For Patrice Parker, the road to apsoriatic arthritis(PsA) diagnosis was a bumpy one.
Now 34, Parker was diagnosed at age 30but it took two years to get there.
I felt hopeless, wanting to know why my body was hurting so bad at such a young age.
The journey to finding psoriatic arthritis relief can be complicated.
After several appointments with her primary care physician, Parker asked for a referral to a rheumatologist.
But she still didnt get the answers she so desperately wanted.
It took Parker three years to receive her psoriasis diagnosis, whichisnt uncommon in people of color.
Delayed diagnosis is unfortunately common in psoriatic disease.
Thats because theearly signs and symptoms of PsAcan sometimes be subtle and often overlap with those of other conditions.
Clara Wilson, 29, was recently diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis after initially being diagnosed withrheumatoid arthritisat 18.
After being seen by an orthopedic surgeon, she had an MRI scan.
Despite inconclusive blood tests, Wilson was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.
Psoriatic arthritis treatment is often a case of trial and error.
The first hurdle of treatment is typically finding the right specialist, which can be a struggle for some.
While Parkers first rheumatologist wasnt the right fit, she eventually found a provider she felt comfortable with.
I wanted someone who I could relate to and feel heard, she says.
The next step is finding a treatment method that works for you.
Wilson says it helped for a while, but it certainly wasnt a cure.
She currently manages her condition with a combination of anti-inflammatory medications,biologic injections, exercise, and sleep.
These might include conventional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), biologics, or enzyme inhibitors.
Lifestyle modifications can make a big difference.
Managing this condition isnt just about taking medicationslifestyle changes can actually be life-changing for people with PsA.
Now she teaches others when shes not working in the hospital.
Dr. Fors Nieves agrees that lifestyle can have a major effect on PsA symptoms.
Finding relief from psoriatic arthritis can be a journey, but hope is out there.
Living with psoriatic disease can often be difficult, frustrating, and isolating.
Above all, be kind to yourself, Wilson says.
Turn your worry into something positive, Parker says.
Having a medical team I have confidence in has been key to my success.
I never take the good days for granted, she says.
Science never stops, Dr. Yglesias adds.
