Psoriatic arthritis, also called arthritis psoriasis, is an illness of the skin and joints that results in inflammation. Symptoms of psoriasis are patches of skin that are raised, scaly, and red. About ten percent of people with psoriasis also develop inflammatory arthritis. When these two diseases are present it is called arthritis psoriasis.
The psoriasis usually, around 80% of the time, occurs first in cases of psoriatic arthritis. Only 5% of the time do the two conditions begin at the same time. The time between onset of the two conditions can range from months to years.
Both women and men, usually in their forties and fifties, can get arthritis psoriasis. There is no known cause of arthritis psoriasis. At this time there is no cure but there are a wide variety of treatments.
Psoriasis can occur anywhere on the body. The scalp, knees, and elbows are three of the most common areas affected by psoriasis. Arthritis causes joints to inflame and become swollen, hot, painful, and red. The hip, knees, ankles, and wrists are some of the most affected joints with arthritis psoriasis.
Discuss with your doctor the best medications to control your condition. Common drugs for arthritis psoriasis include corticosteroids, immunosuppressant medications, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), disease-modifying ant-irheumatic drugs (DMARDs), or TNF-alpha inhibitors. Immunosuppressant medications are prescribed for severe cases, as are TNF-alpha inhibitors. Due to the side effects these can cause, they are only prescribed if the arthritis psoriasis is too severe to respond to other medications.
Corticosteroids are useful for mild cases of arthritis psoriasis. These can be taken orally or injected into the joint. They can have serious side effects and are not prescribed long term. NSAIDs are another drug that should be used on a short term basis. These can be over-the-counter, like aspirin, or be prescribed by your doctor. DMARDs can take months to work, but they can limit joint damage. They may be prescribed with a pain reliever.
Arthritis psoriasis is a serious and painful condition, but more treatments are always being developed. As with any illness, your doctor is the best source of information for the most effective treatments for your psoriatic arthritis.
Related posts:
- Useful suggestions On Arthritis Pain Relief The pain experienced by arthritic victim is so agonizing...
