Psoriatic arthritis is a debilitating and painful disease. When one iVillager asked for help, another came to her aid with advice on what had helped her

What is it?
Psoriatic arthritis is a specific kind of arthritis that affects approximately 23% of people that suffer from the skin condition psoriasis. Most commonly, it affects the fingers, toes and spine, and causes inflammation around the joints, usually the wrists, knees, ankles, lower back and neck. Symptoms include stiffness, swelling and tenderness of the joints, reduced mobility, morning stiffness and fatigue, small indentations on the nails, or lifting of the nails, redness of the eyes, and symptoms similar to conjunctivitis. It usually occurs about ten years after the onset of psoriasis, between the ages of 30 and 50. The symptoms often begin very slowly, which can make it difficult to diagnose. Half of those diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis would have already suffered bone loss, which is why early diagnosis is important.
ivillage-researcher

How it affects one iVillage member
I suffer from psoriatic arthritis and, although I am not old, I feel about 100. Mentally, I am like a teenager trapped in an old person's body. I am on various medications, which have currently left me with poor mobility and constant pain. Can anyone offer me some advice as to what I can do for the pain and mobility problems?
ilittleowl

Is aloe the answer?
I, too, have suffered this disease, but am now 95% pain-free, partly due to using Aloe Vera drinking Gel. The one I use, which really works, has Condriotin MSM and Glucosamine Sulphate in it. These compounds occur naturally in our joints when we're younger, but not so much later.

I tried them all, but the one I found most effective is FLP Forever Freedom and I combine it with Omega 3 oil capsules and selenium tablets. All of the ingredients are natural and organic, and it's the best available on the market. It isn't a cure, but it suppresses the symptoms amazingly well.

There are over 400 types of Aloe Vera, only a small amount of which are beneficial. Most Aloe Vera remedies available through the shops consist of the whole leaf, which contains the sap, and are often referred to as 'Bitter Aloes'. These have a purging effect on our systems and the body can only take small amounts, so they have a 'do not exceed the recommended dose' warning.

The Aloe I take is Aloe Vera Barbadensis-Miller, which is not available from the shops. Only the inner leaf gel is used, the outer leaf is used as a fertiliser for the next crop. It is organically grown without any herbicides or insecticides, and there are no known side effects to taking it. You can drink as much of this aloe as you like without problems, and the only effects you will notice are beneficial ones.

Many people use this Aloe in addition to their standard medication, because the way it works tends to enhance the medications' effectiveness - they can therefore reduce the dose of the prescribed medication and, thus, the harmful side effects. This must, of course, be under the direction of the doctor prescribing the drugs.
micropilot

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