What Do You Know About Psoriatic Arthritis?

About 15% of people with psoriasis (red, raised, scaly patches on the skin) get psoriatic arthritis. When you have this kind of arthritis, your immune system attacks your joints. The condition causes pain, stiffness, and swelling, usually in the fingers and toes. It can also affect your lower back, wrists, knees, or ankles.

Experts don't know all the reasons why some people get it and others don’t, but the condition seems to run in families. Up to 40% of people with it have a family history of joint or skin disease. If you have a parent with psoriasis, you’re more likely to get it and psoriatic arthritis.

You don't have to eat them! Wrap the frozen bag (or a bag of ice) in a towel and put it on your achy, swollen joints for some temporary relief. The icy cold curbs inflammation. A warm bath or shower, a hot pack, or a warm towel also can help with aching muscles, joint pain, and soreness.

Pitted, crumbly, or discolored nails are common with the disease. Sometimes, fingernails or toenails come away from the nail bed, or they look like they have tiny holes in them. People who have a lot of joint pain and skin patches tend to have the most damage to their nails.

Each of the five kinds can look different for every person. One mild form affects five or more joints in pairs (like both knees or both elbows) on either side of your body. Another calmer version can show up anywhere, usually in less than five joints. The third type causes pain and swelling in your fingers and toes closest to the nail. The fourth affects the spine and joints linking your spine to your pelvis. The last type, called arthritis mutilans, is the rarest. It causes severe damage, usually to fingers or toes.

Usually, people who get psoriatic arthritis already have psoriasis. If you have that skin condition, tell your doctor about any aches and pains. Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis can include:

• Stiffness
• Pain
• Throbbing
• Swelling
• Tenderness in joints
• Swollen fingers and toes
• Redness and pain in the eye

Early treatment can limit damage to your joints.

It’s good for you to be active. Regular exercise can relieve pain and make it easier for you to move. It also helps protect your joints by making the muscles around them stronger. 

Choose exercises that are easy on the joints, like cycling and swimming. If you're not active now, start slowly and get your doctor's OK. You can start with 5 minutes of slow walking and work your way up to 30 minutes a day, most days of the week.

But there are treatments for the pain, swelling, skin, and joint disease. Your doctor might suggest you take aspirin or ibuprofen. Or, if your symptoms are severe, they may give you a prescription for drugs that curb inflammation or work on your immune system. Exercise and a healthy lifestyle will make a big difference for you, too.