Psoriatic Arthritis: Early Signs and Treatments

Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic, inflammatory joint disease that currently affects between 1 and 2 percent of the U.S. population. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, psoriatic arthritis occurs in around 30 percent of people who suffer from psoriasis, an inflammatory disease of the skin.

Though psoriatic arthritis can develop at any point during a person’s life, onset most commonly occurs between the ages of 30 and 50. While there is no cure for the disease, it can be managed with treatment.

If you or someone you know has this type of arthritis, search online and read on to learn more.

What Is Psoriatic Arthritis?

Psoriatic arthritis is caused by an excessive inflammatory response in the tendons and connective tissues of the joints. This autoimmune condition results in pain, swelling, and stiffness in the affected joints, with symptoms ranging from mild to severe. The joints most commonly affected by psoriatic arthritis are the toes, ankles, knees, fingers, wrists, elbows, and neck.

Early Signs and Symptoms

The symptoms of psoriatic arthritis are similar to those of rheumatoid arthritis. Both autoimmune diseases are characterized by redness, swelling, heat, and pain in the joints. Alongside these symptoms, psoriatic arthritis can also cause:

• Lower back pain
• Foot pain
• Excessive swelling in fingers and toes

Risk Factors and Triggers

Psoriatic arthritis occurs equally in men and women, but is substantially more likely to affect people of Caucasian descent. Sufferers can manage the condition by avoiding certain environmental triggers which are thought to worsen flare-ups. These environmental risk factors include:

• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Stress
• Cold weather
• Certain medications

Treatment Options

The pain, swelling and stiffness associated with psoriatic arthritis can be managed with a personalized treatment plan and a healthy lifestyle. The most common treatment options are:

• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
• Disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
• Steroid injections

In most cases, a combination of these therapies will be used to manage the disease throughout a patient’s lifetime. A doctor can help diagnose you and come up with a treatment plan.

Talk To Your Doctor

Make an appointment with your general physician if you think you may be suffering with psoriatic arthritis. They can test for other possible reasons for your symptoms and devise a suitable treatment plan.