Psoriatic Arthritis is a form of arthritis that causes swelling and stiffness around joints. It mostly affects people with psoriasis (a skin condition that causes a red, scaly rash, especially on your elbows, knees, back, buttocks, and scalp.
Causes
Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease and its cause is still unknown. Researchers suspect that some people develop it due to hereditary and environmental factors. Other factors include age and infection (e.g. HIV).
Symptoms
- Pain, swelling or stiffness in and around your joints, heels, buttock, back, knee and neck (spondylitis)
- swollen fingers or toes (dactylitis),
- Pitting, discolouration and thickening of your nails
- Silver or grey scaly spots on the elbows, scalp, lower spine and knees.
- Small, round spots on the arms, legs and torso.
- toenails or fingernails detachment
- Fatigue
Treatment
Treatment for psoriatic arthritis includes splinting, exercises, heat and cold therapy, pain management, hydrotherapy, manual techniques, medications like NSAIDs, DMARDs & surgery.