Psoriasis And Arthritis Symptoms May Be A Sign Of Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is a medical condition that has symptoms of both psoriasis and arthritis. Psoriasis symptoms usually appear first on the skin. About one in twenty people with psoriasis on the skin go on to develop arthritis in the joints.

Doctors are not sure what causes psoriatic arthritis but suspect it may be genetic since people with psoriasis have a much higher rate of arthritis than those who don’t. Environmental factors and immune system response also play a part in the development of this condition.

The severity of symptoms varies among individuals. Some may have mild psoriasis accompanied by arthritis of one joint only. Others may develop arthritis in many joints of the body including the spine.

5 Types Of Psoriatic Psoriasis Arthritis

There are five types of psoriatic arthritis. These are classified according to where the joint inflammation strikes. Symmetric psoriatic arthritis occurs in symmetric joints of the body, for example in both knee joints. Oligoarticular arthritis is normally mild and affects asymmetric joints like the knee on one side of the body and the elbow on the other side. Distal interphalangeal arthritis affects the joints in the toes and fingers that are closest to the nails. Spondylitis is a form of arthritis that affects the spine. Arthritis mutilans is a severe form of the disease that settles into the small joints of the feet and hands.

Symptoms And Treatment Options

Common symptoms include joint stiffness, reduced range of motion, swollen joints, tender joints, joint pain, pain and swelling of tendons where they attach to bones, skin lesions, and changes to fingernails like pitting or discoloration.

Treatment of the condition depends upon which joints are afflicted with inflammation and the severity of symptoms. Symptoms may come and go; treatment may be intermittent. Mild cases of the condition may be treated with over-the-counter pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and aspirin. Mild cases may also respond well to heat and cold treatments. Cold packs help to reduce swelling and increase range of motion.

Cases with more severe pain symptoms may be treated with prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) or shots of corticosteroids directly into the affected joint to reduce swelling and pain.

Patients with severe psoriatic arthritis may be treated with DMARDS (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs). These drugs work by slowing the growth of certain types of cells in the body in an attempt to slow the progression of tissue damage caused by the condition. These drugs carry the potential for serious side effects to the kidney, liver, and bone marrow so they are usually used after other forms of treatment have failed.

Methotrexate in particular is a DMARDS drug used to treat both psoriasis and arthritis. Its immunosuppressive effects help control psoriasis lesions and prevent the destruction of joint tissue.

Biologic drugs are some of the newer forms of treatment. These drugs include Humira, Remicade and Enbrel. These help to reduce swelling and pain by blocking a protein in the body that triggers inflammation.

Surgery is sometimes used as a treatment option wherein the affected joint is repaired or replaced. A joint replacement can help restore normal range of motion to an immobilized joint.

Patients with psoriatic arthritis need treatment to control psoriasis lesions and arthritic joints. With proper treatment, symptoms can usually be successfully managed. However, there is no known prevention or cure at this time. The goal of treatment is to slow the progression of the disease, provide relief from pain, and maintain range of motion to the best degree possible.