Finally got in to see a rheumatologist this morning. Been trying to figure out what type of arthritis I have for a long time...

She put me thru the wringer. Extensive family history, when did each joint start hurting, worse i the morning or evening, what helps, what hurts, does it flare up along with my psoriasis, any cardiac issues, etc. She pressured & manipulated the worst joints (elbows, hands, knees) and almost had to peel me off the roof a few times when she hit particularly sore spots. Sent me for bloodwork to identify genetic markers for psoriatic arthritis, test for inflammation in the bloodstream, and some sort of check for rheumatoid arthritis. And then she sent me for x-rays of both hands and my poor right elbow (PAINFUL!!!!). She's also going to try to track down my elbow MRI from over 12 years ago when it first stopped straightening. (That arm is a good 3" shorter than the left because it simply won't straighten any more & keeps bending more & more as time goes on).

And then put all that info together & try to confirm what I've got going on. Right now, she's leaning towards a mixture of psoriatic AND osteo arthritis. Can't do much for osteo except control the pain but if psoriatic is confirmed, we can at least try to control it & prevent further damage to the joints.

In the meantime, she's having me stay on the biologic I've been using for psoriasis (SKYRIZI injections ever 3 mos.) as well as a prescription anti-inflammatory twice a day along with tylenol for arthritis two or three times a day. (The good news is that since I started Skyrizi, my knees haven't hurt as bad. They're still sensitive but not constantly aching or getting "stuck" straight and not wanting to bend without excruciating pain.)

I just hope I can get some answers & help to keep the arthritis (whatever type I have) from worsening. I'm already VERY restricted in what I can and can't do because of it - I can't afford for it to get worse.