When your body’s immune system revs up to fight the skin
disease psoriasis sometimes it turns it’s efforts on your body’s joints
instead. The resulting condition is called psoriatic arthritis and can cause
joint stiffness, swelling, pain, and redness. Prompt diagnosis and treatment
can prevent long term damage.
11)
Doctors are still unraveling the mysteries of
psoriatic arthritis. It’s not clear why some people get this condition and
others do not. 40% of people have a family link, which may point to a genetic
factor. Environmental factors – infections, injuries, and smoking – may also
play a part. 85% of people with psoriatic arthritis have psoriasis first.
22)
Signs may develop quickly or slowly. Joint pain
is the most common symptom of psoriatic arthritis (as with most other kinds of
arthritis). Other symptoms include fatique, lower back pain, swelling of the
fingers or toes, and changes in your nails. For some people these symptoms can
come on quickly with a sudden, sharp pain; for others they come on slowly and
grow worse with time.
33)
Not everyone with psoriasis gets arthritis.
Estimations are about half of people who develop psoriasis will get associated
joint pain. Sympoms generally occur in men and women equally, between the ages
of 30-50, and, on average, start 10 years after diagnosis.
44)
There are five types of psoriatic arthritis:
a.
Symmetric arthritis affects the same joints on
both sides of the body.
b.
Asymmetic arthritis does not affect joints
equally.
c.
Distal interphalangeal predominant
arthritis causes pain in the ends of fingers and toes.
d.
Spondylitis affects the spinal column.
e.
Arthritis mutilans is a rare but severe and
destructive form.
55)
Many people remain undiagnosed. A recent survey
from the National Psoriasis Foundation found that approximately 2 million
Americans has been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis. However, many people are
not diagnosed until two years after their first symptoms. About 1 in 5 people
with psoriasis but without a psoriatic arthritis diagnosis reported pain or
swelling in the joints.
66)
There is no single test for psoriatic arthritis.
If you are displaying symptoms, talk with your doctor as they may do blood
tests, do x-rays or scans, examine your joints, and talk to you about your
symptoms in order to rule out other types of arthritis.
77)
Specialists help you get the right treatment.
Your primary care physician or dermatologist may be the first one you talk to
about your symptoms but he or she may recommend you to a rheumatologist as
well. This specialist has training in identifying and treating all types of
arthritis.