This arthritis is associated with skin disease named Psoriasis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Psoriatic Arthritis?
There are up to 100 types of arthritis. Psoriatic Arthritis is one type of inflammatory arthritis.
Who gets Psoriatic Arthritis?
Psoriatic Arthritis is often associated with scaly skin condition called psoriasis.
This disease affects males and females equally and seen in at any age.
What is reason for Psoriatic Arthritis?
Immune system dysfunction leads to Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis.
What are the symptoms of Psoriatic Arthritis?
Psoriatic Arthritis can affect any joint of the body like:
Small joints of hand and feet
Neck and spine joints
Joints near the nails.
Large joints only
Severe deforming arthritis
Most of the patients get skin disease either before or with arthritis.
How is Psoriatic Arthritis diagnosed?
Psoriatic Arthritis is diagnosed based on presence of classical symptoms and absence of features to suggest any other type of arthritis.
There is no single test which can confirm diagnosis of Psoriatic Arthritis.
Which are investigations needed in Psoriatic Arthritis?
Compete blood count, Liver function test and Renal functions test are done before starting therapy.
Affected joints are studied by X-ray if needed.
How is Psoriatic Arthritis treated?
Non steroidal Anti Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS: DICLOFENAC, NAPROXEN, ETORICOXIB, ACECLOFENAC etc.):
NSAIDs are helpful in reducing pain and swelling of joints. Patient’s age, weight etc is considered while using these drugs.
Prednisolone like steroids are used in severe disease for short period. If only single joint is involved steroid can be injected in that joint.
Disease Modifying Anti Rheumatic Drugs (DMARDS):
Methotrexate, Leflunomide, Sulphasalazine etc are these types of drugs. They are used to control disease and prevent further damage to joints.
Etanercept, Infliximab, Adalimumab etc are new drugs that are used in controlling difficult disease where first line drugs fails. They control the disease and prevent joint damage.
There is no direct relationship of food with any arthritis except Gout.
Patients with gouty arthritis can take all vegiterian food including pulses. They should avoid non veg diet.
There is no relation of these diseases with sour food.
Sour food does not increase arthritis pain. The diseases does not improve after stopping sour food.
Arthritis patients should take healthy and easy to digest food according to their need.
Patients with involvement of joints of legs should avoid gaining weight.
Side Effects of Drugs
Side effects do not occur in most (90%) patients taking medicines used for arthritis.
Medicines are prescibed after considering patients age,weight, type/ seriousness of disease, associated other diseases etc.
It is taken care that minimum drugs in smallest doses are prescibed to the each patient.
Each and every complain occurring to the patients is not necessarily due to medicines.
Stop medicines if you suspect side effects.
Consult your family doctor immediately.
Later inform your rheumatologist or request your family doctor to speak to your rheumatologist.
The patients whose joints are completely destroyed by arthrits and who face significant disability in carrying out daily activities despite adequate medicines need joint replacement surgery.
Commonly replaced joints include knees, hips, shoulders and elbows.
The patients who have arthritis related swelling in single large joint can undergo arthroscopic surgery.
Patients who have involvement of spine in arthritis may need surgery when their nerve root or spinal cord is compressed.
In properly selacted patients with deformed fingers and toes a specially trained surgeon can do corrective surgery.