Arthritis is a condition that affects the joints?the cushioning surfaces between bones?that leads to pain, stiffness, swelling, and reduced range of motion. Psoriatic arthritis is a form of the disease that causes not only sore and swollen joints, but also patches of red and silvery scales, called plaques, to form on the skin.
Lifestyle changes such as starting an exercise program can also help people manage psoriatic arthritis. Exercise is a good way to maintain flexibility and range of motion in the joints. Walking, cycling, swimming, and yoga are all low-impact exercises that strengthen joints.
About 15 percent of people with the skin condition, psoriasis, will also develop psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis is caused by an overactive immune response, which attacks the joints and leads to the excess production of skin cells. The joints?especially those in the fingers, toes, spine, and pelvis?become inflamed. Excess skin cells die, slough off, and form scaly patches on the skin. Some people also develop nail changes like pits in the nail or a separation of the nail from its bed. Skin symptoms usually start before the joints become affected.
Treatment for psoriatic arthritis aims to slow disease progression, bring down swelling, reduce pain, and prevent permanent joint damage. Often the first step is to take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) to control pain and swelling. Some people with psoriatic arthritis take disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) to slow the rate of joint damage. These medicines include sulfasalazine (Azulfidine), methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall, Otrexup), or leflunomide (Arava). Recently introduced biologic drugs such as adalimumab (Humira), etanercept (Enbrel), golimumab (Simponi), and infliximab (Remicade) treat both psoriatic arthritis joint inflammation and skin psoriasis. These drugs target a protein called tumor necrosis alpha-factor (TNF-alpha), which contributes to the development of psoriatic arthritis.
Our skin is our body’s largest and fastest-growing organ—it protects us from harmful bacteria, keeps us warm when it’s cold and cool when it’s hot, and allows us to feel the outside world through the nerves that exist beneath it. But sometimes our immune system, which is also meant to … Read More
Joint inflammation is easily recognizable—it's a condition that affects 80 percent of the world’s population. You’ll know inflammation by its symptoms: pain, warmth, redness, swelling, and perhaps loss of joint function. The symptoms are uncomfortable but manageable with rest, ice, compression, elevation—the classic "RICE" treatment—and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug like … Read More
Our ankles are complex structures composed of four bones, the tibia and fibula (bones of the lower leg), the calcaneus (heel bone), and the talus (a small bone between the tibia, fibula and calcaneus), along with multiple tendons and ligaments. Cushioning between the bones in the ankle is provided by … Read More
Old sports injuries. Repetitive stress. Swollen joints from "rheumatism." Whatever the osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis symptoms you may be experiencing, the next strategy is to come up with ways to beat it. Options for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) treatment range from prescribed medications to simple over-the-counter pain relievers … Read More
Back pain is a common complaint. Most often the cause is something like a pulled muscle or overstretched ligament, and it is short-lived. Deterioration of cartilage and disks in the spine can also lead to back problems. For a smaller number of people with back pain, the cause is ankylosing … Read More
Since gout is often thought of as a man’s disease, many women lack awareness of gout symptoms—foot pain, in particular—which means that many women have gout but aren’t aware they have it. “Although women are less likely than men to suffer from gout, a woman’s chance of developing gout increases … Read More
Over a lifespan, celiac disease symptoms tend to shift from primarily gastrointestinal ones in children (diarrhea, bloating, pain) to "non-classical" or "subclinical" ones in adults (fatigue, anemia, arthritis, and numbness/tingling in the fingers and toes). Non-classical symptoms can make celiac disease harder to spot, particularly if a patient has other … Read More
In the vast majority of people with psoriasis, the skin disease precedes the arthritis, but 10 to 15 percent of people will have both skin and joint symptoms. Having the skin disease does not guarantee that you’ll develop psoriatic arthritis; in fact, only 15 percent of people with psoriasis are … Read More
