Psoriatic arthritis is a medical condition that leads to pain and swelling in your joints, making it difficult to walk correctly. If you have psoriasis, you are likely to get affected by psoriatic arthritis. Chronic plaque psoriasis is the most common psoriasis that causes red patches and raised skin with silver or white flakes. The patches can appear on the elbows, knees, back, buttock, and scalp. Moreover, it can cause minor dents on the finger and toenails; as a result, the nail lifts away from the fingers and toes.
Psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis are autoimmune conditions that occur due to the attack of the immune system on healthy body parts. One out of every five people with psoriasis may face psoriatic arthritis. Some people may observe arthritis conditions even before experiencing psoriasis. However, they may suffer from other arthritis types like osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.
In some rare cases, psoriatic arthritis occurs without psoriasis symptoms. It can affect you, even if you are an adult.
The symptoms of psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis are similar to one another. Both of them cause pain, swelling, and stiffness in your joints region. However, the distinct symptoms of psoriatic arthritis are:
- Swelling in fingers and toes
Your hands and toes can swell during psoriatic arthritis. Moreover, you may also witness changes in your nail colour and have chipped nails. - Foot pain
You may feel intense pain in your foot’s sole or at the back of your heels. It is because psoriatic arthritis causes inflammation around the tendons and ligaments of your feet. - Lower back pain
Psoriatic arthritis may lead to spondylitis, which leads to inflammation in the vertebral column and the bones joining the spine and pelvis. The inflamed spinal joints lead to lower back pain.
Psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis are chronic diseases that may re-occur frequently. Therefore, it is suggested to treat them properly. If you have psoriasis, be watchful of the symptoms mentioned above. In addition, it is recommended to contact a doctor if you feel any joint pain. Psoriatic arthritis can severely impact your body joints. Therefore, you must look for immediate medical attention to improve your condition.
Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune response and occurs when your body parts are attacked severely by your immune system. It can damage healthy tissues and cells, leading to inflamed joints and overproduction of skin cells.
The causes of autoimmune disorders are still unknown. However, genetics and environmental factors can play a significant role in influencing autoimmune diseases. For example, infections and physical trauma can lead to the development of psoriatic arthritis.
Risk factors of psoriatic arthritis include:
- Psoriasis
It is a significant contributor to psoriatic arthritis. Chipped, pitted, and deformed nails are more likely to develop psoriatic arthritis. - Family history
If your parents or any blood relatives have psoriatic arthritis, you will likely develop this ailment. Therefore, your genes and family medical history are the factors that affect your exposure to psoriatic arthritis. - Age
If you are 30-50 years, you are more likely to develop this arthritis form. However, psoriatic arthritis can affect anyone in any age group.
Apart from chipped fingers and toenails, psoriatic arthritis can damage your finger bones and cause permanent disability. It is because this arthritis condition gives rise to arthritis mutilans. Arthritis mutilans are a severe form of disease that destroys finger bones leading to permanent deformity. Moreover, you may develop blurry vision and conjunctivitis and cardiovascular diseases.
Proper diagnosis and on-time treatment are the keys to limit psoriatic arthritis. During your initial diagnosis, your doctor may:
- Examine your joints properly to check the swelling.
- Check your toes to look for swelling. They may press your heels and soles to examine the extent of swelling and tenderness.
- Check your finger and toenails to look for chipped and flaked nails.
It is hard to find the causes of psoriatic arthritis from a single test. You may have to go through a detailed examination to rule out the possibility of gout and rheumatoid arthritis. Your doctor may ask you to undergo X-rays and laboratory tests.
Imaging tests
The typical imaging tests include:
- X-ray: It can help diagnose the joint deformity that happens in psoriatic arthritis. X-rays provide a picture of your fingers and toes.
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): It studies the changes in your lower back and feet. It provides a clear image of soft and hard tissues that are used to study the tendons and ligaments in your feet. MRI leverages strong magnetic fields and radio waves to take a clear picture of your body.
The imaging tests can rule out the possibilities of other arthritis forms like rheumatoid arthritis and gout.
Laboratory tests
The standard laboratory tests to examine psoriatic arthritis include:
- Rheumatoid factor (RF): It is an antibody present in the blood of people with rheumatoid arthritis. However, RF traces are not present in people with psoriatic arthritis. The test helps in checking the arthritis kind that you may have.
- Joint fluid test: Your doctor may extract fluid from your knees. It is used to eliminate the chances of gout. If the fluid contains uric acid crystals, it means you have gout and not psoriatic arthritis.
Laboratory tests are performed to confirm the existence of psoriatic arthritis. However, you can discuss the joint pain with your doctors to start diagnosis early.
Homeopathy for psoriatic arthritis helps manage pain, stiffness, and swelling. It works on the root causes of psoriatic arthritis to provide more significant relief. Homeopathy is safe to use, and research has established that it does not develop any side effects. Moreover, it reduces the risk of the re-occurrence of the disease.
Homeopathy medicines strengthen your immune system. It has proved helpful in fighting autoimmune diseases and hence can provide effective results in psoriatic arthritis. Homeopathy treatment improves your immune response and helps in producing antibodies. The enhanced antibody levels fight foreign particles like viruses and bacteria, thus keeping you disease-free.
Homeopathic treatments reduce inflammation and heal your body from within. When inflammation is managed, it reduces swelling, pain, and joint discomfort. Homeopathy aims to:
- Control pain, redness, swelling, inflammation, and tender skin around your joints.
- Control the underlying causes that impact your health and give rise to diseases.
- Control the spread of illness and promote healing.
- Control the deformity and disability.
Homeopathy is widely recognised as an alternative treatment and is trusted by millions all over the globe. It cures your body from within and gives positive outcomes in 6-8 weeks. As a result, you can see a positive change in your arthritis condition. However, it is suggested to take the medicines in the prescribed doses as recommended by your doctor. Try not to reduce the quantities or make alterations in your prescription. The treatment duration depends on your disease and its severity.
For best results, you can take homeopathy medicines for the prescribed duration. These medicines work on the causes and hence takes time to show results. Moreover, they prevent the development of new symptoms and complications.
