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Psoriatic arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is a condition that causes painful inflammation around the joints. It's linked to the skin condition psoriasis. It causes stiffness, pain and lack of movement in the joints.
Around two in 100 people in the UK have psoriasis. Psoriasis causes red, raised patches on your skin called plaques. Your elbows, knees, lower back and scalp are the most common places to have psoriasis plaques, though they can appear anywhere on your body. Five in 100 people with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis. The more severe your psoriasis is, the more likely you are to develop psoriatic arthritis.
Some people develop psoriatic arthritis before they develop the skin condition, especially if there is a close family history of psoriasis. You can develop psoriatic arthritis at any age, though it's unusual in children. In general, women are slightly more likely to develop the condition than men, particularly after pregnancy or the menopause.
There are a number of different types of psoriatic arthritis. These may affect specific joints, such as your spine, or may affect one or more joints on the same or on both sides of your body.
Symptoms Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis
The symptoms of psoriatic arthritis can be mild or severe and can come and go in the same way that psoriasis does.
You're most likely to have the condition in your hands and feet. However, psoriatic arthritis can also affect larger joints, such as your elbows, knees, hips and spine. The condition can also affect your tendons and ligaments as well as your joints. The symptoms of the condition often develop gradually over a period of time.
The main symptoms of psoriatic arthritis include:
- joint pain
- tiredness and stiffness, especially when you get up in the morning or after resting
- a painful, stiff back and neck (this is called spondylitis)
- swollen and sore joints at the end of your fingers or toes (this is called dactylitis)
- reduced range of movement
- pitted or thickened nails
- headaches and pain in your jaw
- sore and swollen heels
- red, itchy eyes
Bupa On Demand: Musculoskeletal services
If you are concerned about your muscles, bones and joints, Bupa can help you get a diagnosis.
Diagnosis Diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis
Your GP will ask about your symptoms and examine you. He or she may also ask you about your medical history. You may also be asked about any history of psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis in your family.
There is no specific test for diagnosing psoriatic arthritis. However, your GP may ask you to take a blood test or arrange for you to have X-rays. This may help to rule out other types of arthritis.
It's important to have your condition diagnosed early, because this means you can start treatment quickly. The longer psoriatic arthritis is untreated, the more likely it is to become severe and to affect your quality of life.
Treatment Treatment of psoriatic arthritis
There is no cure for psoriatic arthritis. However, there are a number of treatments that can help you to manage the condition and control your symptoms. The aim of treatment for psoriatic arthritis is to reduce the amount of joint pain and swelling that you have. Treatment can also slow down damage to your joints caused by the condition.
There are a number of things you can do to help reduce your symptoms and prevent your condition from getting worse. The main ones are listed below.
- Exercise can strengthen the muscles around your joint and help you to stay flexible. A physiotherapist can show you what types of exercises to do.
- Psoriatic arthritis can make you feel very tired and lethargic. It's important to listen to your body and rest when you need to. This might mean resting during the day.
- Try and stay a healthy weight for your height as being overweight can increase the strain on your joints and make your symptoms worse.
- There are no specific foods that will help you to manage your condition. However, Omega-3 fish oils may help to reduce your symptoms.
There are a number of medicines that can help to relieve your symptoms and some can prevent your condition from getting worse.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can help to control your pain and stiffness. They work by reducing inflammation in your joints. However, they can't stop your arthritis from getting worse or affecting your joints. There are many NSAIDs available, including ibuprofen, naproxen and diclofenac. NSAIDs are usually prescribed for short periods of time to help control your pain. This is because using them for long periods has been linked with heart, kidney and stomach problems.
If your arthritis is more severe, your doctor may prescribe disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). These work by tackling the cause of inflammation in your joints. They can help to slow down the development of the condition as well as easing your symptoms. They can take several weeks to have an effect, so it's important to keep taking them even if they don't seem to be working. DMARDs include methotrexate, sulfasalazine and leflunomide. You may need to take more than one of these medicines. If you're taking DMARDs, you should have regular blood tests to check that your bone marrow, kidneys and liver are working well and to check for side-effects.
If DMARDs don't work for you, your doctor may suggest biologic medicines. These work by targeting certain chemicals that cause inflammation. You can take biologic medicines on their own but your doctor will often give them with DMARDs to make them more effective and to reduce the risk of side-effects. If your condition gets better during the 12 weeks of treatment with biologic medicines, then you will be able to keep taking them. Biologic medicines are given by injection and include infliximab, etanercept and adalimumab.
Your doctor may also suggest a corticosteroid injection into a painful swollen joint. This can help to reduce pain and inflammation while you're waiting for other treatments to start working.
Surgery isn't used as a main treatment for psoriatic arthritis. However, if you have had the condition for a long time and a joint has become badly damaged, your doctor may suggest an operation to replace the affected joint with an artificial one.
Complementary therapies
Many people with psoriatic arthritis use complementary therapies, such as acupuncture and massage to ease pain and discomfort. However, there is no scientific evidence to show that these kinds of treatment work. If you're thinking about using complementary therapies, talk to your GP first. Also, make sure you go to a therapist that is registered with a professional body.
Muscle, bone and joint treatment
At our Bupa Health Centres, we offer self-pay health services for a wide range of conditions, including muscle, bone and joint treatment.Call us on 0845 594 7749 ^Read more
Causes Causes of psoriatic arthritis
The exact cause of psoriatic arthritis isn't known. However, there are a number of factors which may be involved. The main ones are listed below.
- Infection may trigger the development of psoriatic arthritis or make the condition worse.
- Several studies have shown that trauma or stress may cause psoriatic arthritis in people with psoriasis.
- Genetics may play a part in psoriatic arthritis. If you have the condition in your immediate family, you may be more likely to develop the condition yourself.
- Your body's immune system may cause cells to attack your joints, causing inflammation.
Living with psoriatic arthritis Living with psoriatic arthritis
Living with psoriatic arthritis can be difficult and the more severe your condition is, the bigger the impact it's likely to have on your life.
As with many long-term conditions that cause pain and discomfort, having psoriatic arthritis can affect your emotions and relationships with those around you. It can also have an impact on your work, social and sex life. Talk to your doctor about the impact the condition has on your life. You may also find it helpful to contact support groups and talk to other people living with the condition.
If your condition is having a major impact on your life, your GP may refer you to an occupational therapist - a health professional who can give practical assistance to help you manage with everyday tasks and increase your independence.
FAQs FAQs
Does psoriatic arthritis affect your nails?
Yes, if you have psoriatic arthritis then your nails are likely to be affected. Your fingernails are more likely to be affected than your toenails.
Psoriasis can affect your nails, causing changes in nail colour and small dents in your nails called pitting. Sometimes your nail can also become detached from the nail bed. If you have psoriatic arthritis, you're likely to have some changes to your nails. Eight out of 10 people with psoriatic arthritis develop nail problems.
Treatment for nail psoriasis may involve using a cream or ointment called a vitamin D analogue. This slows down the overproduction of nail cells and allows your nails to start growing normally. However, your nails take a long time to grow and you may need to continue your treatment for up to a year for fingernails and up to two years for toenails.
If your toenails are affected you may find it helpful to see a podiatrist - a health professional who specialises in conditions that affect the feet. He or she can help to reduce the pressure on your nails from your shoes, and help to ease any pain or discomfort.
What kind of exercise is best for psoriatic arthritis?
It's important to exercise regularly if you have psoriatic arthritis. Exercise can help to ease stiffness and keeps your joints and muscles strong and flexible. You should follow a programme which includes exercises to strengthen your muscles and improve your range of movement, as well as aerobic exercise to improve your overall fitness.
If you have psoriatic arthritis, exercise is very important. Regular exercise won't make your arthritis worse or damage your joints any further. Without regular exercise your muscles will lose their strength and your joints will become stiffer, less flexible and more painful.
You can perform exercise at different intensities. Moderate means your breathing is faster, your heart rate is increased and you feel warmer. At this level of activity, your heart and lungs are being stimulated and this goes towards making you fitter. Vigorous intensity activity means that your breathing will be much stronger and your heart rate will increase rapidly. You will find it difficult to hold a conversation.
You should aim to do some physical activity every day. The recommended healthy level of physical activity is 150 minutes (two and a half hours) of moderate exercise over a week in bouts of 10 minutes or more. You can do this by carrying out 30 minutes on at least five days each week. Alternatively, you can do 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity.
It's important that you include at least two weekly activities to build up muscle strength, such as exercising with weights. Try to spend as little time as possible being inactive.
Your doctor or physiotherapist can help you to create an individual exercise programme that works for you and which takes your conditions into account.
When you first start to exercise you may feel some discomfort in your muscles. This is normal. However, if an exercise starts to hurt, or if you have pain in your joints, stop the exercise straight away. Check with your doctor or physiotherapist before you start exercise again.
Will my psoriatic arthritis keep getting worse?
If you have a mild form of psoriatic arthritis, it's likely to remain relatively stable over time. With more severe forms, treatment can help to prevent it from getting worse. Starting treatment early can help to prevent it from getting worse.
One in three people have a mild form of psoriatic arthritis, which remains stable over time. However, some people with the condition will have a more severe form that needs long-term treatment. The sooner you have a diagnosis confirmed and start treatment, the better. Treatment can prevent the condition from getting any worse, as well as keeping your symptoms under control. Without treatment, psoriatic arthritis may get worse.
Your day to day life may be affected in some way by psoriatic arthritis. However, it is less likely than other types of arthritis to cause serious disability.
Resources Resources
Further information
- The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance (PAPAA)
01923 672837
- The Psoriasis Association
0845 676 0076
- Arthritis Care
0808 800 4050
- Arthritis Research UK
0300 790 0400
- What is psoriatic arthritis? Psoriasis Association. www.psoriasis-association.org.uk, accessed 2 August 2011
- What is psoriatic arthritis? The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance. www.papaa.org, accessed 2 August 2011
- Diagnosis and management of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN), October 2010. www.sign.ac.uk
- Psoriatic arthritis. Arthritis Care. www.arthritiscare.org.uk, published July 2011
- Psoriatic arthritis. eMedicine. www.emedicine.medscape.com, published March 2011
- Treatments – psoriatic arthritis. The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance. www.papaa.org, accessed 4 August 2011
- Psoriatic arthritis. Arthritis Research UK. www.arthritisresearchuk.org, accessed 4 August 2011
- Biologics. The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance. www.papaa.org, accessed 4 August 2011
- Etanercept, infliximab and adalimumab for psoriatic arthritis. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), August 2010. www.nice.org.uk
- Occupational therapy and psoriatic arthritis. The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance. www.papaa.org, accessed 4 August 2011
- Nail psoriasis. The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance. www.papaa.org, accessed 4 August 2011
- Exercise and arthritis. Arthritis Research UK. www.arthritisresearchuk.org, accessed 4 August 2011
- Exercise and arthritis. Arthritis Care. www.arthritiscare.org.uk, published April 2011
- Keeping active. Arthritis Care. www.arthritiscare.org.uk, published April 2011
- The Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance (PAPAA)
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Produced by Rebecca Canvin, Bupa Health Information Team, January 2012.
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The Hungry Hat Circus of Anchorage visits Homer on Saturday at Bishop's Beach Park for an afternoon of free circus-art skill sharing, an evening "pass the hat" performance and an open Fire Jam. Workshops run from noon to 3 p.m. and include hooping, juggling and poi, or fire spinning. The circu...Thu, 01/09/2014 - 11:03am
Whether it's looking at the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, the impact of climate change or living with the tides, Homer artists have long used a variety of media to explore social and environmental issues. It's no surprise then that when the Homer Prevention Project developed strategies to address unde...Thu, 01/09/2014 - 11:02am
Editor's note: With 2014 marking the Homer News' 50th anniversary, it's the perfect time to look at Homer's past. One event that's been part of Homer winters for more than 50 years is the Homer Winter Carnival. Organizers for this year's Homer Wi...Thu, 01/09/2014 - 10:16am
Ya know, it just doesn't seem right that while we're enjoying balmy weather here in Alaska, subzero cold has descended upon our southern neighbors. Holy Polar Vortex! On Tuesday, it was colder (19 degrees) in Pensacola, Fla., than Homer (34 degrees). The temperatures plunged 50 degrees, from 55 ...Wed, 01/08/2014 - 4:14pm
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Our 2014-15 Concert Season...
1914 Christmas Truce
"Requiem in D minor"
inspiration, and hope
The Civic Chorale is partnering with the Tallahassee Film Society in presenting the cinematic treatment of the Christmas Truce. Joyeux Noel (2005, French, with subtitles) will be presented at the All Saints Cinema, 918½ Railroad Ave at 5 p.m. on Sunday, November 30, 2014. Tickets will be available at the door for $5 to either members of the Chorale or the Society, $8 for non-members. A special combination ticket to both the film and the concert is available to all for $10.
Our Next Concert...
Silent Night
Commemorating the centenary
of the 1914 Christmas Truce
Fall Concert
Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at 7:30pm
TCC Turner Auditorium
Registration and Rehearsal
Tuesday, August 26, 2014 at 6:30pm
Room CH 165, Communications and Humanities Building
Tallahassee Community College
444 Appleyard Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32304-2895
Help us bring you more beautiful music!
"Artistry, Community and Service"
Enriching The Big Bend Through Our Passion for Choral Singing
Leslie Heffner, artistic director
The Tallahassee Civic Chorale is Northwest Florida's best-kept choral music secret! Our 2011 Silver Anniversary celebrated twenty-five years of joyous, heartfelt love of singing, as well as a melding of the academic community of Tallahassee Community College with the surrounding Big Bend music community.
Established in 1986, the Tallahassee Civic Chorale is a non-profit, non-auditioned mixed choir of approximately 55 - 75 singers. The Chorale rehearses weekly, every Tuesday evening from 7:00 - 9:00 pm at Tallahassee Community College.
The Chorale is open to anyone in the Big Bend community. Since 1998, the Civic Chorale has been affiliated with the Tallahassee Community College. TCC students may take the Civic Chorale for college credit. In addition, the Civic Chorale sponsors a music scholarship for TCC students. To enter the Chorale, TCC students must register for course # MUN 1310, College Chorale, for one credit per semester, to a maximum of four credit hours.
The Chorale performs three major concerts during its season, with an eclectic mix of choral masterworks, musical theatre, spirituals, contemporary choral selections and lots of fun. We share our love of singing through "Sing Outs" at local civic events, including the Tallahassee Winter Festival and Springtime Tallahassee. In service to the community, we reach out to those who are otherwise unable to attend cultural events with concerts at nursing homes, retirement centers and assisted living facilities in the greater Tallahassee area.
Photo Acknowledgements
Many thanks to the fine photographers whose work appears on this site...
- Ray Colletti
- Rebecca Levings
- Claire Timm
- Cynthia Valencic
...and many more!