I made an appointment with my doctors surgery and seen a new doctor about getting an up-to-date medical certificate for my ESA claim. She asked about my back pain, what i have been prescribed etc. and was very concerned about it all due to my age (25). She gave me the required medical certificate and said that i should see the one doctor about my continuing back problem, rather than seeing many and being passed off from one to the other (e.g. the gabapentin incident) so as she was about to make me an appointment with one of the new doctors like her (as she was going to be off for 2 weeks) I stopped her and said that I don't mind waiting for her to come back as she genuinely seemed interested in helping me and getting to the bottom of my problem.
Cut to 2 weeks later and the doctor refers me to rheumatology and for blood tests. The bloods came back with 'higher than expected levels' and to be repeated 2 weeks later. Those blood results came back fine and I was waiting on my rheumatology appointment to come through, unfortunately that took around 16weeks!
So once again, cut away to 16wks later @ my rheumatology appointment. I was asked about my history relating to my back problem and family history of illnesses etc. (My sister suffers from Rheum & ortho arthritis all over, hip dysplasia (congenital), and a heart prob (also congenital) to mention a few of her many ailments! My dad has arthritis (can't remember which one) hip problems (had his left replaced 5yrs ago when he was 55 which is deemed 'young'), heart prob and other ailments.) I told the consultant the above info as well as arthritis i have in my right ankle due to an old injury (been on Celebrex for around 8yrs for it and had physio previously), fallen arches (flat feet which i had ultrasound treatment for when i was a teenager and seen a podiatrist for. oh, also seen on a previous visit to the forum about a few people with their 2nd toe bigger than the 1st one, i fall into this category too!)
The consultant asked if i had any skin conditions which i said i had suffered from psoriasis for the past 9months (only a v.small patch on my right leg and quite bad on my scalp, i sometimes also get a flare-up 'downstairs' too
) I almost seen the lightbulb appear above the consultants head when he was sure my pain was 'a form of arthritis linked to psoriasis' in which i said at the same time as him 'psoriatic arthritis'. I was sent for more blood tests and had my hands, feet & hips x-rayed and was told to return in 6weeks time.
Again, cut away, and 6weeks later (which was last week) and I was given the formal diagnosis of Psoriatic Arthritis! X-rays showed my hips r ok (which is a relief since my dad & sisters existing problems) and wear & tear in my fingers/hands and toes/feet.
Everything has fell into place now, (well almost, because i've not had any x-rays of my back, just physical examination when I seen the consultant @ 1st) because during the past 2years other aches, pains & injuries have made sense. I have a permanent pain & swelling in my left wrist, the finger/knuckle next to my pinky finger on the same side, pain along the side of my index finger on my right hand, stiffness/always cold fingers & hands, swollen & painful big toe which seizes up on left foot, pain on the top of both feet (which are always cold), sore knees (especially the left in which i tore ligaments exactly 2yrs ago) pain in both hips (most likely referral pain from my back), back pain (since that's how this all started!) shoulder pain (in which i'm @ physio for the right one & have had 2 cortisone injections in) and most recently, my left shoulder/collarbone (which is swollen/pronounced) as a result of a fall (the bruising was so extensive it made a medical student jump back in terror!).
I've been prescribed Methotrexate 10mg weekly along with Folic Acid which I've to start on 9th December as I was required to have the flu jab and chest x-ray beforehand (asthmatic). I've to continue with celebrex & robaxin and been given Sevredol (as tramadol and paracetamol i was given recently don't help @ all) with the view to being put on MST once the appropriate Sevredol dosage has been figured out.
I'm applying for DLA as especially within the last year, my mobility has become very poor with regards to walking, standing, sitting, showering, cooking, dressing etc. With this cold weather settling in it's becoming unbearable, my fingers r seizing up (its took me roughly 2hours to type this when i used to be able to type over 80 words per min), i have 6 pillows to try help prop me up into a comfy position in bed (still don't sleep well, recently started zopiclone to try help) and when i do get out of bed I need to rock back and forth to gain momentum to get into a seated position then theres the trouble of getting from the seated position to standing because of my back and then having to put pressure onto my hands/wrists/fingers - I can't win!!!
I'm 25 with the body of an OAP!
Anyway, if u've made it this far then congratulations! You deserve a pat on the back! Thought i'd just share my story and also ask for advice with regards to the DLA application, if anyone else receives it due to Psoriatic Arthritis?
I'd especially be interested to hear from people around my age with the condition and how you cope/were u palmed off because of ur age? I don't mind hearing from anybody tho!
Thanks for reading and once again, Hello!!!
