Has anyone else struggled to get a diagnosis ?

Hi Mahooba From what I remember of my diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis their is no definitive blood or other test, it's the presence of psoriasis and the presentation of symptoms that lead to a diagnosis. psoriatic arthritis normally attacks the toes and fingers initially moving on to damage other joints much later. Non of the normal pain killers or anti inflammatory stopped the disease for me, you need a disease modifying medication, I was offered methotrexate ( on a clinical trial) an anti cancer drug with the side effect of treating psoriasis but the 4 pages of dangerous side effects and restrictions and interactions put me off. I finally settled for etoricoxib, not a well known drug and again considered a little scary (they all seem to be), this time the main worry was damage to the heart but as I was in constant agony, unable to walk or use my hands I leapt at the chance to try it. For me it's effects were miraculous. My joints began to return to normal size and straighten the pain subsided. Years later I can use all fingers and my hands have long returned to normal shapes I've still got some mangled toe joints but they don't hurt and I can walk OK. Etoricoxib did make me feel funny for the first few days and I had some chest pains as well but these all settled down in a week or so. I now take them as needed up the dose when a flare up occurs. As the disease progresses I find I need a low level minimum maintenance dose constantly to prevent flare ups ( I used to take only when a flare up presented but now I find that a flare starts after just 3 or4 days off meds. Talk to your Specialist or GP they may be prepared to let you try a similar route. Hope this helps Badger07