Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is not a picnic to deal with daily. The autoimmune illness has its difficulties and obstacles, such as joint swelling, weariness, worry, and especially painful days.
While it may seem lonely sometimes, remember that you are not alone. Accepting the discomfort of stiffness and soreness as part of life may assist, and therapies are available to alleviate these sensations.
Here are all the good, the terrible, and all the small, hilarious things in between that come with a PsA diagnosis, whether you have it yourself or wish to better assist and sympathize with a friend or loved one who does.
Waking Up Feeling Like The Tin Man Is The Norm
Most of us with PsA take our sweet time getting out of bed in the mornings, regardless of which joints are most affected by the disease.
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You feel trapped in the Tin Man's body for the first few hours of the day as you shuffle about the home, make coffee, and get ready to face the day. Our movements are stiff, sluggish, and severely restricted until we've warmed up for the day.
You Have No Problem Asking For Help To Open Jars & Bottles
If psoriatic arthritis just affects your finger joints, the amount to which you are mobile and comfortable may perplex your loved ones.
On a good day, a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session or a yoga class may make you sweat, but can you muster the energy to open your protein powder or peanut butter container afterward? That's a different tale.
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Your Energy Level Is As Unpredictable As Your Achy Joints
The unpredictable nature of PsA's joint effects makes it a challenging disease to manage. But it's just as challenging to maintain a steady flow of vitality.
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Keeping up a constant level of energy when needed is hard. Still, perhaps your close friends and family will understand if you must cancel plans at the last minute or propose a more relaxed activity.
You've Been Misdiagnosed More Times Than You Can Count
Getting a correct diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis may be accompanied by a wide range of feelings. You've probably been diagnosed with plantar fasciitis, warned that you're prone to muscular strains and sprains, or informed that you're just not wearing the right shoes. Still, by the time you've reached that point, you'll likely be relieved more than anything else.
You Have A Hard Time Finding The Perfect Response To, 'But Have You Tried…'
Your use of acupuncture is correct. You have attempted a diet reduced in inflammatory foods. You've even tried your hand at aromatherapy. Friends and family members who care about you may offer to look into pain relief options with you.
It's frustrating to explain that although diet and complementary therapies may provide some relief, they can't eliminate the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis.
RELATED: Daily Self-Care Practices With Psoriatic Arthritis
At This Point, You Know More About Managing Inflammation Than Most Doctors
You have studied every aspect of maintaining an anti-inflammatory lifestyle, knowing that neither food nor lifestyle changes would reveal the cause of your psoriatic arthritis.
You presumably don't eat sweets or nightshade veggies but instead rely on a turmeric pill. Perhaps you've tried meditation and eliminating gluten and alcohol to alleviate stress.
You probably surprised your doctor or rheumatologist with how much you learned about the lifestyle modifications you've chosen to commit to.
You Dread The Winter Months & Long To Move To A Hot & Humid Climate
You probably fear the coming of winter more than anything else if you suffer from psoriatic arthritis, psoriasis, or both of these inflammatory disorders.
Hot, humid climates benefit those with psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis because they help keep joints lubricated and provide vitamin D from the sun.
In the summer, most of us feel our best and fantasize about doing nothing but basking in the sun.
You Often Feel A Lot Older Than You Are
You tend to act older than you really are. There's no denying the toll that constant discomfort from aching, inflamed joints may have on daily life.
Regardless of when you were diagnosed, having to continually worry about how you feel, whether you'll be able to move properly, and if you'll have the energy to handle the day makes you feel much older than you are, even on good days.
You Get Embarrassed
Dealing with the effects of psoriatic arthritis may be humiliating, whether it's because a friend caught a glimpse of your swollen or deformed knuckles. After all, you walked with a little limp, or because you had to explain yet another food restriction or compression clothing you were trying.
This is particularly true if you're the kind of person that feels awkward when the spotlight is on them.
You Know That You're Incredibly Resilient
It's not exactly fun to ask for assistance opening your toothpaste in the morning or stumble through the grocery store while attempting to hide that your joints hurt. Your experience with chronic pain has made you stronger and more resilient than most people I know.
You may have bad days, but you also know that you appreciate every tiny victory, every hot yoga session, and every very labor-intensive home-cooked dinner that much more because you don't take your strength for granted.
