Cassie, who lives with psoriatic disease, explores how psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis can impact daily life, energy, and identity. Her experience highlights the often emotional and physical burdens of psoriatic disease.

For Cassie, 49, running has always been more than exercise–it’s part of her everyday life and how she clears her head. When psoriatic arthritis began to interfere, with symptoms like joint pain and inflammation, stepping back from running felt like losing a core part of her identity. 

An estimated 3.3 million people in the United States live with PsA.¹ Like many people, Cassie was diagnosed after first being diagnosed with psoriasis (PSO), a long-term condition that mainly affects the skin.² Roughly 1 in 3 people living with PSO also have PsA.³

In a Q&A with UCB, Cassie shared her experience of living with psoriatic disease, discussing how she’s found her way back to the routines and activities that matter most to her.

When did you first notice psoriatic disease impacting your daily life? What was that like for you?
 

Cassie: It started in a way that felt small at first. I was stretching before a run in my driveway and felt a snap or a pop. I assumed I had pulled a muscle, but it turned out I had actually torn my hamstring—just from stretching. Not long after that, a lot of things started happening all at once.

I broke out with PSO all over my scalp, and not long afterward, severe elbow pain began to set in. Along with that came injuries and pain that didn’t make sense to me. At the time, I didn’t realize these symptoms were all connected, but that period marked the beginning of a major shift in my life.

When you were first diagnosed 5 years ago, how did PsA affect your daily life? What was it like having to step back from parts of your routine you previously enjoyed, like running?

Cassie: It wasn’t just about pain—it was fatigue and how limiting everything became. Daily activities were extremely difficult, and I had to stop working as much because I simply didn’t have the energy.

There were days when I’d be active for just a few hours and then collapse into bed, still dressed, sleeping for 12 to 14 hours. That kind of exhaustion is hard to explain to someone who hasn’t experienced it. It affects how you function, how you work, and how you show up for your family. There was a huge emotional adjustment, too. 

Running had always been such a core part of my identity, and at one point, I genuinely thought I’d never be able to do it again. I had to completely reframe the way I thought about my life.

There was a lot of grief in letting go of the things I loved and the person I used to be.

One thing I have heard you talk about is the importance of finding a doctor who is a good fit–who listens and understands the person you are. Based on your experience, what is something that is crucial for doctors to consider when treating psoriatic disease?

Cassie: There was a point where the disease felt like it controlled everything—my time, my energy, my ability to function.

Finding relief quickly was incredibly important to me. I was desperate at a certain point—not just because of the pain, but because of how much time I felt like I was losing. The waiting was the hardest part, and that time really matters.

Reducing how long someone has to live in that in‑between space can make a huge difference in their quality of life.

What would you want others living with PsA—especially those struggling to keep up with the things they love—to understand based on your experience?

Cassie: The most important thing I can say is to find a doctor who listens to you and believes you. That made all the difference for me.
I didn’t think I’d feel like myself again, and now I’m pretty close. I want people to know that it’s okay to advocate for yourself and to hold onto hope, even when it feels really hard.

Five years after her PsA diagnosis and nearly putting away her running shoes for good, Cassie completed a 5K run. She hopes her experience encourages others. 
 

References 
 

1. Zundell MP, Ogdie-Beatty AR, Perez-Chada L, Hamade H, Gondo GC, Khan AT, Bell SJ, Levy Z, Merola JF, Gottlieb AB. Prevalence and impact of unacceptable symptom state among patients with psoriatic arthritis: results from the National Psoriasis Foundation’s 2019 annual survey. JID Innovations. 2024;4(5):100292.
2. Griffiths CEM, Armstrong AW, Gudjonsson JE, Barker JNWN. Psoriasis. Lancet. 2021;397(10281):1301-1315.
3. Tillett W, Merola JF, Thaçi D, et al. Disease Characteristics and the Burden of Joint and Skin Involvement Amongst People With Psoriatic Arthritis: A Population Survey. Rheumatol Ther. 2020;7(3):617-637.