Personal journeys: 2014

I'm 33 and have had Psoriasis since I was 8 years old.   I always managed my condition fairly well as a teenager using topical treatments and going for light therapy when I was unable to keep it under control.  My psoriasis went away during my first pregnancy and returned really slowly but was manageable.

I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis three weeks ago on my initial visit to a rheumatologist.  My presentation was two hands that didn't work, right hand was very swollen and couldn't be closed, painful and no strength. Had been going on for four months. I also have weird white area on multiple fingers that had developed rapidly.

I may have had traces of un-diagnosed scalp psoriasis for several years and it defiantly runs in my family.  But April 2013 when I just started a new job working in the emergency room I had a full-blown angry red rash all over my body.

It was early January 2014 when I began getting constant aches and pains. That is just what I thought they were. I had been extremely busy over the christmas period working full time hours at a store in town as well as studying at university.

I am 63 years old. I started to develop small patches of psoriasis on my knees and elbows in my late 20s. By the time I was forty I had a full blown case. I attempted to treat it myself with over the counter cortisone cream. Didn't really do much.

I have had Psoriasis most of my life (originally diagnosed as childhood eczema then corrected to scalp & skin Psoriasis at age 17), then about 10 years ago I had a problem with what the doctor said was 'recurring tendonitis' in my right foot.

I have all the dates.  I used to keep a workout journal, and I was training for a half marathon, and up to running 19 km back in November 2011.  I felt a huge cramp in my right buttock while running, but it was a beautiful day, I felt good otherwise and continued.

I was diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis nearly 5 years ago. I had had lower back pain for many years and put this down to my job as a dental surgeon. Prior to my diagnosis I had seen specialists about problems with my feet, my dry eyes and had also seen a pain specialist

I have been struggling with psoriasis for over 15 years and could control it more or less, about 3 years ago after  having trouble with pain within my joints especially my legs .

Who would of thought that I would not be able to return to my favorite sport after a "simple" tumble. Year was 2011 and I had just started a new job in a upscale car dealership. The previous year was a wreck and I needed a fresh start at a big company that did high volume and I wanted a new challenge...