Re: Psoriatic Arthritis/

[Guest guest]

Welcome, !

Congrats on your pregnancy! My daughter, age 16, has psoriatic arthritis with

nail involvement. In fact, that is the only place she has psoriasis on her body.

She endured 2 very painful nail biopsies in order to confirm the psoriasis. Her

main pain/sweeling areas are: DIP joints in fingers, knees, ankles, hips, and

back. Before her diagnosis and treatment, her fingers looked like sausauges. She

had involvement in 8 of her 10 nails as well as toenails.

There are many people with RA who have psoriasis. According to my daughter's

pediatric rheumatologist, the main differences in RA and PsA are: 1) Negative RA

Factor and 2) PsA seems to attack the soft tissues around the joints rather than

the joint itself causing less joint damage. I think to have a diagnosis PsA, it

is important to have a very thorough physical exam where the doctor focuses on

joints and skin areas affected by PsA.

Best of luck to you!

Kami

From:

Sent: Tuesday, October 12, 2010 8:35 PM

Subject: [ ] Psoriatic Arthritis

Hi, I haven't posted for awhile. I am seronegative blood but present with joint

pain in back, neck, wrists, hands and feet. Sometimes knees. I have been on

Plaquenil for 4 months. I think it may be helping, but hard to tell because I

found out I was pregnant a month ago. Plaquenil is safe for pregnancy.

The RA doctor has been leaning towards a diagnosis of RA, however, I have

developed nail problems. I blamed the Plaq. but she assured me it does not do

this. I went to dermatologist who tested for fungus infection which came back

negative and she said most likely its psoriasis of the nails.

I went to my RA doctor and let her look at my nails and she concurred with

dermatologist that it is. She said it can be associated with joint pain and

swelling. When I looked it up on internet, looks like I may have psoriatic

arthritis.

What does anyone know about this disease? Or, can I have RA still and psoriasis

of the nails? Any input is welcomed. Thanks