Re: - Hi

[Guest guest]

> Anyone else have scalp psoriasis ONLY, along with the PA?

Well, I have some other areas of psoriasis, but they have been fairly minor.

From what I've read and been told, it's not too unusual for severe arthritis

to accompany mild psoriasis. That seems to be the case for me.

>I'm concerned with the progression of the disease, and wonder if I should

insist on being put on a drug like Methodextrate at this point, while the PA

is still mild, or if it would be better to wait.

I share these concerns, too, but have opted so far to avoid the Methotrexate

option as long as possible. I need to do more research on the subject, but

from what I've found on Methotrexate so far, these are not side effects that

I want to play around with until I've exhausted other options. I think it's

a lesser of evils, and this has been my choice so far. But you're sure to

hear from others who've had positive experiences with Meth and feel

differently. It's one of those times when no one can be sure what's best for

you. If you come up with interesting information on the subject that leads

you either direction, I'd be interested in hearing it. This is a choice I

weigh on a regular basis.

> I'm also very interested in exercise and activity with this disease. I'm

an active person, and am planning on participating on various bike rides this

summer, some of which are 100 miles.

This was my first question when I joined the list just a couple of weeks ago.

I'm 33 and a bike rider, too. My conclusion has been that the more active I

can stay, the better off I'll be. But I may have to face the fact that

running is out of the question, due to the impact on the knees. I was never

a terribly athletic person until I started bike riding several years ago. I

was hoping to do my first triathlon this year, and had started running some

last summer. But then came this flare up. I have to say that running is

probably not worth the pain and destruction of joints, so there goes that.

Anyway, I've been biking throughout the last two flare-ups I've had, and can

only say that it helped me. Physically, probably, by keeping the joints

going, the weight down, and overall health in better condition. The first

couple of miles would be a little rough, but once the joints got going, an

all day ride was no problem. Stopping for more than a few minutes mean

having to loosen up all over again, but that's the biggest problem I've had

with bike riding.

Offsetting the biking with swimming is the best balance I know of - working

those shoulder muscles that tend to get ignored on a bike. I've talked to

rheumatologists, chiropractors, exercise physiologists, and they've all said

that this is the best thing they know to do. (You would think with all that

expertise, they'd be able to offer me something I hadn't figured out on my

own, but maybe I was just brilliant.) I've also started using an elliptical

Free Runner, to make up for not being able to run. It's another good workout

with little impact. I've added a strength workout to overcome some of the

loss of strength in some of the affected areas, and most importantly a really

good stretching routine. I've tried some Yoga, but haven't really gotten

into it yet. Tai Chi is also supposed to be pretty good for stretching and

flexibility, but I haven't tried it.

I'm planning on doing some century rides this year, myself. But I've been

really lax this winter, so am just now getting back on the bike on an even

somewhat regular basis. Lots of ground to make up for, so I won't be doing

any spring centuries. Most of the ones around here (Memphis, TN) are in the

fall anyway. But I've just upgraded my off-road bike and am doing some trail

riding this spring. My opinion is - Biking can't be bad for you. Just be

sure to gear down rather than strain on climbs!

Well, this has been a lot longer than intended. But I enjoy the chance to

talk to a fellow biker.

Sylvia