Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment
Psoriasis-Ltd III treatment will greatly improve the skin symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. And lifestyle changes with more water and more vegetables and fruits can greatly improve the damage to your finger and toe joints. Control of psoriatic arthritis can be managed while preventing further disability.
Lifestyle changes will help with the arthritis symptoms along with your arthritis medication. Psoriasis-Ltd III will reduce symptoms of red rash or white scaly patches on the skin. Please review the recommended Lifestyle Changes on the LINK of the Site Directory to the left.
What is Psoriatic Arthritis?
Psoriatic arthritis usually occurs in the joints of the fingers and toes. Psoriatic arthritis can be a serious disease, with a large percentage of patients reporting that their symptoms limit their work or home activities. Psoriatic arthritis tends to appear about 10 years after the first signs of psoriasis. Men and women are equally affected by this condition. The arthritis associated with psoriasis is usually less painful than rheumatoid arthritis.
Arthritis is the term used to identify joint disease from a number of causes. Arthritis causes painful inflammation of one or several joints, with the inflammation destroying the cartilage in the joints. Approximately 5% to 10% of patients who have psoriasis will also develop an associated inflammation of their joints. When this happens, it is known as psoriatic arthritis.
The Symptoms of Psoriatic Arthritis
Joint pain, stiffness and swelling are the main symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. Other common symptoms of psoriatic arthritis include pain, swelling, or stiffness in one or more joints. The joints may also show redness or feel warm to the touch. One may experience swelling in the fingers or toes. Pain in the feet and ankles, or symptoms of tendonitis in the Achilles tendon or pain in the sole of the foot. Changes in nail texture such as pitting or separation from the nail bed may occur as well as pain in the area of the lower back just above the tailbone.
Psoriatic arthritis may be associated one or more of the following symptoms; pain in one or more joints, stiffness in the joints in the morning, movement in the joint is restricted by pain, ocular redness or eye pain. They can affect any part of your body, including your fingertips and spine, and can range from relatively mild to severe. When the spine is affected, the symptoms include stiffness, burning, and pain, usually in the lower area of the spine and sacrum.
In psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, the condition can ebb and flow with flares alternating with periods of remission. Patients with psoriatic arthritis often report the occurrence of acne as well as changes in their nails. Up to 80% of psoriatic arthritis sufferers report pitting and ridges in finger and toe nails. These characteristic nail changes are rarely observed in psoriasis patients who do not have arthritis.
Most people develop psoriasis first and are later diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, but the joint problems can sometimes begin before skin lesions appear.
Types of Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is further defined by five sub-types. Asymmetric Psoriatic Arthritis which affects about 70% of patients with psoriatic arthritis and is generally a more mild version. It does not occur in the same joints on both sides of the body and will usually involve fewer than 3 joints. Symmetric Psoriatic Arthritis which accounts for around 25% of the occurrences of psoriatic arthritis, and affects joints on both sides of the body simultaneously. Symmetric Psoriatic Arthritis is the sub-type most similar to rheumatoid arthritis and in 50% of the occurrences may be disabling. Arthritis mutilans occurs in less than 5% of psoriatic arthritis patients. As the name suggests, this sub-type is a more severe, deforming and destructive form of arthritis. Arthritis mutilans can progress over months or years causing severe joint damage. It may also be referred to as chronic absorptive arthritis, and can also occur in rheumatoid arthritis. Also occurring in approximately 5% of psoriatic arthritis sufferers, Distal interphalangeal predominant is a sub-type characterized by inflammation and/or stiffness in the joints at the tips or ends of the fingers and toes. Nail changes are often marked. The final sub-type is known Spondylitis Psoriatic Arthritis is defined by stiffness in the neck or spine, but has also been known to affect the hands and feet, in a manner similar to symmetric arthritis.
The Cause of Psoriatic Arthritis
The cause of psoriatic arthritis is not known, but a combination of genetics, environmental influences and immune system factors may play a role in the development of psoriatic arthritis. Several genetic markers have been to occur more frequently in psoriatic arthritis sufferers. A gene marker known as HLA-B27 has been found in about 50% of patients who have arthritis involving the spine. Blood testing is now available to test for the HLA-B27 gene. Anything that alters the pH balance of the body can result in changes in the immune system which also play a role in the occurrence of psoriatic arthritis.
