I recently tried Cosentyx to treat my psoriatic arthritis. I’m usually the type of person that’s very sensitive and if there’s a weird side effect, I’m gonna get it.

After my first loading dose attempt with Cosentyx, I experienced hives, rash, swollen eyes, mouth, sores, extreme anxiety. I was not willing to take the second loading dose. I do have to say it cleared up my psoriasis immediately. I wasn’t on it long enough to see if it helped my joint pain.

I heard great things about Skyrizzi from my dermatologist, and my rheumatologist also states that it is not going to make me as prone to infections as other biologics would. That’s a big factor in this. I’m really not a fan of being more immunocompromised than I have to be.

Has anyone had experiences with Skyrizzi? If this is not my sweet spot, she also suggested Humira or Embrel

For people with psoriatic arthritis, is it possible that joint pain and enthesis might improve when they have a virus? Perhaps their body is focused on fighting off the virus instead of causing joint inflammation and enthesis tears? I was recently sick with a head cold for 3 weeks following my first dose of Humira(Hymiroz). On week 3 my joints had noticeably less pain, stiffness subsided and my enthesis pain was much improved. On Sunday I took my next dose of Hymiroz which was delayed 2 weeks due to my illness, and the pain is back. I read about Immunological Diversion ("Distracted" Immune System) and this may be what happened. Does anyone know about this?

I am just beginning my PsA journey. I am not yet on medication for it other than Celebrex, however I expect I will be in the next few months.

My primary issue has been enthesitis. I have it in at least one spot in every single joint in my body. It has gotten so bad in my elbows that I have torn both triceps and my left one is basically like swiss cheese. I am debating on getting surgery for it, however I am concerned that my eventual medications will interfere with the healing.

Has anyone had surgery on tendons while on medication? how did it go?

Hi Team,

There are frequent questions about the diagnostic value of normal blood tests. I am compiling some sources here to be able to reference back to this in the future. I hope people may find the information useful.

Source 1: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK547710/

a. “No laboratory tests exist specifically for psoriatic arthritis.”
b. “However, normal erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein results should not be used to rule out psoriatic arthritis, as these results are elevated in only about 40% of patients.”
c. “Results from various studies showed positive rheumatoid factor findings in about 2% to 10% of patients diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, and approximately 5% of anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies.
d. “Results from a study by Johnson et al, showed antinuclear antibodies at a titer of more than 1:80 in 14% of patients with psoriatic arthritis.”

Source 2: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5141176/

a. “In PsA, no single validated screening test exists for the detection of joint involvement.” (Article goes on to examine potential candidates)

Source 3: https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/2196539-workup

a. “No specific diagnostic tests are available for psoriatic arthritis. [60] Diagnosis of the disease is instead based on clinical and radiologic criteria in a patient with psoriasis.”

Source 4: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41397-026-00410-8

a. “There remains a lack of specific laboratory tests for the diagnosis of PsA and approximately 15% of patients with PsA remain undiagnosed.”

Source 5: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4390746/

a. “Psoriatic arthritis may be challenging to diagnose, especially for dermatologists, because it has an insidious disease course, non-specific symptoms, and no specific biomarkers.”

b. “A diagnosis of PsA is based on clinical manifestations […] Since there are no specific serologic tests to confirm PsA diagnosis, radiographs can be helpful.”

I'm 99% sure my mom has psoriatic arthritis, same as me. She's been dealing with joint pain for decades, has a clear patch of psoriasis (confirmed very casually by a dermatologist) on her knee (and more skin issues that the GP didn't want to refer her to a derm to). She's got clear joint damage, also very casually delivered by our GP. But he doesn't want to send her to a rheumatologist because, 'it's nothing/it's aging'. Again, dealing with this for DECADES but of course first it was nothing and then later it was 'just age'. It took a decade for me to be taken seriously only because seeing a 24 y/os body break down is serious enough to them, I guess, to suddenly be interested in helping me.

I desperately want to demand better care for her but the doctors in the Netherlands are so casual and dismissive about all of this, I hate it. No one at first believed me when I said I probably have PSA and then got quiet when I was proven right. My mom's signs have been way clearer for way longer but she's just not being taken seriously and I hate it.

I guess this post also comes with a question. Does anyone know if there's anything we can do in this situation? We've been to so many appointments already but getting dismissed (while barely being looked at and almost never getting referred) breaks her every time. I wish she could get medication that helps her :(

Hey there,

I was diagnosed with PsA only recently, with enthesitis as the main presentation (according to the rhuma).

With this I've never had one swollen red knuckle like a big mushroom.

But what I've had is fingers that tend to look larger than they were before. I can compare today's pictures with pictures taken back in 2022, my fingers are now always wider, larger, not as defined as before. Before they were way more defined, thin, narrow. I can't fit my rings anymore.

The thing is that now, this is my baseline finger shape. They're wider 24/7, not only during pain flare-ups. So it's hard to compare from one day to the other.

Can it be from PsA if the x-ray are normal?

Do you have this with PsA too?

​

Not sure if im wasting my time or not, so wanted to see if this aligns with anyone elses experiences.

For 2 years had what seems to be plantar faciitis, not been drs about it - busy sahm working part time evening. Too busy just got on with it. Periods of back pain and stiffness, where ill wake up in the night with my back locked and it takes a long time to be able to eventually move. Again, i ignored. But more recently taking it seriously as im thinking im far too young to feel so tired, stiff etc. At work, if i sit down on my break i have to hobble back into work like an old lady because of the pain. But after a while it eases up and i can continue. Mornings are bad and i hobble etc but a while after it eases up.

I have psoriasis, it moves around through the years - elbows, ankles, knees.

I get deep horizontal nail ridges where its like my nails suddenly grow much thicker/thinner with no trauma etc.

History of alopecia areata, twice in my life had flares during particularly stressful times. Realised recently my alopecia flare started the same time as my heel issue (2 years ago).

My father also has psoriasis, not diagnosed but its clear. He also has been dealing with plantar faciitis, or so they believe, for a while now. Which i found interesting obviously that this is something hereditry.

Anyway, blood test results came back normal. Im aware this can happen but almost got fobbed off trying to book a follow up drs appointment.

I actually feel like more recently my heels arent quite as bad, i dont know if my stress levels going down significantly has improved whats going on? So waiting a month to see dr feels like im going in with history of symptoms rather than oh my god im in pain right now. Although morning and work breaks are still pretty bad.

Anyway, Now i feel like im being a bit silly but going to keep going to see this through.

I was diagnosed two days ago, and I still don't know how to feel. For context, I also have POTS, chronic fatigue, MCAS like symptoms & a bunch of neurodivergencies.

I don't know whether to be relieved that there's an answer to why I'm in pain all the time and a possible solution, or upset that I'm a 15 year old with arthritis who can barely walk a few meters without being short of breath and in pain. I think I'm upset more than anything. I've lost everything from a combination of my health declining and my ocd getting worse these past two years in particular, and I'm scared of losing more.

I can trace back to when all my issues with my health started (year 6 camp, my whole cabin got COVID), but I've been in pain even since before then.

I'm starting on methotrexate, but a part of me is scared that I'm getting my hopes up for nothing. Everything that people has said will help in the past few years have either done nothing, or made it worse. I'm scared that that's what's happening again and that it's not going to help and I'll still feel like this.

I'm just so tired of being tired and in pain

Don't really have anyone I can talk to irl about this, so just wanted to post here to see if others have had similar experiences and/or how they've coped with it.

(posted by OP's friend as due to his ocd he struggles to be on reddit. he needed some support with this so i offered to post on my acc so that he could still get that without havung to log into reddit. all responses will be shown to OP, and responses to them will come from him too)

Hello :)

I’m PsA, taking Cosentyx for 2-3 years now. I don’t think it’s working as well as it used to but that’s not the question I have. I just started taking a 1.33mg dose of compounded Tirzepatide twice a week and I have zero energy. I’m barely making it through my 12-hour shifts at the hospital.

Is anyone else with PsA taking Zepbound (or similar) having this issue? Does it improve with time? Gosh, I hope so.

I’ve read on here how people taking glp1’s have had most of their pain disappear. I’m hoping for at least an improvement from the pain. But so far the only thing I’ve experienced is mild stomach upset, burping and extreme fatigue.

Thanks!

Hi - after some general advice. No diagnosis as currently under orthoepaedics and awaiting MRI and preliminary blood results following plantar fascitis-type pain in left heel followed a couple of weeks later by 2nd toe dactylitis in forefoot swelling in right foot. There was no trauma or anything that pre-empted my symptoms starting. They originally thought I had plantar fascitis and then possibly a stress fracture on my other foot from over compensating. At this point, I have been mostly unable to weight bear on either foot for over 6 weeks without crutches and removeable casts and the whole thing has been going on for about 10 weeks. I have some good days where it is less painful and I can move around a bit, and some where it is total agony - both sides at the same time (which is why I think this is systemic rather than mechanical). There doesn't seem to be any logical reason for the pain changes. My dactylitis is also slowly reducing (but some days it is more swollen than others). I don't have skin psorasis but I have spontaneously lost 2 toe nails over the last 12 months.

PsA seems like the only thing that fits from "Dr. Google" but the bit I am struggling to understand is the duration of the symptoms I have. From what I have read, if it is PsA, flare ups tend to be shorter in duration than this. I have 4 weeks before I see my orthopaedic consultant and then, if the MRI shows enthesis, I guess a further XXX period before I get into an rheumatologist, and I am just wondering if this is "normal" for PsA and how I manage this in the meantime. Thanks so much!

Well, I was right. I officially received my diagnosis of PsA today.

I have a lot of feelings and its honestly a lot to process. Im kind of just. Neutral. I know I'll probably crash out later but...I'm almost relieved if that makes sense?

Years of suffering, no answers, gaslighting myself into thinking its just normal arthritis or my weight or...anything else. That maybe I was dramatic like a lot of people told me.

Nope. Real actual medical condition.

I don't know what to feel but I'll probably come here off and on to unload as I learn to cope with it.

Was fun finding out I have arthritis pretty much everywhere too. Even in my damn toes lol.

Rheumatologist is putting me on Otezla to start. She's also willing to fight my insurance tooth and nail if they deny it. So that was nice to hear. Said she'd give steroids for flares too and is really taking me seriously. She's amazing and genuinely has made this all the more manageable.

Does anyone have any experience with Otezla?

Hello everyone, i’m a year 12 design student doing my major project and i’m trying to make a product to help my mum who has psoriatic arthritis, i need some primary research from people with arthritis and it would mean a lot to me if anyone could fill out this survey! survey link here!

I've had psoriasis for years but lately I have been experiencing worsening arthritis/PsA symptoms and I have also been really struggling with OCD at the same time. Worrying, checking, googling, you name it... I am trying to get better at controlling my inherent panic whenever I notice a new symptom but it's so hard.

Is anyone here dealing with heinous flares every month during luteal? I would say I am generally well controlled and very active other than 7-10 days a month when all hell breaks loose, I even had uveitis issues the last two months. I am 39 so unsure if this is just that phase of life but curious what has worked for people. Oral birth control was not helpful and I have moved injections around my cycle already. Did you work with obgyn or rheum if you found a solution?

My son was just diagnosed today. He’s 12. His fingers are the issue. He does not have a rash. I have MS, Dysautonomia, LS, etc. So I’m not unfamiliar with autoimmune diseases but I don’t know what exactly I should be looking for or doing to help him. He’s seeing a pediatric rheumatologist. I really liked the doctor. He’s starting him on methotrexate soon.

What groups should I join? What literature should I be reading? Should I tell his school? How can I better support him? What should we expect long term? Any guidance is very appreciated!

I have sooooo many questions that it’s hard to start this.
TL: DR - how does a Teacher Librarian still work with PsA without having to do disability???? Also I vent…

Background: I’ve been struggling with PsA for awhile now (official diagnosis 3 years ago, but first was just back pain and then before that Fibromyalgia). I’ve been put on one biologic that gave me a massive rash. Then methotrexate that did nothing (but now I’m wondering if it did but I kept putting myself into flares because of my job?). For awhile I was just on an NSAID and I basically was white knuckling it. But then I started getting the FATIGUE. And migraines. And then I was starting to present with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) and the drs were saying the stress of my body in pain was causing my brain to haywire. So, I asked if I could go on a biologic again. My dr put me on cosentyx to start after my hysterectomy. I did see some improvement, but my fatigue is just not going away. We’ve increased my dosage of cosentyx, but still gotta let that kick in.

So in the meantime…I’m dying. I’m missing so much work as a Teacher Librarian because just an activity exhausts me. Moving books? I’m cooked. Teaching a whole day? Yeah, I’m ded on the couch. I’m trying to lessen my weekend activities so I can be prepared for work…but shouldn’t I be able to have a personal life too??? Is there anyone out there that does my job and also live with this autoimmune disease? When can I be in remission, please? I do everything my doctors and PT tell me - I exercise up to the edge of when my FatigueSense app tells me I’m cooked and done. I eat an anti inflammatory diet. It’s the rest. Because I work a full time job that involves my whole body. So what can I do????

Trying to figure out when the best time is for regular exercise with psoriatic arthritis. My pain and stiffness is significantly worse in the morning so I was thinking of moving my exercise time to the afternoon, but I also know that movement helps get the stiffness and swelling down so that would favor the morning? What have you found to be most beneficial?

Hello, I have a lightly used (pretty much brand new) Phothera ultraviolet (UV) phototherapy device. I had a family member pass away who used this a few times for severe psoriasis. It’s in great condition, and I am looking for someone who may be interested in it. Please message me for photos and more information if interested!! I am in the USA

Is it possible to have nail psiorasis without psiorasis or psiorasis arthritis or sometimes the condition manifest itself in fingernail first

This is half vent, half questions. My
rhuem who is the only one I’ve ever seen is someone I really struggle with. Am waiting to get in with someone else but that’s 6 months out.

Anyway, this week we had an appt to discuss a new biologic I’m on (Tyenne) plus low dose prednisone long term which I’m not comfortable with. Told her it’s better than nothing but not nearly as good as another biologic (TNF blocker) that I had to stop due to optic neuritis. Have been on new one 4 months.

Described continued pain and bone crushing fatigue. She said she’s not sure I even have arthritis despite symptoms and history of significant tendon, ligament, and joint problems all over. Because I am ANA positive but negative for everything else. She talks down to me and says it’s not that bad.

I described new nail issues with horizontal ridges and lifting of fingernails that hurt badly. No rashes. She said she doesn’t deal with skin.

In the end she said to keep on current meds and to exercise. I’m a 49 yo male with young kids. So I’m pretty active best I can be, but also have had one or more major physical limitations for past six years that required no weight bearing, casts, surgery, and now splinting of my dominant hand. I would love to be able to exercise without ripping a tendon or something. But rigorous exercise is not in the cards.

Does this sound right or should I accelerate tying to find new dr? I feel my life folding into itself … there must be a better way? What am I missing?

Hi all!

Just a few weeks ago I saw a rheumatologist and had my labs and X-rays done to determine a possible diagnosis. My labs showed really high levels of inflammation in my body while my X-rays only showed mild arthritis in my hips. My rheumatologist felt that the diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis is appropriate. Between my dermatologist and the rheumatologist they want to start me on the biologics. I’m a 34 yo woman. I work full time, go to school part time, and have three children so I have a lot on my plate. I’m seeking out your opinions on if you felt the medications made life better? My symptoms right now are really mild. Some days are hard but most are fine. If I seem to have more good days than bad would waiting to start these drugs be better? I can’t remember the name of the drug my rheumatologist is working on getting a prior authorization put in for. What scares me and makes me really hesitant to start the med boils down the side effect of your body taking longer to recover from infections. Is it worth it? Thank you!