About 10 percent to 30 percent of people with psoriasis also develop psoriatic [pronounced sore-ee-AA-tic] arthritis, which causes pain, stiffness and swelling in and around the joints.

Early recognition, diagnosis and treatment of psoriatic arthritis can relieve pain and inflammation and possibly help prevent progressive joint involvement and damage. Without treatment, psoriatic arthritis can potentially be disabling and crippling.

Psoriatic arthritis is a less common form of arthritis. It affects both men and women in equal numbers, and usually between the ages of 20 and 50. Up to 30% of people with psoriasis will also get psoriatic arthritis. Although psoriasis may start at any age (commonly in the late teens), the arthritis component usually makes its appearance later - in the 20s, 30s and 40s. Commonly, psoriasis shows first, but in a small percentage of people (approximately 15%), arthritis may show first.

Psoriatic Arthritis Causes

A particular combination of genes makes some people more likely to get psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Current research suggests that something (perhaps an infection) acts as a trigger in people who are susceptible to this type of arthritis because of their genetic make-up. No specific infection has been found and it may be that a variety of infections (including bacteria that live in patches of psoriasis) can trigger the disease.

Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms

Symptoms associated with psoriatic arthritis vary in how they occur (i.e. symmetrical or asymmetrical) and what joints are affected. Any joint in the body can be affected. When psoriasis causes pitting and thickened or discolored fingernails, the joints nearest the fingertips are likely to become arthritic.

In most patients, the psoriasis precedes the arthritis by months to years. The arthritis frequently involve the knees, ankles, and joints in the feet. Usually, only a few joints are inflamed at a time. The inflamed joints become painful, swollen, hot, and red. Sometimes, joint inflammation in the fingers or toes can cause swelling of the entire digit, giving them the appearance of a "sausage." Joint stiffness is common and is typically worse early in the morning.

Other Symptoms include:

·    Silver or grey scaly spots on the scalp, elbows, knees and/or lower end of the spine.
·    Pitting of fingernails/toenails


Psoriatic Arthritis  Diagnosis

Skin and nail changes characteristic of psoriasis with accompanying arthritic symptoms are the hallmarks of psoriatic arthritis. A blood test for rheumatoid factor, antibodies that suggest the presence of rheumatoid arthritis, is negative in nearly all patients with psoriatic arthritis. X rays may show characteristic damage to the larger joints on either side of the body as well as fusion of the joints at the ends of the fingers and toes.

Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment

Treatment plans are designed to reduce inflammation in the joints, reduce pain and prevent further damage.  Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used to control the pain and swelling of the arthritis. Your doctor may inject steroids directly into affected joints. Other drugs, such as methotrexate and an antimalarial drug known as hydroxychloroquine, may also be used. Other more aggressive treatments include corticosteroid injections into the joints or injections of gold salts for patients with more destructive joint damage. Surgery may be necessary in cases of very severe

Read more about Arthritis Pain Relief, Back Pain Relief and Joint Pain Relief

There are over 100 forms of arthritis and other rheumatic diseases. These diseases may cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in joints and other supporting structures of the body such as muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones. Some forms can also affect other parts of the body, including various internal organs.

Studies have shown that exercise helps people with arthritis in many ways. Exercise reduces joint pain and stiffness and increases flexibility, muscle strength, cardiac fitness, and endurance. It also helps with weight reduction and contributes to an improved sense of well-being.

An exercise program can include anything from walking around the block, taking a yoga class, or playing a round of golf. In this section we've attempted to give you all the information you will need on how to start exercising and the proper way to incorporate exercise into the management of your arthritis.

As their names indicate, range-of-motion and stretching exercises have different purposes and thus target different parts of a joint. Range of Motion exercises help maintain or restore normal joint movement and relieve stiffness. Whereas, stretching exercises help maintain or restore normal flexibility to the joint's muscles and tendons.

Aerobic or endurance exercises (e.g., bicycle riding) improve cardiovascular fitness, help control weight, and improve overall function. Weight control can be important to people who have arthritis because extra weight puts extra pressure on many joints. Some studies show that aerobic exercise can reduce inflammation in some joints.

Side bends: Put hands on hips. Bend from the waist on one side, then come back up. Repeat on the other side.

Shoulder shrugs: Raise one or both shoulders up toward the ears. Lower and repeat.

Strengthening exercises can help to improve joint stability and decrease pain. Examples of exercises that build strength include the use of free weights, weight machines, or body weight (eg, modified squats to build knee strength).

Strength-building moves. Extra muscle helps support your joints, which may help reduce pain. The key to building muscle is resistance exercises, which involve pushing, pulling or bending your joints against a force. Even walking (pushing against gravity) builds muscles. As you get stronger, increase the resistance by adding hand weights or resistance bands. Unlike your daily flexibility exercises, try to do resistance exercises two or three times a week. Leave a day in between each session to give your body a chance to recover.

Aerobic arthritis exercises aren’t just good for your heart, but also aid in your treatment of arthritis pain and inflammation. Plus, aerobic arthritis exercises help you burn calories. (Weight does add to arthritis pain, because it puts added stress on joints like the knee joints.)

Yoga has long been an ultimate exercise for arthritis patients. Yoga can help bring relief to joints, decrease pain and relax muscles. It is also a good range-of-motion exercise as it includes controlled movements, maintaining pressures, and deep breathing relaxation. However this exercise must be carefully used if the condition is getting worse rapidly and try not to put pressure on the inflamed joints.

Talk to your doctor and/or health professional before starting an exercise program. A physiotherapist or exercise physiologist can suggest safe exercises and make sure you are doing your exercises correctly to prevent an injury.

Read more about Arthritis Pain Relief, Back Pain Relief and Joint Pain Relief