Psoriatic Arthritis and work

[Steven S]

Hi,

I was wondering about how many hours people can work , while having PsA. I was wondering about this because I am kind of in the middle of searching appropriate jobs  as well. I used to work around 36 hours a week on the computer. But due to my PsA in the ellbow i couldnt do that anymore. When I work on the pc my arm starts to hurt after some time still.

And im wondering about people here,  could you work less hours because of your psa? Did you had to switch jobs maybe?

Like the rheum told me, I treat people working in construction who have psoriatic arthritis and some people I know with PsA run marathons.

But she also told me that, when you have PsA you are probably more sensitive on your tendons as well so you''ll be quicker to get an overload. Which kind of contradicts her statement about marathons and construction labor right?

It found that kind of confusing.

Or should this all be possible when you are on the right meds?

It seems to me that id better search for a job with a lot of variety, in standing walking sitting and may be an adapted workspace?

I wonder how you people do this, or had to make changes or anything.

Greetings 

[Forest Walker]

That's a good question.  I suspect each individual has a unique experience of what they can and can't do.  You know your body and what you're feeling better than your doctor does.  If your intuition is suggesting variety in the daily tasks, then that sounds as though it's best for you.  Intuition is trustworthy, in my experience.  

The variety of standing, walking, sitting is better for your body, whether it has PsA or not.  Our bodies are designed to be in motion.  

The right medicine may provide a remission, but that's also an individual experience.  Some may be lucky and have a complete remission.  Some may have improvement for a long while or a short while and need to try different medications as time goes by.

It sounds as though you are thinking clearly and are willing to adapt as needed.  These good qualities will serve you well through life.

[Turnedlight]

I think psa does make you prone to repetitive stress sort of problems which is how my carpal tunnel syndrome got bad.
However I have been to the hospital physio on and off and they explained it’s important to stay fit and build up muscle strength to relieve the strain on your tendons and ligaments. So I went about psa on my Achilles and the exercises are all about building up strength in the leg and backside.

[Fred]

For me it meant giving up the work I loved ....................... (Long distance truck driving) I had to make the decision that it wasn't safe for me to continue so I didn't renew my licence. That was a long time ago now and I decided to retire from work aged 48, but yes psoriatic arthritis can limit your working capabilities and/or amount of hours.

Even today sometimes I can do more than others, but I have found the older I get the harder it gets to do the things I took for granted. However a new treatment can give me a new lease of life and I'm about to start a new one as my current one has failed, how long it will last (if it does work) I just don't know.

If you still have to work then I would say a job with variety would be the way to go, but if like me you are able to stop working early I would grab that opportunity and take iit as soon as possible.

Psoriatic arthritis is a difficult one when it comes to any physical activity, one day it will be fine and the next you may not be able to move. I've had some really good years and then my treatment just stops working (as my current one has) and it's almost impossible to do anything.

If you need a job and can get one doing different tasks, that would be my recommendation and also talk to any new employer about your problem as they may be able to adapt to your good and bad days.

[Caroline]

My 2 cents.

I have been a runner in my past too.. did also run half marathons. But after the Psoriatic Arthritis not anymore.

I highly doubt that people with PsA can run marathons… this is only possible if there is no damage to the bones, and that will happen quite quickly because the time until diagnosis and after that the time till treatment, effective treatment, is on average too long. Damage to the bones is irreversible.
So if your doc knows those people then these are the exceptions, with very low disease activity and a very good working treatment and probably quickly a good working treatment assigned.

With me it started in the tendons, the Achilles, and afterwards inflammation of my feet. Diagnoses was quickly, but treatment, it is already years ago, was bad and didn’t work at first.

On my work, much work behind a computer, I had problems with typing, fingers also inflamed. The solution was that I was using a speech program, with which it was possible to do a big part of my work. Walking was difficult so I went to work on my motorcycle, so in fact I was able to work for the full period I was hired.

Once I found the medication that worked for me, the inflammations went down, and I was able to walk, type and dance again. Tried running, but that was not possible, too quickly overloading my tendons and my feet, so changed to spinning (in the sportschool, not behind a spinning wheel).
Dancing is still possible, as this is way less heavy than e.g. running. Lost some running friends though, which was a bit sad.

[Steven S]

Thank you all for your responses really helpful  It's sort of puzzle to lay for yourself regarding everything, and every bit of information helps.

[Kat]

I would imagine that some there are just so many different levels involved it's hard to say. Mild symptoms to severe and people who have found a medication that helps keep things in check vs those who haven't...

For me, the thing I have found is that although we share a disease, we are each very different in our treatments, abilities, severity, etc. So it only matters really what YOU can handle. It can be difficult I think to find that happy place in the middle where you aren't too sedentary (joints stiffen) nor too active (joints stressed). And to find a job that would not be too much sitting, standing, walking etc may prove difficult as it seems most jobs favor one of those (office and computer sitting, cashiers and others standing and waitresses and others walking, etc., etc) And some days are usually better than others no matter what your activity level is that day, or at least it is for me. I think doing something you enjoy plus a sympathetic boss would be the best places to work if you can do it. I had a job I enjoyed and started to need a lot of physical therapy during the hours I worked. My boss was fine with it as long as I made it up (come in early, stay late) I got a new boss who insisted I work my scheduled hours and who made life miserable at work. Sometimes it's the people that make the job.

Good luck!!

[Forest Walker]

I agree with everything you wrote, Kat.  Sometimes people quit a job because of the boss, even if the work is enjoyable.  They quit the boss.

[Kat]

I would imagine that some there are just so many different levels involved it's hard to say.  Mild symptoms to severe and people who have found a medication that helps keep things in check vs those who haven't...

For me, the thing I have found is that although we share a disease, we are each very different in our treatments, abilities, severity, etc.  So it only matters really what YOU can handle.  It can be difficult I think to find that happy place in the middle where you aren't too sedentary (joints stiffen) nor too active (joints stressed).  And to find a job that would not be too much sitting, standing, walking etc may prove difficult as it seems most jobs favor one of those (office and computer sitting, cashiers and others standing and waitresses and others walking, etc., etc)  And some days are usually better than others no matter what your activity level is that day, or at least it is for me.  I think doing something you enjoy plus a sympathetic boss would be the best places to work if you can do it.  I had a job I enjoyed and started to need a lot of physical therapy during the hours I worked.  My boss was fine with it as long as I made it up (come in early, stay late)  I got a new boss who insisted I work my scheduled hours and who made life miserable at work.  Sometimes it's the people that make the job.

Good luck!!

Wow what language was I speaking starting that off? I meant for it to say.. I imagine there are some who had to change jobs. As to the rest of that sentence even I don't know what I meant. I would say I must have been drinking, except I don't drink so I'll have to blame old age.

[Kat]

I agree with everything you wrote, Kat.  Sometimes people quit a job because of the boss, even if the work is enjoyable.  They quit the boss.

Yes and I think a decent boss is very important if you have health issues. I remember working retail years ago and a cashier had back issues. Chairs were not allowed but the supervisor got her one anyway. That's the type of people needed in the world.

It's difficult however for a boss if a worker gets to the point they cannot do their job properly. Steven brings up some very good questions as to if people need to change jobs due to pain or the inability to even do the job. Sadly it can be a dilemma.