After years of being undiagnosed I feel kind of hopeless.
It's been quite a journey. 10 years ago, a few months after a very traumatic event (surviving a terror attack) I developed Psoriasis. It first appeared on my elbows and knees and then on my scalp and inside my ears. I got it diagnosed by a dermatologist, got some creams but they never helped.
4 years ago, my right thumb suddenly felt painful all the time. They could see there was an infection. I tried some anti inflammatory meds, got cortisone injections. Nothing changed. My other thumb started to feel the same a year later. 2 years ago, my chestbone started hurting after a multiple day hike. It felft awful. I have a panic disorder and the chest pain feels like I'm having a heart attack. It made me spiral and I started having anxiety attacks again very often.
I got it checked, had pictures taken, bone analysis, mri. They did see an infection, and I got some meds but it didn't help. My anxiety got a hold of me and I went on sick leave for half a year cause the pain and anxiety was too much to carry. After the sick leave, I started again with going to the clinic for some checkups. I was diagnosed with hypermobility. A year ago, my left heel started hurting a lot. Got diagnosed with plantar fasciitis.
I went to a physiotherapist to deal with all the seperate issues. It never helped. The anti inflammatory meds don't help aswell. All the pain is still there. Thumbs, chest, heel. Half a year ago, my anxiety spiraled again and I'm on cymbalta/duloxetine right now. It works effectively for managing anxiety but also pain. I haven't felt this good in years. All of the pain is still there (thumbs, chest, heel) but it's way more manageable.
I've started shockwave therapy to take care of the plantar fasciitis. The doctor doing the therapy told me she heard of my case from other doctors. She told me they assume I have psoriasis arthritis, but all the examinations, x-rays, mri's and blood work don't prove it well enough. She told me it could take another few years before I get diagnosed. I feel a bit like I'm going insane.
Does anyone have similair stories like mine? How long did it take to get diagnosed so you could receive proper help? I kinda feel like I'm going insane. I'm only 35 years old now, and it feels crazy having this much pain at this point in my life. I'm very outgoing and sporty. I bike 20kms/14 miles every day, I hike alot, I go swimming. It just feels like my body is protesting and I'm kinda scared what the future might hold.