New member here----

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I am new here. In 1990 I developed psoriasis patches and had no

idea what they were. I then developed pains in my feet and hands and

if I grasped a rake in my garden my fingers would freeze.

Finally, I went to a dematologist (I had an HMO and my doctor would

not authorize a visit to a rhuematoligist or a dematologist.)

Anyhow, walked into the dematologists office and she took one look at

my ears, scalp and scally back and then looked at my fingers that

were all bent at the first knuckle by this point and said " You have

psoriatic arthritis " . She then explained what my options--sunlights--

-temvate gel-- etc--

I then decided to fire my hmo doctor who put me on steroids for four

years. I went to found another one, this one then sent me to a

nuerologist who sent me to a rhumatologist. I finally, was beinng

treated for the psoriatic arthritis. YEAHH! I was put on MTX and

that seemed to work for a while. I also tried Arava (did not work

for me). I am now on Enbrel and MTX with occasional Vicodin at

night. Psorasis is for the most part gone but the arthritis flares

are still present.

My current Rhumatologist is a God--he listens--he treats me and more

importantly he truly seems to care. I used to use a scooter toget

around and am now walking again.

Because I was untreated for so many years my fingers and toes are

pretty much mangled beyong use. I have problems findng shoes. I am a

software engineer and just recently came to the conculsion that I am

not able to work at the level I used to. My doctor has suggested that

I stop working and that I go on long term disability.

So that is where I am at.