Re: Re: Advice (psoriatic arthritis - foot and ankle pain)

[Guest guest]

HI Brent:

I thank you and I thank Kathy F for the impressive insight and knowledge you

provide.

What blood tests should be done for people suspected of having PA?

Thanks.

[Editor's Note: Your rheumatologist will ensure that all the appropriate blood

and urine tests are done as he or she will order up a full battery of tests that

will include genetic markers and rheumatoid factors but will also test your

liver function, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, SED rate, CBC

(complete blood chemistry), ANA, C-reactive Protein - and others that don't

spring to mind at 6:00am. This is standard procedure for your rheumatologist so

don't worry that any will be left out. Be sure to discuss the results with your

rheumy afterwards and ask for a copy of the results. You can then do some

research on your own for anything that seems too high or too low. Kathy F.]

skrewtz <brentherman@...> wrote:

Hi Neil,

Here is a good link to plantar fasciitis, a common complaint among

people with psoriatic arthritis (PA).

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007021.htm

Note that virtually every articulating joint in your body is

susceptible to pain and inflamation if you have PA. Also note that

when the joints become inflamed, they can restrict the movement of

tendons and ligaments, so they can become irritated and inflamed as

well. So, tendonitis is often an unwanted, though legitimate, child

of an arthritic joint. Further, the tendons and bones of your feet

your feet are encased in a fascia and your ankles have retinacula

(band-like structures) that hold your tendons in place and keep them

from ripping through your other tissues when you bend them. These

tendon sheaths may also be irritated by swelling of underlying bone

tissues and/or the ligaments and tendons attached to them. Any

little problem within these sheaths or the tendons within (which are

supposed to remain smooth and slippery) can also cause tendonitis

and pain. Finally note that virtually all types of tissue for

covering and connection within your body originate from the one of

three embrionic layers: endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm. As your

ectoderm is already affected by psoriasis, it is possible that some

of the other skin-type tissues within your body may be effected.

If you suspect PA, the best thing to do is get yourself referred to

a good rheumatologist. Recent advances in genetic mapping have

shown that some people have certain genes that make them more likely

to have PA. Therefore, a GP may want some blood-work done to help

him or her make a referral to a rheumatologist, or in the case of a

rheumatologist, a diagnosis. (Just remember that blood work is by

no means conclusive for PA - it just often shows a much higher

likelihood.) I went undiagnosed for decades because I did not have

psoriasis first. At least with having the psoriasis, you have a

pointer toward PA. But, it could also be something else that

causing you to have sore feet and ankles.

I hope I have been helpful. ...brent

[Guest guest]

Thank you Kathy F. Have you retired yet? Are your colleagues throwing a

farwell party for you? What are your plans for first summer in retirment?

I had PA for a few years. The P consists of a few spots on my scalp and a few

spots on my legs and body. I feel the A is affecting my joints. My fingers'

joints are popping (when pulled) a few times a day. The pain in the joints is

very minor and last a fraction of a second. Except for my shoulder, I feel the

symptoms of fibro in my arm. Some times at night I feel pain in my shoulder for

may be an hour. Then I remember all the poeple in this group and understand

what you go through.

I saw a Rhuemy in August and in March. He did not give me any medication or

did any blood work. I mentioned I take Mobic from time to time, he said

continue on it. I am taking a tablet a day nowadays. I feel improvements when

I take it.

I went to see my GP this morning and he ordered an X-ray for my shoulder and

routine blood test.

I will make another appointment with my rheumy, it will be may be in Aug/Sep.

Kathy F.: Thank you if you read this or if you skipped most of it, thank you

for existing.

(Editor's Note: , I read your every word! It sounds to me like your rheumy

is drmatically shortchanging you so you might consider finding one who is more

thorough in treating you and looking for clues that will help him do that. I'm

really quite outraged at how little the rheumy did for you.

On the personal side, I've now agreed to stay until the end of July but in

exchange I will take the last week of June off and every Monday and Friday in

July. In lieu of a party, I wanted my firm to donate the party money to charity

but Human Resources said no. So, yes, I'll have a party attended by about 250

people. I'd much rather just take the pictures of my dogs from my office and go

gently into that goodnight. Thanks so much for asking about me and for your nice

words. You and Brent should be cloned. Kathy F.)

wenko kadber <pastoork@...> wrote:

HI Brent:

I thank you and I thank Kathy F for the impressive insight and knowledge you

provide.

What blood tests should be done for people suspected of having PA?

Thanks.

[Editor's Note: Your rheumatologist will ensure that all the appropriate blood

and urine tests are done as he or she will order up a full battery of tests that

will include genetic markers and rheumatoid factors but will also test your

liver function, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, SED rate, CBC

(complete blood chemistry), ANA, C-reactive Protein - and others that don't

spring to mind at 6:00am. This is standard procedure for your rheumatologist so

don't worry that any will be left out. Be sure to discuss the results with your

rheumy afterwards and ask for a copy of the results. You can then do some

research on your own for anything that seems too high or too low. Kathy F.]

skrewtz <brentherman@...> wrote:

Hi Neil,

Here is a good link to plantar fasciitis, a common complaint among

people with psoriatic arthritis (PA).

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007021.htm

Note that virtually every articulating joint in your body is

susceptible to pain and inflamation if you have PA. Also note that

when the joints become inflamed, they can restrict the movement of

tendons and ligaments, so they can become irritated and inflamed as

well. So, tendonitis is often an unwanted, though legitimate, child

of an arthritic joint. Further, the tendons and bones of your feet

your feet are encased in a fascia and your ankles have retinacula

(band-like structures) that hold your tendons in place and keep them

from ripping through your other tissues when you bend them. These

tendon sheaths may also be irritated by swelling of underlying bone

tissues and/or the ligaments and tendons attached to them. Any

little problem within these sheaths or the tendons within (which are

supposed to remain smooth and slippery) can also cause tendonitis

and pain. Finally note that virtually all types of tissue for

covering and connection within your body originate from the one of

three embrionic layers: endoderm, mesoderm and ectoderm. As your

ectoderm is already affected by psoriasis, it is possible that some

of the other skin-type tissues within your body may be effected.

If you suspect PA, the best thing to do is get yourself referred to

a good rheumatologist. Recent advances in genetic mapping have

shown that some people have certain genes that make them more likely

to have PA. Therefore, a GP may want some blood-work done to help

him or her make a referral to a rheumatologist, or in the case of a

rheumatologist, a diagnosis. (Just remember that blood work is by

no means conclusive for PA - it just often shows a much higher

likelihood.) I went undiagnosed for decades because I did not have

psoriasis first. At least with having the psoriasis, you have a

pointer toward PA. But, it could also be something else that

causing you to have sore feet and ankles.

I hope I have been helpful. ...brent

__________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Kathy F.:

At the end of your editor's note, you wrote " Yo and Brent should be cloned. "

I feel very flattered that you put me in the same league as Brent. I am no

where near his eloquence, knowledge, his willingness to help, and his general

" goodness " index. After all, he is the discoverer of your sainthood.

[Editor's Note: Actually, , I received my sainthood due to my fluency in

" rap " - hence my smooth use of the word " Yo " as in " Yo and Brent " . So: while

Brent discovered my sainthood, you discovered the bling rap star in me. I think

that makes you both close to perfect - with yo probably having a slight edge.

Kathy F.]

wenko kadber <pastoork@...> wrote:

Thank you Kathy F. Have you retired yet? Are your colleagues throwing

a farwell party for you? What are your plans for first summer in retirment?

I had PA for a few years. The P consists of a few spots on my scalp and a few

spots on my legs and body. I feel the A is affecting my joints. My fingers'

joints are popping (when pulled) a few times a day. The pain in the joints is

very minor and last a fraction of a second. Except for my shoulder, I feel the

symptoms of fibro in my arm. Some times at night I feel pain in my shoulder for

may be an hour. Then I remember all the poeple in this group and understand what

you go through.

I saw a Rhuemy in August and in March. He did not give me any medication or did

any blood work. I mentioned I take Mobic from time to time, he said continue on

it. I am taking a tablet a day nowadays. I feel improvements when I take it.

I went to see my GP this morning and he ordered an X-ray for my shoulder and

routine blood test.

I will make another appointment with my rheumy, it will be may be in Aug/Sep.

Kathy F.: Thank you if you read this or if you skipped most of it, thank you for

existing.

(Editor's Note: , I read your every word! It sounds to me like your rheumy

is drmatically shortchanging you so you might consider finding one who is more

thorough in treating you and looking for clues that will help him do that. I'm

really quite outraged at how little the rheumy did for you.

On the personal side, I've now agreed to stay until the end of July but in

exchange I will take the last week of June off and every Monday and Friday in

July. In lieu of a party, I wanted my firm to donate the party money to charity

but Human Resources said no. So, yes, I'll have a party attended by about 250

people. I'd much rather just take the pictures of my dogs from my office and go

gently into that goodnight. Thanks so much for asking about me and for your nice

words. You and Brent should be cloned. Kathy F.)

wenko kadber <pastoork@...> wrote:

HI Brent:

I thank you and I thank Kathy F for the impressive insight and knowledge you

provide.

What blood tests should be done for people suspected of having PA?

Thanks.

[Editor's Note: Your rheumatologist will ensure that all the appropriate blood

and urine tests are done as he or she will order up a full battery of tests that

will include genetic markers and rheumatoid factors but will also test your

liver function, red blood cell count, white blood cell count, SED rate, CBC

(complete blood chemistry), ANA, C-reactive Protein - and others that don't

spring to mind at 6:00am. This is standard procedure for your rheumatologist so

don't worry that any will be left out. Be sure to discuss the results with your

rheumy afterwards and ask for a copy of the results. You can then do some

research on your own for anything that seems too high or too low. Kathy F.]