Link to MamasHealth.com
MamasHealth.com Home
Bone Information

Arthritis
Arthritis Treatments
Avascular Necrosis
Baker's Cyst
Bextra
Bones
Bone Fracture
Bone Spur
Cervical Spondylosis
Degenerative Disc
Food for your Bones
Gout
Hammer Toe
Healthy Bones
Heel Pain
Herniated Disk
Joint Dislocation
Joint Replacement
Kyphosis
Legg-Calve Disease
Low Back Pain
OsteoArthritis
OsteoArthritis and Vioxx
Osteogenesis
Osteomyelitis
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis & Men
Paget's Disease
Polymyositis
Psoriatic Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid Arthritis and Celebrex
Scoliosis
Shin Splints
Stress Fractures

Links

Email Mama

Tips to get more vacation time from work

Health benefits of sex


What is Psoriatic Arthritis?

Psoriatic arthritis is a type of arthritis that is associated with psoriasis. Psoriasis a chronic skin condition characterized by inflamed, red, raised areas that develop silvery scales.

Psoriatic arthritis is generally mild and involves only a few joints. However, in a few people, Psoriatic arthritis is severe and affects the fingers and the spine. When the spine is affected, the symptoms are very much like those of ankylosing spondylitis.

What Causes Psoriatic Arthritis?  

The exact cause of psoriatic arthritis is not known. However, people with psoriatic arthritis have other family members with psoriatic arthritis or with psoriasis.

Symptoms of Psoriatic Arthritis

Symptoms may vary from patient to patient. The most common symptoms of psoriatic arthritis are:    

  • Nail abnormalities
  • Skin lesions of psoriasis
  • Joint swelling and joint pain
  • Hip pain, elbow pain, ankle pain
  • Pain and swelling at the site of attachment of tendons to bone

Can Psoriatic Arthritis be Treated?    

Yes. Treatment of psoriatic arthritis involves medication to reduce pain and swelling, patient education, physical therapy, gentle exercise, rest, heat and cold applications, and occupational therapy.In severe cases, surgery to repair or replace damaged joints will be performed. If the patient also has psoriasis, psoriasis treatment is necessary.

Types of Medicinal Treatments

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications or salicylates are used to reduce the pain and inflammation of the joints. More severe arthritis requires treatment with more powerful drugs called disease modifying antirheumatic drugs . Occasionally, particularly painful joints may be injected with steroid medications. Psoriasis treatment is usually continued or started.

Complications of Psoriatic Arthritis   

The most common complication is a repeated episode of psoriatic arthritis.

Partner with MamasHealth.com

Email Newsletter icon, E-mail Newsletter icon, Email List icon, E-mail List icon Sign up for our Email Newsletter
For Email Marketing you can trust

 

Hot Topics:

Domestic Violence: A pre-existing condition?

Serena: The wanna be vegetarian

Personal Story: How I recovered from my Eating Disorder

Mama wants to help: Food Bank programs and shelter assistance

Lucy Goes Green: Talk dirty to me

How to avoid Swine Flu

What no one will tell you about tummy tuck surgery

Mama's favorite item of the week: Trees for the Future

Foods for weight loss

Win a Gift Bag filled with Goodies from Stonyfield

Information obtained from MamasHealth.com™ should not be used as a substitute for professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner, nor should it be inferred as such. Always check with your doctor if you have any questions or concerns about a specific condition.

Use of this web site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use.
Contact us: PO Box 2170, Pasadena, CA 91102-2170

©2000 - 2009 MamasHealth, Inc.™. All rights reserved

Link to MamasHealth.com