Is It Psoriatic Arthritis?

Afsane AminGhafouri 2015-10-11 Joint disease Comments Off on Is It Psoriatic Arthritis? 772 Views

Certain forms of arthritis have similar symptoms. Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and psoriatic arthritis can all cause joint pain, inflammation, and a feeling of warmth in your joints.

So how can you tell them apart? There are some symptoms of psoriatic arthritis which set it apart from the others.

Swelling

Joint swelling occurs with both psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis. But psoriatic arthritis commonly causes a unique type of swelling in your fingers or toes.

With psoriatic arthritis, you may actually notice a “sausage-like” swelling in your digits before you notice any pain or swelling in your joints, according to theMayo Clinic. In addition to visible physical changes, these hand and foot deformities can be quite painful as well.

Pain in Your Feet

Joint pain is also common in both rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis. However, psoriatic arthritis is more likely to also cause pain in your tendons, particularly in your feet.

Two conditions that can occur with psoriatic arthritis are plantar fasciitis (pain at the bottom of your foot), and Achilles tendonitis (pain in your heel). This pain occurs where your bones attach to your ligaments, making walking difficult and uncomfortable.

Back Pain

A secondary condition called “spondylitis” may occur with psoriatic arthritis. Also known as lower back pain, spondylitis leads to joint inflammation in two main areas: between your pelvis and spine, and between your spine’s vertebrae.

Psoriatic spondylitis occurs in about 20 percent of people who have psoriatic arthritis, according to the Spondylitis Association of America (SAA).

Morning Stiffness

Both rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis can cause you to feel stiff and inflexible in the morning. This stiffness might make it difficult to move joints on either or both sides of your body.

You might notice similar stiffness when you first stand up after sitting in one spot for a period of time. As you start moving around, you’ll often feel less stiff, according to the American College of Dermatology. But it can last up to 45 minutes or longer.

Eye Pain

Eye swelling and eye pain are other side effects of psoriatic arthritis. Your doctor may diagnose conjunctivitis if you have redness in your eye tissues or around your eyelid.

Other possible eye problems that may go hand-in-hand with psoriatic arthritis include dry eye, vision changes, and lid swelling.

According to research published inPsoriasis Forum, around 30 percent of patients with psoriatic arthritis suffer from eye inflammation.

Check It Out

Because arthritis types are often similar, you should speak to your doctor if you think you have arthritis. An examination, medical history, and discussing your symptoms will all help your doctor make a diagnosis. Your doctor can also give you a blood test to help detect some telltale signs of psoriatic arthritis, such as a high inflammation level and anemia.

With a proper diagnosis and treatment, you can avoid joint damage and relieve pain caused by psoriatic arthritis.