Fingers

I've been dealing with psoriatic arthritis for the past 20 years. For those of you who're non-medical folk, this type behaves like a milder form of rheumatoid. I was in fact initially diagnosed as a sero-negative rheumatoid, as my skin disease is so mild. This type of arthrithritis can strike any joint, but has a tendency to go for small ones, which is my case; wrists, ankles and especially, fingers.

It's been a relatively mild course of flares interspersed with periods of remission. I have been unwilling to consider the poisons medications the rheumatologists have been mentioning as I don't want my immune system blunted, at least not while I'm seeing sick kids every day. A week doesn't go by that a snotty 2 year old doesn't cough or sneeze right into my face.

There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason for my current flare, which started right after my birthday 2 weeks back. The weather is clearly now in spring, and with the warmer weather, I should be doing better. Apparently my fingers are not in unity with the weather. The 2nd and 3rd on either hand are acting up, particularly the left 3rd and the right 2nd. Neither one wants to bend at the moment. I'm lying in bed, waiting for my Celebrex to kick in, so I can get up & face my day.

I'm not angry or even looking for sympathy. I'm just frustrated. I have too much to do & I'm no where near being able to retire and move to a warmer climate, not that I'm particularly inclined to.

And right this moment, it's making me feel old.