Psoriatic Arthritis: How do you manage PA and flares?

I after more than 25 years was diagnosed finally with psoriatic arthritis. It started out as me having rash on face and ER doctor said it it was classic book lupus and sent me to an internal med at the clinic I was in. She said on no (without any testing) it was just fibromyalgia. I just kept getting worse and she just increased pain meds, that did not help and refused to send me to a rhemotologist ( sorry about spelling). She sent me to a neologist that did MRI of head and said everything was normal, even though I had a large Tumor in my nasal cavity, he said nothing about it.
Finally she retired and new PC sent me to rhemotologist and I spent six hours in her office and within two weeks was given the diagnosis of PSA with lupus tendonsies. Was put on methotrexate but had to stop because it was causing liver issues. Finally got approved for Otezla and am on started pack. Can't take humeral or the similar stuff because of skin cancer. All delayed treatment has caused me to have chronic iritis in both eyes and might go blind. Can't do anything that I loved to do even cook a holiday meal, I used to make totally homemade Rubens for my husband's b-day because his b-day is on Saint Patties day. I have now also developed an adrenal Tumor and adrenal indofitionsy, plus have heart issues and am only fifty. My husband helps me as much as he can but he has back and neck issues that the VA won't help him with (he is ex-navy). Plus I still have issues that have not been diagnosed. It seems that if you are not rich nobody cares.

I feel for you and hope you are with a team of doctors that will work together and that you trust. We just moved to east TX because we lost our jobs running a ranch because of our medical problems even though they knew about it nine years ago when they hired us and this is all we could afford. It needs a lot of work that we can't do or afford but brought us closer to Houston where we are hoping to get better medical càre. A new pair of glasses only last me about a month and a half and insurance only covers one pair a year. They just put me on a cane, wear braces on both wrists and have to use hearing aids.

@lemdjm. That's a late onset for PsA but it's a sneaky disease. PRednisone definitely helps but you can't stay on it for too long without side effects such as osteoporosis. I take a biologic but you have to play around with the dose to get the effects, or change to another one. I'm on my third. There are also pain Meds that are not addictive. Good luck.

I after more than 25 years was diagnosed finally with psoriatic arthritis. It started out as me having rash on face and ER doctor said it it was classic book lupus and sent me to an internal med at the clinic I was in. She said on no (without any testing) it was just fibromyalgia. I just kept getting worse and she just increased pain meds, that did not help and refused to send me to a rhemotologist ( sorry about spelling). She sent me to a neologist that did MRI of head and said everything was normal, even though I had a large Tumor in my nasal cavity, he said nothing about it.
Finally she retired and new PC sent me to rhemotologist and I spent six hours in her office and within two weeks was given the diagnosis of PSA with lupus tendonsies. Was put on methotrexate but had to stop because it was causing liver issues. Finally got approved for Otezla and am on started pack. Can't take humeral or the similar stuff because of skin cancer. All delayed treatment has caused me to have chronic iritis in both eyes and might go blind. Can't do anything that I loved to do even cook a holiday meal, I used to make totally homemade Rubens for my husband's b-day because his b-day is on Saint Patties day. I have now also developed an adrenal Tumor and adrenal indofitionsy, plus have heart issues and am only fifty. My husband helps me as much as he can but he has back and neck issues that the VA won't help him with (he is ex-navy). Plus I still have issues that have not been diagnosed. It seems that if you are not rich nobody cares.

I feel for you and hope you are with a team of doctors that will work together and that you trust. We just moved to east TX because we lost our jobs running a ranch because of our medical problems even though they knew about it nine years ago when they hired us and this is all we could afford. It needs a lot of work that we can't do or afford but brought us closer to Houston where we are hoping to get better medical càre. A new pair of glasses only last me about a month and a half and insurance only covers one pair a year. They just put me on a cane, wear braces on both wrists and have to use hearing aids.

I after more than 25 years was diagnosed finally with psoriatic arthritis. It started out as me having rash on face and ER doctor said it it was classic book lupus and sent me to an internal med at the clinic I was in. She said on no (without any testing) it was just fibromyalgia. I just kept getting worse and she just increased pain meds, that did not help and refused to send me to a rhemotologist ( sorry about spelling). She sent me to a neologist that did MRI of head and said everything was normal, even though I had a large Tumor in my nasal cavity, he said nothing about it.
Finally she retired and new PC sent me to rhemotologist and I spent six hours in her office and within two weeks was given the diagnosis of PSA with lupus tendonsies. Was put on methotrexate but had to stop because it was causing liver issues. Finally got approved for Otezla and am on started pack. Can't take humeral or the similar stuff because of skin cancer. All delayed treatment has caused me to have chronic iritis in both eyes and might go blind. Can't do anything that I loved to do even cook a holiday meal, I used to make totally homemade Rubens for my husband's b-day because his b-day is on Saint Patties day. I have now also developed an adrenal Tumor and adrenal indofitionsy, plus have heart issues and am only fifty. My husband helps me as much as he can but he has back and neck issues that the VA won't help him with (he is ex-navy). Plus I still have issues that have not been diagnosed. It seems that if you are not rich nobody cares.

I feel for you and hope you are with a team of doctors that will work together and that you trust. We just moved to east TX because we lost our jobs running a ranch because of our medical problems even though they knew about it nine years ago when they hired us and this is all we could afford. It needs a lot of work that we can't do or afford but brought us closer to Houston where we are hoping to get better medical càre. A new pair of glasses only last me about a month and a half and insurance only covers one pair a year. They just put me on a cane, wear braces on both wrists and have to use hearing aids.

Welcome @lemdjm.
Please allow me to introduce you to fellow Connect members @marylou705 @jewel8888 @jerseygirl926 @julz @boxermomma and @slbeall, all of who have spoken about psoriatic arthritis. Hopefully they will have some thoughts about managing joint pain.

Joint pain and stiffness are known side effects of Arimidex (anastrozole) an aromatase inhibitor used for treating some types of breast cancer. You can read side effects in this drug info from Mayo Clinic http://mayocl.in/2m5bKo9. You may also wish to post a message in the Connect Breast Cancer group to this discussion about anastrozole:
- Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole http://mayocl.in/2d4tiKL

I can imagine that you're concerned about starting anastrozole again. Anastrozole is one of 3 aromatase inhibitors. Each has a different set of side effects. Perhaps a different drug would be better for you. Have you talked to your oncologist about taking exemestane (Aromasin) or letrozole (Femara)?

Welcome @lemdjm.
Please allow me to introduce you to fellow Connect members @marylou705 @jewel8888 @jerseygirl926 @julz @boxermomma and @slbeall, all of who have spoken about psoriatic arthritis. Hopefully they will have some thoughts about managing joint pain.

Joint pain and stiffness are known side effects of Arimidex (anastrozole) an aromatase inhibitor used for treating some types of breast cancer. You can read side effects in this drug info from Mayo Clinic http://mayocl.in/2m5bKo9. You may also wish to post a message in the Connect Breast Cancer group to this discussion about anastrozole:
- Concerned about the side effects of anastrozole http://mayocl.in/2d4tiKL

I can imagine that you're concerned about starting anastrozole again. Anastrozole is one of 3 aromatase inhibitors. Each has a different set of side effects. Perhaps a different drug would be better for you. Have you talked to your oncologist about taking exemestane (Aromasin) or letrozole (Femara)?