Dip & Pip Finger problems ? New PSA diagnosis

Does anyone have a similar journey? Any advice or suggestions? Sorry it’s so long winded! It’s my first time writing in a forum. My diagnosis is very confusing. For years diagnosed with osteoarthritis (2009) by Rheumatologist, in dip & pip finger joints (Heberdens / Bouchard’s Nodes) - told just unlucky early onset & likely won’t cause problems & pain would burn out. then over the last 3-5 or so years pain & inflammation progressively worsened with more visual deformity of some fingers getting worse, and fine motor functioning getting worse. . Dropping everything. Just got on with it as thought no treatments. - found work arounds for activities - able to cope with pain if kept my mind positive & active and avoided traumas, knocking fingers. Used some tapes, didn’t find finger braces useful - did finger exercises.. Then little finger swelled right up during Covid times & the few fingers with no deformity started to get red/hot/pain. Everything so much more painful. Keeping me awake, systemic analgesia not effective so didn’t take any.. Refered to different hospital (moved areas) to plastics/orthos - talked about denervation, joint replacement - I felt I was a bit young for this & can’t find anyone who has had this to know what patient response Is really like. Realities of these procedures, etc I was referred for steroid injections & the doctor doing this under USS guidance was surprised I was not seeing Rheumatology as he felt I had classic symptoms of an inflammatory arthritis - sent me an urgent referral suggesting either erosive OA, or zero-negative inflammatory arthritis, but he felt likely psoriatic arthritis. I have never had psoriasis but I have 1st degree relative that has - all be it fairly mild. I have started my journey on DMARDS - didn’t get on with Sulfasalazine - struggled with side effects (taste, mouth ulcers, strange feeling in mouth ++) kept on them for at least 4 months & felt they weren’t helping so Rheumatology advised stop & re-referred for repeat X rays & ultrasounds, he was still querying diagnosis OA or PsA - he thought let’s see what happens once off - if no change in symptoms maybe re-think diagnosis.. Once I stopped Sulfasalazine my symptoms massively increased - I am assuming this was a ‘flare’ & I have never experience so much pain / swelling of my pip & dip joints from my fingers, to point of finding unable to do my duties at work - I hadn’t realised the Sulfasalazine was actually working! As I will always have ongoing pain from previous joint damage (Pencil in cup deformity has been mentioned & gull wing deformity), i had my repeat X-rays/USS & got phone Call next day from Rheumatology Consultant advising immediate start on Methotrexate as lots inflammation on uss. 7 weeks on new med & the acute flare has almost fully gone with residual swelling still in left ring finger (still quite painful) but now my usual level of pain if that makes sense? I am much happier with the Methotrexate - I find this much more tolerable for me than the Sulfasalazine was. Our bodies are so unique - how we all have different experiences on the different medicines. I am hoping my bloods continue to be good & my liver behaves. I am lucky that the condition at the moment is mainly just in my hands (PIP & DIP) - although have had some neck Issues in past & when young had so many issues with lower back pain & constant ‘burning’ in hips. Reading about PSA I am still a bit confused about diagnosis - but as I feel MTX is helping not sure that matters? Does anyone else have similar journey or problem mainly with their fingers? Sorry this is so long winded - think just writing it all out is helping - I feel a bit overwhelmed that I should have shouted louder much much earlier rather than stiff upper lip get on with it mentality & all the irreversible damage in my fingers may have been avoided. Thanks for listening (reading) - reading others stories is very humbling - & I’ve got support from other peoples posts so thank you x x