Less Pain From Psoriatic Arthritis

You need to have patience with this disease. There's not a simple path to either your search for answers or your search for relief.

Pain isn’t the only thing I deal with. There’s a mental aspect, too.

If you are more bothered by psoriasis than arthritis or vice versa, you’ll need to take that into account when making treatment decisions.

As a Black woman, I realize that many medical professionals simply don’t see my pain as real. As a result, I’m conditioned to not see it as real, either.

Differences in care are compounded by the fact that lesions on darker skin often go unrecognized, misdiagnosed, or overlooked at the time of diagnosis.

What attracts me to research into psoriatic arthritis and other rheumatic diseases is that the discoveries we make can improve function and quality of life for people.

We still have a long way to go, as far too many people are dealing with psoriatic arthritis for longer than they should. But we are definitely making progress.

I have a backup plan for everything because your symptoms can interrupt your daily life at any time. You can feel well in the morning, and by afternoon or evening, you could be feeling lousy.

If you feel like you’re really struggling or “hitting a wall,” the first thing to do is make sure you’re on the right medications.

While it won’t cure your arthritis, a healthy lifestyle can help you to feel better. A Mediterranean-style diet is a good idea for anybody. Eat plenty of fruit, vegetables, nuts, and beans.