Psoriatic arthritis causes pain in the joints, stiffness and swelling in people suffering from psoriasis. Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition which causes the skin to be covered in patches of thick red inflamed silvery scales. It affects both sexes equally and most sufferers develop psoriatic arthritis followed by the arthritis symptoms.
The nature of symptoms for psoriatic arthritis depends on the type, but they are more or less similar to each other. Generally, patients will suffer pain, stiffness and tenderness at their joint areas in more than one place. Their range of motion is also significantly decreased and the pain amplifies when there are attempt to move the joints. The pain is significantly higher in the morning but subsides throughout the day.
There are 5 different types of psoriatic arthritis with each having their own unique symptoms:
Distal Interphalangeal Predominant
Patients will tend to feel tenderness and pain only in the last joints of their fingers and toes as only the distal interphalangeal joints are affected.
Asymmetrical Arthritis
Only 2 or 3 joints are affected and they are individual and not in pairs. Any joints in the body can feel pain and are often red and warm to touch.
Symmetrical Polyarthritis
Joint swelling in pairs is observed on both sides of the body, such as both elbows for example.
Spondylitis, or Psoriatic Spondyloarthritis
Joints in the spine will be inflamed and is a serious condition that will cause deformity and changes in the posture as well. Inflammation, tenderness and stiffness of the joints in both the back and neck will occur and the ligaments might be affected.
Arthritis Mutilans
The bones and cartilage in the joints will be destroyed and deformed and flares in the skin will be observed. It will affect the small joints in the fingers and toes nearest to the nail and lower back and neck pain can be observed.
The symptoms vary according but the common signs and symptoms are:
- Uncomfortableness, inflexibility, tenderness and swelling in one or more joints.
- Range of motions in joints are greatly reduced.Re
- Stiffness in the morning.
- Lower back experiencing stiffness and inflammation.
- Swelling in the smaller joints of the toes and fingers that are closest to the nail.
- Pitting of nails.
- Fingernails or toenails are detaching.
- Tenderness, pain, or swelling where tendons and ligaments attach to the bone
- Eye inflammation
