Living with psoriasis and PsA

I.ve had psoriasis since i was 13. It got really bad during my teen, especially on my scalp. As i got older it was my nails, knees, ankles elbows and fingers too..By 30 i was diagnosed with PsA, but i didn.t take meds for another 10 years. 

One day i got up, well tried to at least, and the pain in my feet, knee, back, wrists and hands was like fire buining in what felt like broken bones. I had to literally jump up and down in the most horrifying pain to loosen up the joints enough to make it around the corner to my doctor. 

I eventually ended up going to a private rheumatologist, who put me on cortisone and MTX. 

Thus began the double-edged sword balancing act of too little too much, side-effects vs benefits. I haven.t slept more than 5 hours a night for at least 10 years as i can.t lie down for longer and i can.t have my feet covered as the blacket creates an unbearable pain resonance that become too much. It has never been balanced and i have rejected it all more than once. The cortisone took my hair and the mtx gave me mood swings and blind rages that ruined countless friendships and relationships. But within 18 of walking away i would come crawling back to take more poison, because i could no longer function. Things have improved over the years, but the cycle comtinues throuh peaks and troughs

I am currently on crutches more or less permanently and was retired from all high-impact sport including jogging this year (i.m 49), due to severe damage to my left knee joint. 

All that aside i am relatively positive. There is nothing to be gained by allowing urself to be overcome or to be the victim. We must march on imperfectly in our imperfect world.

I want to use this blog to dig into my experiences with PsA and to document my experience going forward. Also want to look at things that may help us to live better lives. From multi-comparmental knee braces and exoskeletons to diet, suppliments, meds and moisturisers, yoga, martial arts, understanding the "mind and psoriasis" and finding ways to overcome the restrictions, to tricks and tips and most importantly a dialogue with fellow sufferers. 

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Maybe you want to join me in my mission to fully understand my condition and how i have to juggle to manage it.