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Psoriatic arthritis actually consists of two separate condition: psoriasis and arthritis. Psoriasis is very common and involves the development of raised, red skin patches and scales on the skin. With psoriasis, the skin’s appearance changes while arthritis is related to the inflammation of joints.

Autoimmune Disease

Psoriatic arthritis is thought of as an autoimmune disease, meaning that aspects of your immune system, such as cells and antibodies, begin attacking their own tissues. The chances of a person having psoriatic arthritis and not have suffered at one time or another from psoriasis isn’t great. The likelihood of developing arthritis increases when the symptoms of the skin are severe.

Men and women are both equally affected by this condition. Though, men have a tendency to suffer from spondylitic forms affecting their spines, while women are victims of rheumatoid forms that affect the joints. While people of all ages can develop it, those in the range of 35-55 are at the greatest risk.

The causes have yet to be determined, though factors related to the immune system and genetics are thought of as triggers for the onset of the disease. Ultimately, psoriatic arthritis is characterized as an inflammatory process causing a great deal of pain and swelling.

As a matter of fact, one of the key symptoms of is experiencing swelling and pain in their fingers and toes. This is what can result in what’s referred to as ‘sausage’ fingers or toes.

Range of motion is also inhibited in the areas affected from psoriatic arthritis. In the morning, stiffness and fatigue are common symptoms. The ligaments and tendons will have swelling and pain, while fingernails and toenails will being coming up from the skin, or small holes may occur which are referred to as pits.

Arthritis means inflammation of the joints. Contrary to popular perception, it is not a disease that strikes only the old. It can attack any one at any age. It is a degenerative disease with no permanent cure. It is also the leading cause of pain and disability in Americans.

Arthritis can affect the muscles and tendons, and even some of the major organs. There are more than 100 different arthritic conditions. The most common symptoms of arthritis are redness, swelling and pain. Pain may or may not be accompanied by inflammation. The affected area may or may not be hot to touch but it will definitely be painful.

In people who take to sports, the risks of injury are more. When an injury takes place, the chances of inflammation are high as inflammation is the body’s way of healing the injured area. In case of arthritis, this defense mechanism turns against itself. Inadvertently, the body tries to destroy its own joints, leading to continual pain and mobility problems.

Arthritis needs effective care and management so that life can go on in a normal manner. For effective treatment of arthritis, it is important to arrest the inflammation as early as possible so that sufferers can manage the pain and restriction of movement, stay active and live their lives happily.

Unfortunately, most patients leave off going to a specialist until their condition is too far gone.

The aim of arthritic treatment is two-fold: to arrest inflammation and to manage the pain. Relief can come in a variety of forms, like pain-killers, anti-inflammatory pills, pain relieving ointments or topical creams. In some cases, doctors recommend the use of supports and special shoes to help patients manage pain (examples include braces, splints etc). Physical therapy is another effective form of treating arthritic pain. Patients who are overweight are asked to lose weight so they can avoid unnecessary pain.

In cases where patients are unable to find pain relief through non-surgical treatment methods, surgery may be recommended. The kind of surgery will depend on:

• Type of arthritis
• The area of arthritis
• The impact of the condition
• The age of the patient

In some cases, more than one surgery may be required. In cases where arthritis treatment begins early, a relatively simple arthroscopic surgery may suffice. As the condition worsens, more complicated forms of surgery may be required to arrest inflammation. Bone graft and ankle replacement are some examples. These treatment options have a high success rate. However, these corrective measures may fail in the due course of aging, in which case, inflammation may return. A repeat surgery solves the problem.

As already mentioned, arthritis does not have a permanent cure at the moment. Doctor’s attempts are directed at helping patients enjoy a high quality of life and delay the crippling pain of arthritis for as long as possible. Diet, exercise, medication and other treatment procedures help patients achieve this.