I have been experiencing severe joint pain in my knees, wrists, fingers, toes, and ankles. I have been to the rheumatologist numerous times, had blood drawn 3 times. The doctor doesn’t seem to think that it is rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis. He thinks it may be psoriatic arthritis, which I don’t have psoriasis, just the genetic disposition for it. A couple people have suggested that I have my thyroid checked because joint pain can be caused by an underactive thyroid.

I am 22 years old, female, feel tired constantly, irregular menstrual periods, severe menstrual cramps, dry skin, brittle hair and nails, all of which I’ve seemed to find to be hypothyroid symptoms.

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What could be worse that this awful joint pain and stiffness, you wonder as you try to will yourself out of bed. While the pain and fatigue that goes along with rheumatoid arthritis can be excruciating and is without a doubt a possibly debilitating condition, there is actually a form of arthritis that is worse. Psoriatic arthritis is a form of the disease that affects not only the joints, but also the skin, and possibly the tendons, eyes, spine, heart and lungs.

In most people who suffer from psoriatic arthritis, the first sign that something is wrong is the inflammation of the skin. Patients can develop psoriasis on their elbows, knees, scalp, and area around the navel and around the anus or genitals. Psoriasis causes red, raised areas of scaly skin. The signs of the skin disease are first seen in the forties or fifties and generally precede joint pain by several months to years. Once the joint pain starts, it generally involves the joints in the feet, ankles and knees. Inflammation can cause the joints to become red, hot and swollen. Often toes and fingers swell so badly they can resemble sausages. Psoriatic arthritis can also affect the spine.

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Im 38 & I have joint pain in my fingers, toes, and now my left knee, as well as in the back of my neck. I have had psoriasis for about 15 yrs and everything points to psoriatic arthritis.