What It Feels Like

It is very hard to describe what living with Psoriatic Arthritis feels like. I have searched a lot of websites to help me try to explain. Everyone’s experience is different and everyone’s pain and symptoms are different as well. This is the closest explanation that I can describe:

If you can imagine yourself:

Dealing with an Injury. Psoriatic Arthritis causes pain similar to a sprained or broken body part, and comparable to the physical trauma felt after an accident. At times the inflammation and soreness is so intense a brace or other movement assistance equipment is necessary to perform even simple tasks, similar to wearing a sling or cast after an injury. And like a person who has taken a bad tumble, they may or may not actually look injured other than a slight limp or other internal physical struggles, but it does not mean they aren't experiencing disability.

Having the Flu. Psoriatic Arthritis is an inflammatory disease, so the pain is brought on when the immune system goes haywire and begins attacking the bodies' own cells. This inflammation can cause frequent fevers, nausea, and obnoxious fatigue. Like the flu, loss of appetite and muscle weakness is common, but unlike the flu, it will come back monthly, weekly, or in some cases, daily.

Feeling Exhausted. Psoriatic Arthritis is systemic disease that can affect any part of the body, even organs. When the disease is active, or ‘flaring', a patient may experience bouts of complete exhaustion, similar to how the body reacts after intense, strenuous activity. They may also experience a sense of physical exertion and the feeling of being winded, yet this can occur without any physical activity what-so-ever, including at times of rest or even after waking in the morning after a full night of sleep.

Sometimes you may feel like one of these or all three at the same time:(

Then to top it all off you have to deal with the psoriasis. As if the pain of the arthritis was not enough!

Psoriasis feels like you are sunburned and get a recurring sunburn everyday. Not only do you feel this pain but you also feel like your body is crawling with biting ants. The skin gets hot and inflamed and then peels and all the while being extremely itchy. There is nothing on this earth that can stop the insane itching and burning. You can apply moisturizer 200 times a day and it will not help. The itching and pain interfere with basic functions such as self care, walking and sleep. You can actually feel your skin break and tear as you move, stretch or walk. The look of the skin and this intense itching makes you feel very self-conscious about your skin. You need to vacuum your floor and bed on a daily basis as you are constantly shedding skin.