Psoratic Arthritis
In many people, psoratic arthritis symptoms are observed before few months of the arthritis. Psoratic arthritis is a chronic disease, in which swelling occurs at the joints and results into unbearable pain. And, it is also a skin condition in which skin inflammation takes place. Thus, the patients who have psoriatic and have inflammation on their joints are diagnosed as suffering from this type of arthritis.
The main cause of psoratic arthritis is currently not known. But, till now it is considered to be basically caused due to genetic, immune and some environmental factors. It is also investigated by the researchers that infectious agents and some environmental factors may be the main factor for psoriatic arthritis.
Psoratic arthritis
In psoratic arthritis, red and patchy skin inflammation with scaling occurs on the skin. Tips of the knees and elbows, the naval, the scalp and the area around anus or genital areas of the patients suffering from this chronic disease also gets affected. It is observed that 10 percent of the psoriasis patients further develop this Arthritis.
Most common psoratic arthritis symptoms are same as that of arthritis occurring in ankles, knees and other joints of the feet. and this becomes the main reason why a large number of people mistake it as simple arthritis. But in Psoratic Arthritis, onlyfew joints are inflamedat a time . These inflamed joints later become hot, red, swollen and painful. Even inflammation in the finger or toes joints cause swelling of the entire portion giving the appearance of ‘sausage’. Joint stiffness is a very common symptom observed in psoriatic arthritis patients. this stiffness becomes more painful or worse during early mornings.
There are mainly five types of psoratic arthritis:
- Symmetric – In this type, both sides of the same joints of the body are affected simultaneously. This symmetric type of arthritis is similar to rumitoid arthritis. And, 50 percent of the psoratic arthritis patients suffer from this type.
- Asymmetric – In asymmetric arthritis both sides of the same joints of the body are not affected simultaneously. In many cases it affects less than three joints of the body.
- Mutilans – Arthritis mutilans is very severe kind of psoratic arthritis which can lead to deformities. About 5 percent of the patients are affected by this type of arthritis.
- Spondylites – In spondylites arthritis, stiffness in the neck or the spine occurs. It also affects feet and hands of the patient.
- Distal interphalangeal predominant – In this type of arthritis stiffness and inflammation occurs in the joints nearer to the ends of the toes and fingers.
Joint injections containing corticosteroids in them can be used to treat Psoratic arthritis. Immunosuppressant and NSAID s can also be used to treat this arthritis. Simpler treatments such as cold and hot compresses can be benefit for some patients. In severe cases, surgery is the best option than treatment with diets, exercise, drugs and other alternatives.
It is very unpleasant disease but, with proper treatment you can live relatively normal life.
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