Signs of Psoriatic Arthritis

Arthritis really affects the way you’re able to do things, like opening a jar or walking up the steps. The tricky part is that there are many different types of arthritis that can affect your body. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are probably the most well known, and psoriatic arthritis is another type of this disorder that can wreak havoc on your life.

At Southern Pain Specialists, we’re versed in many different kinds of arthritis that affect your body. If you’re suffering from psoriatic arthritis, Dr. Kenneth Varley can help you get the treatment you need to fight this type of inflammatory arthritis at its core.

Understanding psoriatic arthritis

If you’ve ever been diagnosed with psoriasis, you know that it leads to red areas on your skin that often look dry and scaly. When you have psoriasis, you’re at risk for psoriatic arthritis. Both of these conditions are autoimmune problems, meaning your immune system attacks healthy tissues in your body by mistake.

Psoriatic arthritis most often occurs when you’ve already been diagnosed with psoriasis. However, in some cases, you may not show outward signs of psoriasis when you’re diagnosed with this form of arthritis.

This condition can hit you at any age but most often occurs between the ages of 30 and 50. It affects the joints in your body and can lead to a number of unpleasant symptoms if it goes untreated. Having psoriatic arthritis also puts you at risk for developing other types of arthritis, including osteoarthritis and other inflammatory forms of arthritis.

What are the symptoms?

Psoriatic arthritis is like many other types of arthritis in the fact that it affects the joints in your body. You may notice pain in certain joints along with several other symptoms. The signs of this condition depend on the severity of your psoriatic arthritis. However, there are a few common signs that you can look out for.

Swollen joints

One of the main issues with psoriatic arthritis is inflammation. When this occurs in your joints, they may look swollen and red. Your joints may feel warm to the touch as well.

Often, the smaller joints in your body are affected by psoriatic arthritis before other joints. Your fingers and toes may appear to swell up — this is a key symptom of psoriatic arthritis.

Stiffness in your joints

Stiffness in your joints is also due to the inflammatory response your body has to arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis usually leads to stiffness in your back, ankles, and knees. Your toes and fingers may also be affected.

Joint pain

Pain in your joints is common in many different forms of arthritis. This is no different with psoriatic arthritis, as many people with this type of arthritis experience pain in joints such as their knees and low back.

Nail pitting or separation

If you have psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis, you could see small dents in your nails, which is known as pitting. You may see ridges as well. Psoriasis sometimes makes your nails look as though they’re affected by fungus.

Fatigue

Fatigue with psoriatic arthritis is pretty common. You may have mild fatigue or feel as though you can’t make it all day without resting. 

When you notice that you have several of these symptoms and you suffer from psoriasis, chances are that you may have psoriatic arthritis. After evaluating your symptoms, Dr. Varley gets you the treatment you need to relieve your pain and manage your condition.