Hi Melanie,

I have a very serious PA. Two things are very helpful
to me: 30 min baths with chamomille and olive oil anf
self- hypnosis.

Regards,

Vlad





--- Melanie <mellowknees72@...> wrote:

> Hello all --
>
> Up until today, I had been under the belief that I
> had Palindromic
> Rheumatitis - unexplained flaring/pain in the large
> joints of the
> body...and also some skin allergies and eczema.
>
> Recently I noticed some small depressions in my
> fingernails (I've had
> them before) and finally decided to look around on
> the web and see
> what kind of information I could gather about my
> nails and why they
> are the way they are.
>
> Lo and behold, was I surprised to discover that I've
> got all the
> symptoms of PA. I've been previously diagnosed with
> Psoriasis (it
> comes and goes) and eczema, but had never connected
> the horrible
> periodic pain in my large joints with the skin
> problems until today.
> I feel like I've made a major breakthrough...and I
> just left a
> message with my doc to see if she can give me the
> name of a good
> Arthritis Specialist who I can see and get an
> official diagnosis.
>
> I've had problems with pain in my joints for most of
> my life since I
> was about 12 years old - that's when I first began
> to have problems
> with my knees periodically swelling. My fingernails
> have always been
> very soft and flexible (my mom's are, too), no
> matter what I do to
> try and strengthen them. I had no idea that was a
> sign of Psoriasis
> as well.
>
> I'm very excited to find out there are others out
> there who have the
> same issues - and it's awesome to get to be a part
> of this group!
>
> Currently, I do exercise moderately 4-5 days a week
> on a treadmill
> with 3 lb hand weights, which helps me immensely
> with managing my
> pain. I take a multi-vitamin every day, and zinc,
> potassium, and
> acidopholus periodically. I don't use much
> medication (yet) to
> manage my AP other than pain medication at night
> (usually Vicoden)
> and some steroid cream for the rough patches on my
> hands.
>
> I'm wondering - what are some things that you do
> that help you manage
> your joint pain and skin trouble? I'm sure there
> are tons of options
> out there, and I'm not always gung-ho about going
> the artificial
> chemical route (although I don't know what I'd do
> without pain meds
> at least once in a while). Does anyone have
> suggestions of things to
> try?
>
> Thanks for any information you're willing to share!
> :)
>
>
>
>