I think I’m starting to develop a bit of a complex when it comes to my psoriatic arthritis. Every time I type in “psoriatic,” for example, I get the little red squigglies that indicate that either the word is spelled incorrectly or the word doesn’t exist.
Well, guess what, Microsoft and Apple: It is a word, you jerks. It certainly exists.
Of course, this pushes its way into other aspects, too. I was looking for some PsA resources on Google the other day, hoping to find something new to add to my understanding of the disease. I noticed Google found about 716,000 results. Not shabby, right?
Wrong.
I decided to type in “rheumatoid arthritis” to see how many hits I’d get: 7.89 million.
Now, I know, by the numbers, that more people have RA than PsA. It’s hard to track down real estimates, but as best as I can gather, people with PsA number in the hundreds of thousands, while those with RA number in the millions. And I’m really not trying to downplay the seriousness of RA, nor do I wish those with RA had fewer resources available to them to cope with what they’ve got. I just wish there was more out there for those of us with psoriatic, and not rheumatoid or osteo, arthritis — a MyPsACentral would be nice (P.S. — MyRACentral is super nice! I’m not hating, I swear!)
I guess what I’m saying is it would be nice if there was the amount of information out there for those of us with psoriatic arthritis; hell, even a combined “arthritis” website with information on the various kinds — and not just osteoarthritis — would be lovely.
So, I guess I need to step up and do my part in engaging in this. And, conveniently enough, the National Psoriasis Foundation has launched a campaign, to coincide with Psoriasis Awareness Month in August, to increase the profile of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (which I honestly did not even know about when I started this post earlier today). Plus, there’s our good ol’ fashioned celebrity spokesperson, LeAnn Rimes and her pledge to get more of us to stop hiding.
I’m trying to do my part. I’ve signed up for the challenge to help raise awareness. The more people know about autoimmune diseases — be it rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, spondylitis or any of them — it helps us all. Because, really, those with RA aren’t so different from those with PsA; it’s ignorance that’s the real enemy. Everyone benefits from greater understanding.
I’m still holding out for MyPsACentral, though.
lipstick, perfume and too many pills 
There are some general arthritis resources that include PsA info that might be helpful (if you haven’t plumbed them already). Arthritis Today: http://www.arthritistoday.org/conditions/other-conditions/psoriasis/index.php hosted by the Arthritis Foundation http://www.arthritis.org/ I’ll admit to not being familiar with PsA until recently, but then again, I had never heard of RA before I developed it.
(Btw- I “Add to dictionary” so many terms! It is pretty frustrating…)
Hi Nessie,
I’m just loving your blog. I actually joked with my friend the other day about the red squiggly line that appears under Spondylitis every time we write to each other. It even happens when I type “rheumatologist.” I love your writing, please keep up your awesome work.
All my best,
Maya
Elisabeth: Yeah, those are definitely some good resources. I guess that’s why all the various disease groups exist, to help raise their profiles.
Maya: Thanks for the love! It still boggles my mind that “rheumatologist” gives the red squigglies, but “rheumatoid” doesn’t. I love your blog, too, and I definitely missed your writing when you were overseas.