Knowing Arthritic Psoriasis

Most of us know what psoriasis is but not all of us are probably aware that there is a condition known as arthritic psoriasis. What is this condition and what is its relation to both psoriasis and arthritis?

Arthritic Psoriasis

Some individuals probably feel bad enough that they have either psoriasis or arthritis. It must therefore be doubly terrible to suffer from both conditions at the same time. Arthritic psoriasis is actually a condition in which individuals show both the symptoms of psoriasis and arthritis. An individual could therefore have red scaly skin patches and inflamed joints.

Both conditions do not result in immediate death but they can both be debilitating. Among many individuals, the red and silver patches of psoriasis make it difficult to appear in public without being thoroughly covered. Having arthritis makes things more difficult because it limits movement. It also causes a lot of pain and discomfort. The condition usually appears in people in their 40s and 50s. In some cases, psoriasis may develop first followed by arthritis. The second condition may follow only after a number of years have passed.

Symptoms

The common signs of psoriasis are red patches with silver skin scales in some parts of the body like elbows, knees, arms and legs. Arthritis on the other hand is marked by swollen and painful joints. Different individuals may suffer from different kinds of arthritic psoriasis. Some may only have pain on the joints of one side of the body while others may experience pain on similar joints on both sides. In rare cases, a person could have finger joints affected by arthritic psoriasis.

Two difficult forms of this disease are spondylitis and arthritis mutilans. The former is arthritic psoriasis that affects the spine and which will eventually make movement painful and labored. The pain felt could include both the back and the neck. The later is a rare form of arthritic psoriasis which destroys some of the bones in the hand.

Some individuals may additionally develop ridged nails and acne as signs of arthritic psoriasis. Sometimes, arthritic psoriasis may also affect the eyes and lungs, causing inflammation in these areas.

Causes

There is no clear definitive cause identified for arthritic psoriasis. It has been determined though that individuals who have family members with this condition have a higher risk of developing it too. It is believed that those who may have genetically inherited the condition have immune systems that inexplicably function irrationally.

Treatment

Just as there is no cure for psoriasis and arthritis, there is also no cure for the combined ailment. Inflammation and pain however may be minimized through the use of therapy and medications. Arthritis medications seem to work just as well among arthritic psoriatic patients. Common medications include NSAIDs, DMARDs, immuno-suppresants and corticosteroids.

Therapeutic techniques to relieve pain and inflammation may also be attempted with the approval of a doctor. A patient may therefore perform therapist formulated exercises that include stretching and walking. Gentle swimming and floating may also be prescribed. The water will help take off the extra weight on affected joints.