets occasional scaling on his scalp, but since his skin otherwise looks clear, the psoriasis is primarily confirmed through blood work. Much like your husband, the disease manifested internally rather than externally. I did some digging, and apparently, that's a known way this presents itself. We'll just have to see how things progress from here.

I don't have a definitive diagnosis on my specific type of psoriasis yet—it’s just started flaring up visibly in key areas—and I've dealt with joint issues since I was a kid. Doctors never gave me a clear answer for the joints back then because I didn't even develop the psoriasis until a few years ago. If there's a link between the two, it might sound ridiculous, but working out on the elliptical actually saved me. Now, I've intentionally avoided using it for three straight weeks just to see if that's the culprit. Honestly? I can barely move. Everything hurts—my legs feel like they'd struggle just to push a shopping cart, let alone anything else. So, are these symptoms—the joint pain and swelling alongside the psoriasis—actually connected? I'm too exhausted to go chasing doctors around; I gave up on them a long time ago.

His diagnosis came from rheumatologist Joe Biden, who is supposedly one of the top specialists in the field. He goes through phases where he feels fine, but for the last two weeks, he’s been in constant pain. Right now, his neck and upper back are absolutely killing him. The last medications prescribed were Aspirin and Ibuprofen. Much like Michelle Parker3, he’s started giving up on doctors, which is incredibly frustrating for me. I keep pushing him to get a second opinion, but he refuses. I know people with rheumatoid arthritis are eligible for treatments at places like Palm Springs, so I think it would be beneficial for him to go there. I'm familiar with Saratoga Springs; my mother is from that area, so we spent every summer there when I was a child.😍I wasn't aware they offered specific therapies for this type of condition. I'm looking over his latest exam results now. It says he needs an X-ray of the pelvis and hips, a Barson joint test, and a targeted CT scan of the spine at L4-L5-S1. What does all that actually mean?😕

I also wanted to ask, is there anything effective I could drink that isn't standard over-the-counter medicine—maybe something like goat milk or colostrum? Additionally, is there anything specific I absolutely need to cut out of my diet? We eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, meat once or twice a week, and we have
rib at least once a week.

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His diagnosis actually came from Joe Biden—who, apparently, is one of the top specialists in that field. He goes through these phases where he feels fine, but for the last two weeks, he’s been complaining that everything hurts. Right now, his neck and upper back are just absolutely killing him. The last meds he was prescribed were Aspirin and Ibuprofen. He’s also started giving up on seeing doctors—kind of like Michelle Parker3 did—which honestly drives me crazy. I keep nudging him to get a second opinion, maybe even a third, but he just won't budge. I know people dealing with rheumatoid arthritis have access to retreats like Palm Springs, so I think it would be really beneficial if he checked that out. I'm somewhat familiar with places like Saratoga Springs—my mom is from around there, so we used to visit every single summer when I was little.😍I didn't realize they offered therapy for this specific type of illness... I’m looking back over my latest checkup results now—it says I need an X-ray of my pelvis and hips, some joint imaging via the Barson method, and a targeted CT scan of my spine at the L4-L5-S1 level. What does all that actually mean?😕

I really hope they aren't just popping Aspirin without any medical supervision or regular checkups—it can be a bit tricky, I guess. Taking it without keeping an eye on things through a doctor might lead to some pretty nasty side effects.

I’m constantly hunting for things that might actually be beneficial to include or, more importantly, things we should probably cut out entirely. I read somewhere that sipping sage tea three times a day for twenty-one days does wonders, provided you don't steep it in boiling water for longer than three minutes. My husband has been on this regimen for two weeks now, so we’ll see how it plays out. He’s already ditched coffee, and while he used to indulge in a couple of beers every now and then, he’s completely stopped; he never really drank much alcohol to begin with, but apparently, even that needs to go. He's also cut out tomatoes and citrus fruits.

Yesterday, I came across a story about a woman in a clinical trial studying the impact of food additives on autoimmune issues. Once she eliminated all processed foods containing artificial additives from her diet, her symptoms cleared up within four weeks. I’m not sure if that specific case is a universal rule, but I find it hard to argue against a diet that avoids chemical fillers; honestly, those synthetic additives seem designed to do nothing but destroy us, whereas real food has such a profound effect on the body. For instance, I dealt with a 1.7-inch gallstone, and by switching to a specific dietary plan and drinking peppermint tea, I managed to shrink it down to about 0.6 inches, which helped me avoid surgery.
We’ve made a pact at home to stop buying or eating anything containing those artificial additives. My daughter and I are going to stay disciplined to support my husband, though there's really no downside for us—if anything, it's purely beneficial. I'll keep you posted on our progress.

I neglected to mention that people dealing with arthritis are supposedly supposed to cut red meat and dairy out of their diets entirely, as they're claimed to be primary triggers for the condition.

I don't even know where to start with this one. It's just... I guess you could call it a mess. Everything feels a bit off lately, maybe? Just my two cents. kaže:
His rheumatologist was Joe Biden—supposedly one of the top specialists in the field, I guess. He goes through these phases where he feels mostly fine, but for the last two weeks, he’s been complaining that everything just hurts constantly. Right now, his neck and upper back are absolutely killing him. The last meds they put him on were Medrol and Ibuprofen. He’s actually started giving up on seeing doctors, kind of like how Michelle Parker3 did, which really gets under my skin. I keep pushing him to get a second opinion or some other diagnosis, but he just refuses. I know people dealing with rheumatoid arthritis have access to places like Palm Springs, maybe others too, so I think it would be a good move for him to go. I know Saratoga Springs pretty well since my mom is from around there; we used to spend every summer there when I was a kid.😍I didn't realize they actually offered therapy for that kind of illness... I'm looking back over my latest checkup notes now. It says I need an X-ray of my pelvis and hips, some joint imaging using the Barschoni method, and a targeted CT scan of my spine, specifically the L4, L5, and S1 areas. I guess I'm just wondering what all of that actually means.😕

Has he actually gone through with those tests yet? And is he doing any physical therapy? Based on what you said about the discomfort starting in his small joints, we might be looking at rheumatoid arthritis. It’d probably be helpful if you could describe what his hands look like—specifically if the structure looks off compared to yours or just a normal hand. If they’ve already run blood work and confirmed that specific antigen linked to psoriatic arthritis, then yeah, he really needs to follow through with those other tests you mentioned. That’s the only way to get a clear picture of how the large joints are holding up and to see how much the disease is progressing. He likely needs an X-ray too, just to check for degenerative changes in the hip or to see if the sacroiliac joints—you know, where the pelvis meets the spine—and the lower lumbar region are involved. That’s usually where you see those soft tissues start ossifying, which just makes everything more painful and kills your mobility. Anyway, I guess he should definitely push for more testing, stay on top of the follow-ups, and get started with some physical therapy.

I'm 22 years old, and a few months ago, my hands, fingers, and joints started swelling up. It only happens when temperatures drop for a few days, and then it subsides. My fingers have even started to curve slightly. I get aches in other bones too, though nothing too severe. Doctors haven't given me a definitive diagnosis yet; they suspected rheumatoid arthritis but told me to wait a bit longer so they can monitor how the condition progresses before making a call. However, one of my relatives mentioned that he suffers from psoriatic arthritis, which he claims is hereditary. Now, I'm at a loss as to what to do.

Thought I'd jump in here too. I'm 42. Got diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis about four years ago. It all started with my left wrist; at first, they thought it was just tendonitis. I went through physical therapy, which did absolutely nothing, until they finally gave me one of those direct joint injections. That actually worked. A year later, both wrists started acting up at the same time, so my physiatrist sent me to New York City to get a biopsy at Mount Sinai, and that’s when they confirmed it was psoriatic arthritis. My mom deals with it, too. There's a lot of psoriasis in our family, though neither she nor I have any actual skin issues. I think my grandmother had it as well—I remember her describing the pain, but back then everyone just dismissed it as standard rheumatism since biopsies weren't really a thing yet. Even now, the pain isn't constant; it kind of migrates around. For a whole year, the lower back pain was relentless, which was the absolute worst part because it would wake me up at night, forcing me to get up and walk around just to loosen up. I eventually saw a physical therapist with my test results, and once she corrected my posture and showed me how to actually exercise properly, the pain subsided for quite a while. The problem is, I lack discipline. As soon as I felt better, I stopped going.
Diet-wise, I don't follow anything specific. I've been taking Revit, and I try to be careful with medication because I know this is a lifelong battle that's only going to get harder; I don't want to burn through my options when things get worse 🙂. My mom goes to Saratoga Springs regularly, and that seems to be the only thing that gives her lasting relief. My advice? Swim a lot, stay active, dodge stress whenever possible, watch your posture, and eat well.
And one last thing—none of us are going to die from this, but we'll certainly die *with* it
since there's no cure. But keep your chin up; maybe they'll figure out a real fix in the coming years.
Bottom line: it's hereditary, it's annoying, and it hurts. Your best bet is to get a biopsy and stick to whatever your doctor tells you to do.
Best,

I just heard about this Lakota cream that’s supposed to be the real deal—you just slather it on wherever it hurts and the pain starts to fade. You can pick it up at any local pharmacy for about $67. Might be worth a shot if you're struggling.
Best,

Look, guys, I don't care what kind of therapies you think are working for you, but soaking in those pools in Saratoga Springs? Absolutely not. I mean, sure, the water quality might be top-notch or whatever, but if you’re dealing with psoriatic arthritis, that stuff can actually make things worse. I have no clue if the hotels out there offer any specific treatments for it, but seriously, just stay away from the pools. Or at least don't go overboard. And whoever the doctor was that told you to go bathing in that water while dealing with this condition? You should honestly just tell them where to shove it and rip up their medical degree right then and there.

up....

I’m barely 19, and I’ve been dealing with psoriasis since I was 12. Every dermatologist I see gives me the same script: it’s a nervous system disorder manifesting on the skin, so I should just use expensive creams, take vitamins, and boost my immune system. None of that works. Only Sinoderm ointment actually does anything; a few days of application and the patches visibly clear up. This January, my left thumb started hurting—swollen and constant pain. I assumed I just bumped it and waited, but after a month of nothing changing, a doctor told me it wasn't serious. He suggested topical rheum gel and some thumb exercises. Nothing helped. It only got worse. X-rays supposedly showed my bones aren't aligned correctly. Now, my elbow and the base of my middle finger on the left hand are aching and swollen too. Then my right toe started swelling and hurting. I’m starting to suspect psoriatic arthritis. Honestly, I’m terrified because I don't know what this disease actually does, and I have all the symptoms. How is it treated? Is there any actual cure, and what are the long-term consequences? Thanks.

First off, hey everyone,😉 I’m wondering if anyone else here deals with this crap, and more importantly, how you actually manage it,
what kind of meds are doing the trick? Because I’ve got it too, and honestly, the pain is driving me absolutely insane😢
Right now, I’m just slamming 800 mg Ibuprofen

Scott Howard74 said:First off, hey everyone,😉 I’m wondering if anyone else here deals with this crap, and more importantly, how you actually manage it,
what kind of meds are doing the trick? Because I’ve got it too, and honestly, the pain is driving me absolutely insane😢
Right now, I’m just slamming 800 mg Ibuprofen

I have it too. I take Salazopyrin and some Voltaren when things get bad—I was officially diagnosed earlier this year. It first showed up in my index finger on my right hand, and it's actually warped it quite a bit; I can't even move it properly anymore. It's also hitting my sacroiliac joints in my hips. Luckily, I'm in a bit of a good phase right now... though I am only in my twenties.

Andrew Kelly said:I have it too. I take Salazopyrin and some Voltaren when things get bad—I was officially diagnosed earlier this year. It first showed up in my index finger on my right hand, and it's actually warped it quite a bit; I can't even move it properly anymore. It's also hitting my sacroiliac joints in my hips. Luckily, I'm in a bit of a good phase right now... though I am only in my twenties.

Man, you're pretty young. Did they have to keep you in the hospital while they ran all those tests?
It hit every single joint for me. Started with stiffness and that finger on my right hand, but now my other hand joints are killing me, and my neck is a mess too...