I created this blog site to pass along, what has been for me, a successful strategy to navigate around and manage my Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA). My hope is that someone out there struggling with PsA reads this post, and implements some or all of the techniques I use, and switches off their PsA like I have.

After nearly 8 years since being diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis, I feel good and there is pretty much nothing that I can’t do that I want to do – be it running, biking, hiking, swimming, playing with my son, and even climbing mountains. I was lucky at 33 years old to find a fantastic doctor, Dr. Jeff Peterson (Seattle, WA), who quickly got me on the right track to treatment and long-term management.

I count my self lucky. I know how bad this disease can be. Had I not implemented, and continue to implement, what I am calling the four pronged approach, I have no doubt my life would be a lot different at this point.  In short, I manage my PsA using the following four strategies:

1. Elimination Diet: Certain food cause inflammation – I cut those foods out of my diet. Certain foods reduce inflammation – I increase those foods in my diet. I highly recommend undergoing an intense, nutritionist managed, elimination diet to determine what foods affect your levels of inflammation. I no longer eat night shades, dairy, red meat, alcohol, and gluten.
2. Exercise: Flush the inflammation out and reduce strain on your ligaments and joints by exercising and building muscle. It can also reduce stress levels and help digestion.  I try to exercise daily. This is hugely important and powerful.
3. Avoidance of ‘Negative’ Stress: For me, I internalize stress and it has physical effects on my body. Curiously, there is a difference between normal stress (e.g., trying to meet a deadline) and negative stress (e.g., feeling angry, hopelessness, put down, etc.). So, I try to avoid people or situations that will cause negative stress – not sure that is healthy behavior, but it is important to managing my PsA.
4. Biologics: I am a strong proponent of the class of arthritis drugs known as biologics. I have taken Enbrel for nearly 8 years – for me, this medicine is nothing short of magic and there is no substitution. There are risks of infection and other items, but the upside vastly outweighs the risks (in my experience).

Simple as that. I hope you find this useful. And yes…. I eliminated all of my favorite foods, including… very sadly…the almighty, wonderful food group: pizza. But that is the trade-off between feeling good, living a longer life, and enjoying a wonderful food that I miss so dearly.  🙂

Thanks for reading! Eric