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.
Between seven and eight million Americans suffer with psoriasis. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, about 50 percent of people with psoriasis have scalp psoriasis. Scalp psoriasis can affect your scalp, hairline, forehead, back of your neck, and the skin around your ears, which makes it difficult to hide. Besides … Read More
Arthritis is more than one disease. The three most common types are rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout. All types of arthritis cause joint pain, swelling, and tenderness. Symptoms of arthritis tend to come and go. When they get suddenly worse, it is called an arthritis flare up. Sometimes the cause … Read More
Take the time now to check the medications you take on a regular basis and make sure you have enough for at least two weeks longer than usual. If you or someone you live with comes down with COVID-19 you may not be able to leave your home for a … Read More
Once your medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic tests have been evaluated, your medical provider may diagnose you with one of the following types of arthritis. It also is possible that you may be diagnosed with a multisystem disorder. Degenerative Arthritis OA is the main cause of degenerative arthritis. It … Read More
Arthritis refers to joint inflammation, but the term also is more loosely used to describe any disorder that affects the joints. It is a symptom, rather than a specific disease. Arthritic conditions fall into a wider disease category known as “rheumatic diseases.” There are more than 100 types, each with … Read More
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
