Psoriatic Arthritis is a condition which directly correlates with psoriasis. As many know, psoriasis is a skin condition in which the individual may experience itchiness in the form of red, scaly patches of skin. While normally treated with a topical cream or some form of medication, psoriasis can ultimately develop into this form of arthritis.
In fact, reports suggest that 30-percent of people with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis. Approximations have nearly 330,000 adults currently dealing with this across the United States. This piece will speak about the symptoms of the arthritis — along with potential treatment plans and ways of curbing the symptoms (which can be difficult to deal with).
Learning About Psoriatic Arthritis
When dealing with strong bouts of psoriasis, an arthritic condition may follow. When looking for symptoms, there are a few tell-tale signs to look for. Many of them mirror what normal arthritis brings to the proverbial table. For one, swelling, joint stiffness, joint pain, and similar physical ailments are common. Swelling of elbows, ankles, and knees are common.
Additionally, the symptoms can be especially problematic around the spine, back, and even in terms of one’s fingers. There’s not a set level from a pain standpoint, either. Some symptoms are more mild in nature than others. Duly, one could encounter some very severe clusters of skin redness — and thus accompanying joint pain.
Symptoms
As mentioned above, there are some rather noteworthy areas of pain — along with accompanying symptoms. However, if we were to reduce the areas to a few primary regions of the body, we’d include lower back pain, foot pain, and finger/toes as primary locations of concern.
The arthritis has a habit of causing inflammation in joints all over the body. As it pertains to the lower back, one could experience inflammation in the spine region, as well as near the pelvis. The arch of one’s foot can feel sensitive, and something akin to plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis is quite common. Lastly, swelling on the toes and fingers can become quite noticeable. These will be sensitive to touch, and can become visibly larger in size.
By working to keep your immune system healthy with vitamins and nutrients, symptoms may be able to subside gradually over time. However, environmental and genetic factors are said to be a key culprit behind the arthritis spiraling into something more severe. Deformed nails can be a sign of arthritis being present.
Treatment Options
There are a number of options in which individuals with psoriatic arthritis can seek help. For one, reaching out to a doctor is very important. The licensed medical professional will help you come up with a game plan to effectively stomp out some of these unsavory symptoms you may be suffering from.
In terms of medical options, some people are prescribed medication (such as steroids, anti-inflammatory drugs, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs). In more severe cases where joint pain is beyond substantial, surgery is done to improve bodily function.
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