But people living with psoriatic arthritis know the enormous impact it has on their lives all too well.
Psoriatic arthritis is a form of chronic inflammatory arthritis that causesjoint pain, stiffness, swelling, and fatigue.
Its common to experience flares as well as periods where your symptoms improve or go into remission.
Alberto Bogo/Adobe Stock
Keep in mind that your treatment options may change over time based on new research and newly available therapies.
verify you have ongoing conversations with your doctor about which treatment options may be best for you.
Understandably, you may not realize the numerous ways that psoriatic arthritis can drastically alter someones life.
I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis at 17, having previously been diagnosed withjuvenile arthritis as a child.
During a flare, the pain is constant and unrelenting even with pain medications.
Sleeping through the night becomes impossible and I get stuck in a cycle of tiredness andfeeling depressed.
Being inconstant painmakes you feel very alone, as only those whove experienced chronic pain can really understand.
You lose any motivation to do things, even simple stuff like housework.
Myfanwy T., 40
2.
Every day is different, and I dont know what body I will wake up to.
Some days I feel fine; other days its a struggle just to get out of bed.
Jude D., 28
3.
I might wake up under a cloud of exhaustion, too tired to move.
Fatigue is a huge part of what we are up against.
Tired doesnt really explain it.
Everythingcreates more fatigue, including stress, pain, and medication changes.
There is no way to know when it is going to happen.
Most of us dont complain about our pain daily.
If we are bringing it up, its because its bad!
During this time, Im inmorepain, and probably pretty emotional.
Tanya G., 43
4.
Just because you dont appear sick doesnt mean that you are not sick.
So when people see me, they think Im fine.
For example, Ilove to travel, but I now travel very differently.
But I refuse to let psoriatic arthritis control my life or hold me back.
Brenda S., 35
5.
When I was diagnosed, I remember feeling so sad.
I remember being so stiff and in so much pain at work becausestanding or sitting for too longhurt.
Im a nurse and for a while I was afraid I wasnt going to be able to work anymore.
I think the grief roller coaster is the hardest part of living with psoriatic arthritis.
It takes a toll on your mental health.
Jenny P., 27
6.
One of my biggest worries was that I would have to stop running.
I began running about three years ago, with a goal to run a 5k.
I got hooked and that goal soon moved to a 10k, a half-marathon, andthen finally a marathon.
But my rheumatologist told me to keep being as active as I could.
Tracy U., 44
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