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elaine5000 
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Joined: 08 October 2007
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 Topic: New Member PA???
Posted: 08 October 2007 at 4:32am |
Hi Everyone! 
7 yrs ago I was diagnosed , by my Rheumy with Palindromic Rheumatism because of it's intermittant nature. 3 yrs ago it became more progressive and an MRI Scan showed Sinovitis within the joints and changed my diagnosis to Inflammatory Arthritis.
I suffer with morning joint stiffness (lasting about an hour), painful joint and tendon below thumb on right wrist, right knee pain and giving way, general pain in fingers and small joints of the hands. Pain in ankles, achilles tendons, heels and feet. My right little toe is now curling leaving a bony lump on the joint and have a bony lump on the top of my foot. It feels like several toes are starting to claw. Have just had a bone X-ray of this and awaiting results to see if any joint damage has occured. 
Was prescribed Arcoxia but declined to take it as I am Asthmatic and it can interfere with Salbutamol and not too comfortable with product information & US licensing issues either. I am also very sensative to many Anti-inflammatory meds. So far only able to take Co-dydramol which doesn't really help. Tried Hydroxychloriquine (Plaquenil) but reacted to it after only 3 weeks.
Six immediate family members have Psoriasis but I have never had the rash. I an sero-negative and Rheumy has ruled out RA. I understand that it is difficult to diagnose Psoriatic Arthritis if the Arthritis procedes the rash. Does anyone know if there is any way of diagnosing PA without the rash? 
Elaine
Edited by elaine5000
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allycat
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Joined: 15 April 2007
Location: Australia
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Posts: 559
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Posted: 08 October 2007 at 6:42am |
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I have been diagnosed with PA and yet I have no psoriasis. The fact that I have a small family history with P and that it was bought on by trauma. the amount of swollen or painful joints plus a high crp and other blood work. I think it depends on the rheumy themselves whether they give a definate diagnosis or not. My mum has palmer planter psoriasis and my aunty has guttate psoriasis. Oh and hello its great to have you join us. most people talk on the RA threads as a lot of our symptoms/problems are the same. Ally
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42/F
Dx PA 2002
Arava,Lipitor,Thyroxine,Nexium,Montelukast,Tramadol, ,Enbrel,plaquenil,caltrate + D, slow release C, B complex,FGF iron,glucosamine.
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elaine5000
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Posted: 08 October 2007 at 8:16am |
Hi Ally
Thankyou for the welcome!
My symptoms started around the time I entered the menopause. I had discussed PA with my Rheumy before and mentioned the strong family link to Psoriasis (mother, brother, sister, grandfather, uncle, cousin). He just looked at my nails for pitting (none present) and dismissed the idea. Now I am finding permanent changes in some joints I feel it's time to investigate further. I don't think his conclusion of 'don't worry about it, there's no joint damage' is one I can accept anymore.
Time to give it another go!
Elaine
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Shelly41
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Joined: 07 July 2007
Location: United States
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Posted: 08 October 2007 at 9:02pm |
Elaine, where is the pain in your hands, is it at the base or the finger tips. Mine started with the finger tips and then go down to the base. Has he taken xrays of your hands or feet to find out if there is damage. Has he done a genetic test HLA-B27?? This is a very helpful test...I guess. It was no mystery in my case at least this time around as I had psoriasis in verious parts of my body. Yes, I went to another Rheumy and he didn't want to look any further than Lupus or RA.
here's a website:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/psoriatic-arthritis/DS00476
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Have a great day! Shelly
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Shelly41
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Joined: 07 July 2007
Location: United States
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Posted: 08 October 2007 at 9:03pm |
Oh, and you would react to Plaquinil b/c it is toxic to PA. It makes all kinds of things happen, and I reacted to it too.
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Have a great day! Shelly
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elaine5000
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Posted: 09 October 2007 at 5:21am |
Hi Shelly
It is interesting that you say 'Plaquenil' is toxic to PA as I know it can make Psoriasis worse or bring the rash out if you don't already have it but have PA. Because I am hyper-allergic and have serious allergies to many medications including Antibiotics & NSAIDs, my Rheumy prefers this med because of the least side effects. Even though I have reacted to it before he has talked about starting it again, at a lower dose and gradually increase it.
The pain is usually in the whole of my 3rd or 4th fingers and in the small joints of the hands. Same in my toes & feet. The 3rd finger, left hand is twisting towards 4th finger, and 4th finger almost crossing over 3rd. The problem with my right wrist is very persistant and have pain when using it. I had the MRI Scan on my hands 3 yrs ago which showed Sinovitis and I have just had a bone X-ray of my right foot to see if the problem is joint damage or tendon problem. Should have result in a few days.
I'm not sure if been tested for HLA - B27 but will mention it to Rheumy at end of the month.
He has been quite happy to sit back and leave the diagnosis as IA and up until recently has has kept telling me there is no joint damage. I think now it's time to investigate further.
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LinB
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Joined: 18 April 2007
Location: U.S & Mexico
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Posted: 10 October 2007 at 9:05pm |
Originally posted by elaine5000
I suffer with morning joint stiffness (lasting about an hour), painful joint and tendon below thumb on right wrist, right knee pain and giving way, general pain in fingers and small joints of the hands. Pain in ankles, achilles tendons, heels and feet. My right little toe is now curling leaving a bony lump on the joint and have a bony lump on the top of my foot. It feels like several toes are starting to claw. Have just had a bone X-ray of this and awaiting results to see if any joint damage has occured.
Hi and Welcome Elaine. There is an erosion of the fingers called cup/pencil erosion and it's indictive of PA. Your above description could be mine. I also have RA along with PA. My only advice for you is to reconsider some of the RA meds, either DMARDS, Biologics or both. Some of the side effects that MIGHT take place with the meds aren't as severe as out of control inflammatory arthritis (possible PA) and the damage that will result. You sound like you've done a lot of research on the meds but from what I've read your disease is out of control and will start causing damage. It may well have already started. I waited 5 years to start meds due to denial and fear of the meds. I have severe damage and it has taken 3 years to get any kind of control of the disease. I've also had a knee replacement and will have the other next year.
Keep us posted. Lindy |
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We are all affecting the world every moment, whether we mean to or not. Our actions and states of mind matter, because we are so deeply interconnected with one another. Ram Dass
RA,Psa,OA
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elaine5000
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Posted: 11 October 2007 at 5:56am |
Thankyou for the welcome Lindy.
I will have a serious chat with my Rheumy at my next appointment.
I am quite happy to try the Plaquenil again as I started to see an improvement even after only 3 weeks. Was sorry to have to stop it really. Because of my medical history of allergies I do get rather nervous at trying new meds and my Dr's are very cautious when prescribing. Some NSAIDs make my throat swell causing breathing difficulties and I'm Asthmatic too. So it's all a bit scary. 
It was so easy not to bother with the meds when you are under the impression that no joint damage will happen. But now I feel that's possibly not the case it's time to reconcider.
Thanks Again
Elaine
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elaine5000
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Posted: 19 January 2008 at 3:48pm |
Thought I would just post an update.
I have recently been given a new diagnosis of sero-negative RA and have been on another course of Plaquenil for almost 3 months now. So far so good. Things seem to be moving in the right direction.....at last. I will also be changing to a specialist Orthopaedic Hospital with better facilities than present.
Feeling in a much more positive frame of mind at the moment. Long may it last!
Thankyou everyone for your kind replies. 
Wishing you all painfree times.
Elaine x
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