Re: New member (psoriatic vs rheumatoid)

[Guest guest]

Hi,

Just to clarify on the PA (Since I have Psoriatic Arthritis), PA does

not always affect the hands or feet. It can just affect 1 joint like

a knee or some part of the spine. It may never affect the hands or

feet/ankles, but it typically does. The National Psoriasis Foundation

suspects it is extensively misdiagnosed. Based on a big survey they

did recently, they think around 1 million people in the US have it.

The problem with PA is that it is SO variable they don't always know

how to diagnose it. And since the blood tests can only rule some

things out, you don't get much help there either.

Sero-negative RA is always a possibility and PA is a possibility if

you have psoriasis. But in the end the treatment is almost identical

for RA and PA. You'll typically get better treatment if they call it

RA cuz there's more research done on it.

Best wishes!

-Meghan

After researching it I don't think I have either. I

> have some type of

> inflammatory arthritis, but it has not affected my hands in over 25

> years and in both

> types the small bones are usually the first things affected. When

> someone has psoriasis,

> PA is usually diagnosed. They are similar in symptoms but PA can

affect

> the fingernails

> and has the classic sausage digit. Both are treated the same, so

some

> doctors would

> say it doesn't make a difference what they call it.

[Guest guest]

Meghan,

Thanks for the info. Hopefully this survey will lead to more research in

PA. When I was at my doctors last week, he said that he has many patients

like me, that has been lucky to have their hands spared that have RA. I

always think I am such a rare case because everyone¹s hands seem to be

affected. I disputed having RA with him, but he insists it is RA even

though my hands are fine. But when I look at my daughter who has had scalp

psoriasis since her teens, it makes me wonder. My last rheumy seemed to

think there was a strong possibility since my daughter has is and I have a

few tiny spots. Hopefully one day we¹ll all get answers.

a

On 5/10/02 1:49 AM, " meghan_e " <meghan@...> wrote:

> Hi,

>

> Just to clarify on the PA (Since I have Psoriatic Arthritis), PA does

> not always affect the hands or feet. It can just affect 1 joint like

> a knee or some part of the spine. It may never affect the hands or

> feet/ankles, but it typically does. The National Psoriasis Foundation

> suspects it is extensively misdiagnosed. Based on a big survey they

> did recently, they think around 1 million people in the US have it.

>

> The problem with PA is that it is SO variable they don't always know

> how to diagnose it. And since the blood tests can only rule some

> things out, you don't get much help there either.

>

> Sero-negative RA is always a possibility and PA is a possibility if

> you have psoriasis. But in the end the treatment is almost identical

> for RA and PA. You'll typically get better treatment if they call it

> RA cuz there's more research done on it.

>

> Best wishes!

> -Meghan

>

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