What is Psoriatic Arthritis?
Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic autoimmune disease that can cause inflammation, pain, stiffness, and swelling in some people who have psoriasis, which includes red patches of skin and silvery scales. It affects larger joints like knees, ankles, and the spine as well as fingers and toes. Psoriatic arthritis can also cause inflammation where tendons and ligaments attach to bone and can lead to spondylitis in the spine. Psoriatic arthritis can result in permanent joint damage when not treated.
Recognizing Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms
Here are the common psoriatic arthritis symptoms in list form:
- Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, especially in fingers and toes
- Nail changes: pitting, ridging, and/or separation
- Enthesitis: pain at tendon/ligament insertion points, like heels
- Skin psoriasis including red, scaly patches
- Fatigue
- Eye inflammation
- Spinal inflammation also known as spondylitis
- Fluctuating symptom severity
Early Signs of Psoriatic Arthritis and When to Seek Care at Portland Wellness Care
Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling in fingers and toes are often the early signs of psoriatic arthritis. Red, scaly patches may also occur on the skin, as well as morning stiffness. Nail changes are other common symptoms like pitting, discolorization, or separation from the nail bed. Recognizing these symptoms and getting an early diagnosis and treatment can help prevent severe joint damage.
What Causes Psoriatic Arthritis?
In patients with psoriatic arthritis, their immune system attacks joints and skin tissues causing pain, swelling, and lesions on the skin. It’s possible that infections like strep throat may activate the immune system and accelerate the psoriatic arthritic inflammatory process. Genes and environmental factors are also psoriatic arthritis causes. People who suffer from psoriasis have a higher risk of developing psoriatic arthritis
Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment Options at Portland Wellness Care
Portland Wellness Care offers treatment options for psoriatic arthritis including physical therapy, photobiomodulation that reduces inflammation, therapeutic massage, acupuncture, low-light laser therapy, and hot and cold therapy. Call us for a consultation today to relieve your pain and improve the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis.
Medications for Psoriatic Arthritis
Medications for psoriatic arthritis attempt to reduce inflammation, manage symptoms, and prevent joint damage. NSAIDs may provide some pain relief, while corticosteroids offer short-term control of inflammation. DMARDS like methotrexate help slow the progression of disease, and biologics like TNF or IL-17 inhibitors target the immune system. Additional medications like JAK inhibitors, as well as topical treatments are sometimes given to patients who also have psoriasis symptoms.
Lifestyle Changes and Pain Management Techniques
Incorporating these lifestyle changes and techniques, along with guidance from healthcare professionals, can help manage symptoms.
- Gentle stretching
- A daily routine that includes low-impact exercise
- Stress reduction techniques
- Heat or cold therapy
- Eating an anti-inflammatory diet
- Maintaining a healthy weight
Physical Therapy and Exercise for Symptom Relief
Physical therapy and exercise can help manage psoriatic arthritis symptoms by increasing mobility, and joint function while reducing pain levels. Physical therapy provides gentle stretches and low-impact range-of-motion exercises to help strengthen muscles around joints and maintain flexibility. Medical massage therapy can reduce muscle tension, improve circulation, and decrease inflammation, while heat and cold therapy can soothe stiffness and alleviate swelling and pain. Incorporating physical therapy and routine exercise reduces inflammation, and fights fatigue to ensure better overall health and quality of life for psoriatic arthritis patients.
Alternative and Holistic Approaches to Treating Psoriatic Arthritis
As a complement to traditional treatments for psoriatic arthritis, alternative treatment approaches could include heat and cold therapy, therapeutic massage, acupuncture, low-light laser therapy, yoga, Tai Chi, and meditation. Ensuring you get good quality sleep, and reduce environmental triggers may also help reduce inflammation.
Can Psoriatic Arthritis Cause Fatigue?
Because psoriatic arthritis causes an overactive immune system, it can lead to fatigue and disrupt sleep patterns. Chronic inflammation is involved. It can also affect the eyes, causing uveitis, leading to redness, pain, and light sensitivity. Both of these symptoms can impact your daily life, which emphasizes the importance of getting proper psoriatic arthritis treatment and medical support.
What Are the Long-Term Effects of Psoriatic Arthritis?
Without effective treatment, the long-term effects of severe psoriatic arthritis may lead to permanent joint damage, reduced mobility, and exacerbate other health issues due to persistent inflammation. It can also cause bone erosion, joint fusion, and vision damage. With early diagnosis and ongoing treatment, these potential long-term effects can be minimized.
Can Psoriatic Arthritis Be Prevented?
There is no current cure for the prevention of psoriatic arthritis, but our treatment options at Portland Wellness Care can help relieve your symptoms. Avoiding triggers like infections or skin injuries may also reduce your symptoms. Early diagnosis of psoriasis might minimize the possibility of psoriatic arthritis from developing. Proactive treatment with Portland Wellness Care physical therapy can make a significant difference in managing psoriatic arthritis.
