Psoriatic Arthritis Specialist

What is psoriatic arthritis?

Psoriatic arthritis is a painful rheumatic illness that affects a small percentage of people with psoriasis. Psoriasis is a skin disease that causes red patches of itchy, flaky skin to form on the knees, chest, and scalp.

Psoriatic arthritis usually presents symptoms in cycles. People with psoriatic arthritis may experience weeks or months of pain and discomfort followed by weeks or months of remission.

What are the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis?

The symptoms of psoriatic arthritis vary from person to person. Sometimes, joints on just one side of the body are affected; other times, symptoms are felt throughout the body.

Telltale signs of psoriatic arthritis include:

• Swollen fingers

• Swollen toes

• Foot pain

• Heel pain

• Lower back pain

As psoriatic arthritis progresses, you might also experience mobility issues, including difficulty putting weight on an affected limb.

What causes psoriatic arthritis?

Psoriatic arthritis occurs when your immune system begins to attack healthy cells and tissue. Over time, this immune response causes inflammation in your joints and an overproduction of skin cells.

Experts aren’t entirely sure why this happens, but several factors, including your environment and genetics, are thought to play a role. For example, if your parents or grandparents had psoriatic arthritis, you’re more likely to as well.

How is psoriatic arthritis diagnosed?

Unfortunately, there’s not a single test that can diagnose psoriatic arthritis. Instead, the staff team Advanced Arthritis and Rheumatology Center conducts a physical exam and reviews your medical history. 

During your exam, the staff team examines your joints for swelling and tenderness, checks your fingernails for pitting or flaking, and gently presses on the soles of your feet to identify swollen or irritated areas. Next, they take a musculoskeletal ultrasound to look at your bones and joints.

If these measures don’t provide enough information, the staff team might also order a panel of laboratory tests, radiographic evalutaion or a joint fluid test. After gathering this information, the staff team develops a custom treatment plan.

How is psoriatic arthritis treated?

At Advanced Arthritis and Rheumatology Center, the staff team offers several treatments to manage disease activity and consequences related to psoriatic arthritis. Usually, they recommend healthy lifestyle changes like maintaining a healthy weight and quitting smoking, as well as prescription medications like Methotrexate, oral and IV biologic therapies to limit pain and inflammation.

You might also benefit from musculoskeletal injections, heat therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) therapy, or physical therapy. 

To explore your treatment options for psoriatic arthritis, schedule an appointment at Advanced Arthritis and Rheumatology Center. Call the office or book online today.