Living with Psoriatic Arthritis is an online patient support community that is powered by BensFriends.org, a network of patient support communities for rare diseases. Our mission at Ben’s Friends is to ensure that patients living with rare diseases or chronic illnesses, as well as their caregivers, family, and friends, have a safe and supportive place to connect with others like them.
Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) is a type of inflammatory arthritis which affects people who suffer from the chronic skin condition, psoriasis. Common symptoms of psoriatic arthritis include pain, swelling, or stiffness in one or more joints that are red or warm to the touch.
Persons with psoriatic arthritis also experience pain in and around the feet and ankles, especially tendonitis in the Achilles tendon or Plantar fasciitis in the sole of the foot and in the area of the Sacrum (the lower back, above the tailbone). Changes to the nails, such as pitting or separation from the nail bed also occurs.
LivingWithPsoriaticArthritis.org is a virtual peer-to-peer community intended to be a safe place for patients and family members as young as age 12, to visit for information, discussion, venting and mutual support. Members come from many backgrounds. Some have a strong religious faith, and others no faith; some are children and others adults, rich and poor, graduate educated or taught by life. Our common denominators are that we share a life journey, and we try to help each other.
How is Ben’s Friends Different from Social Media and Other Support Sites?
Our mission at Ben’s Friends is to ensure that patients living with rare diseases or chronic illnesses, as well as their caregivers, family, and friends, have a safe and supportive place to connect with others like them.
We’re interested in you as a person, and in your struggles as a rare disease patient. But we don’t want to know your name or where you live. We won’t even allow you to use your real name when you register for one of our communities. Because when it comes to medical things, anonymity is important in our googly universe. Your information is never shared, and your activity never tracked by adware.
When Ben’s Friends asks for the country and region you live in, that’s in case your fellow members can recommend local resources and help, and so everyone knows what kind of medical system there is where you live. That’s important when it comes to giving and getting support. Because we are all about support, and we’re all in this together..
Ben’s Friends: Safe and Supportive.
And anonymous to keep it that way.
Why create an account?
Posts on the different Ben’s Friends communities can be read by anyone on the internet. You can browse through the different topics and find most of the information you’re looking for but there are many things you won’t be able to do unless you create an account. These include:
Making your own posts. Although you’re able to find useful information just by reading other members’ posts, you might still have a lot of questions in your mind. Either you want to start a new topic to talk about them in detail or you want to reply to a comment on a thread. These won’t be possible unless you create a new user account.
Viewing other members’ profiles. Member profiles include information about the country or region they are from, whether they are a patient or a caregiver, and details about their disease and treatments. Maybe you came across an interesting post and you want to learn more about the member. Or maybe you’re looking for members who are from the same country as you. Having a user account allows you to see other member profiles and find information that may be relevant.
Sending private messages. Aside from being able to post publicly and commenting on a thread, having a user account also allows you to send private messages both to other members and moderators. In case you want to discuss a topic only with a specific person, this is possible by sending private messages when you have created your account.
Click here to create an account and join.
Latest Discussions
- Administering MTX in dr office now?by Rebel_mom on April 22, 2024
Went to go pick up the injectable MTX at the pharmacy yesterday they told me it now has to be administered at the dr office so they will not be selling me the needles any more. When did this change for weekly administering? 7 posts – 3 participants Read full topic
- Has anyone had their nerves ablated?by Kmwestmo on April 13, 2024
My neck and back have been destroyed by arthritis. I also have cervical and spinal stenosis and desiccation basically up the entire spine. They would like to ablate six nerves in my neck. They say that if it works I will get 6 months to 2 years of relief. I talked to my chiropractor and he said that it can hurt for up to 6 months so where is the gain? They want to do two trial runs with lidocaine […]
- Online med warningby Amos on April 13, 2024
Apparently the product UMary has been very effective at bringing near instant relief from arthritis pain. The article is from a local radio station 45 minutes from where I live. Just a reminder, just because it says “organic” or “natural” doesn’t mean it is safe nor good for you. The source of the product is also a big warning. CHVN Radio Pharmacist urges […]
- Is there a scientific reason for stiffness after resting?by Amos on April 8, 2024
Does anyone have a good reason why resting causes (horizontal, sleeping or not) stiffness and pain ramp up? I think we all know that movement reduces stiffness and pain, but after I go for a walk or do a bit of yard work, I always have to pay for it later even though quite pain free while active. (except for mechanical joint issues) 11 posts – 5 participants Read full topic
- Ehlers-Danlos and PsAby michelle3 on March 20, 2024
I’ve been diagnosed with EDS which encompasses all body systems, causes pain, and disability and is misunderstood. Sound familiar? I’m hoping another member can relate in some way. Feeling crushed again. 6 posts – 3 participants Read full topic
