Confusing Diagnoses

After two years of testing and drug trials etc... I am still not exactly sure just what it is I have. At one time I was diagnosed and treated for Rheumatoid Arthritis and now it is Psoriatic Arthritis and one other type whose name escapes me. I have no skin disease though and nothing shows on tests so I am sero negative. I also have restless leg syndrome pretty badly and peripheral neuropathy. I also have a bad shoulder that has never recovered from 3 rotator cuff surgeries.

But heck, I am 72 years old, still ride English Saddleseat horses in horse shows across the Midwest, travel, and garden. I finally was forced to retire due to pain at the end of last year.

I am eternally grateful for drugs including oxycodone and diazepam. My rheumatologist and I have tried just about all of the non biologics and a couple of them have worked for the pain in my hands. But not for the pelvic and hip pain which is a constant. Prednisone has saved my sanity but finally have cut back to 5 mg and will probably be on it for the rest of my life.

I am also grateful for my PCP. He is incredible and will try most anything. He also is a detective when it comes to figuring out what is going on. He says I am the patient with things from hell. His philosophy is that if I do not have to be in pain I should not be.