Questions in The Dermatology Forum
are being answered by Dr. A. Rockoff, a board certified dermatologist, affiliated
with Tufts University School of Medicine.
Subject: Arthritis? Topic Area: Psoriasis
Forum: The Dermatology Forum
Question Posted By: ben438 on Thursday, March 07, 2002
I have had arthritis and muscles aches for almost 1 year
now. I have been told by doctors that I have everything from reactive
arthritis to ankylosing spondylitis to fibromyalgia. Needless to say
very frustrating.
I have symptoms from all three. My question is
about these small red and brown spots that appeared on my feet a couple
months ago. They have now turned flakey and scaly.
(Now this is
where it gets strange) I have a friend who swears we have the same
condition. (this is usually about the time when the doctors stop
listening. But I think he might be on to something.) So he has had
completely different doctors than I and his diagnosis: a combination of
reactive arthritis (rieter's syndrome) and very rare psoriatic
arthritis.
I have never had psoriasis before in my life but the
scaly skin with red patches now on my ankle and elbows sure looks like
it.
Is it possible that we are both affected by the same
bacteria/pathogen?
Do Bacteria cause psoriasis?
Have you
heard of red or brown spots associated with ankolosying spondylitis or
reactive arthritis?
It is important to note that the skin
complications are not what is ailing me most but perhaps they can shed
light on the greater issue as I am positive they are related.
Please help with any information you can. Including common sense
therapy - i.e. exercise.
Also if you can give me pointers as to
how to present myself in my doctors/rhumytlogist's office so that i
don't get to specific as to be confusing yet reveal all the pertinent
information. Is it unwise to mention other people at all?
Most
Appreciative,
Ben
Answer Posted By: Derm-M.D.-ASR
on Thursday, March 07, 2002
I understand your frustration at not getting a specific
diagnosis. The fact remains, however, that especially in areas like the
skin and joints, diagnoses are often imprecise and blend into each
other.
Psoriasis is not caused by a bacteria and is not
contagious. Neither are any of the other conditions you
name.
Even if you have psoriasis, and perhaps you do, the
treatment of the arthritis would not be different. I am, however, far
from an expert on arthritis, psoriatic or otherwise. I take care of the
skin, and leave the joints to my rheumatologist colleagues. Still, the
fact that there are new biological therapies for psoriatic arthritis,
designed to stimulate the immune system, makes revisitng the question in
light of your new scaly spots worthwhile.
You have to be careful
when other people tell you they have "the same thing." People do often
say this, but how would they know? And how woulod it change anything,
even if it turns out you both have the same diagnosis?
If your
skin findings are new, I would have a dermatologist look at them, biopsy
or otherwise test them if necessary, and make as precise a skin
diagnosis as possible--psoriais, Reiter's, or whatever. Armed with that
information, you can then look into newer treatments for psoriatic
arthritis, if that's what's going on.
