Early Symptoms of Psoriatic Arthritis : Common Causes & Treatment

Psoriatic arthritis is a sort of arthritis experienced by people suffering from psoriasis.

Psoriasis is a medical state in which red and irritable patches develop on the skin.

It is not necessary that every single person suffering from psoriasis will experience the problem of psoriatic arthritis.

Their severity is not at all linked with each other.

Psoriatic arthritis is experienced majorly by the people aged between 30- 55 and has no particular order.

Some people can experience joint pain even before any type of skin irritation and other people suffer after they feel the irritating patches on their skin.

Here are some early signs which will help you to detect this condition

Stiff Joints

Psoriatic arthritis causes stiffness in joints alongside inflammation and severe pain. This problem doesn’t remain persistent with a single joint. It affects and targets multiple joints at a changing ratio of pain and stiffness which keeps fluctuating at times. Along with itchiness and irritation in the skin, this problem persists with pain and stiffness in the joints.It targets ankles, toes, knees, fingers and other joints at an alarming rate of stiffness and pain. The pain and stiffness in the joints don’t remain consistent every time it keeps changing, At times it gets unbearable and the other time you will not experience it at all.

Swollen Joints

Along with stiffness in the joints, a person experiences swollen joints going hand-in-hand with the severe pain that occurs in Arthritis. Its seriousness and severity vary from one person to another in different ratios. Swelling occurs in different joints according to the severity of Psoriatic Arthritis. The swollen and hurting joint varies from one person to another.

There are not a fixed number of joints that will get affected by psoriatic arthritis. Its severity is categorized into three classes based on their severity and seriousness. If four or less than four joints are affected its severity is considered as mild and is coined as “Oligoarticular” psoriatic arthritis because Oligo means few or less.

If more than four or only four joints are affected its severity is considered as very severe and is known as Polyarticular.

Changes in Nail

Changes in nail pattern or in their shape and dimension such as pitting may be considered as an early sign of Psoriatic Arthritis. Pitting occurs with shallow or deep holes on fingertip nail or toe tip nail. It also results in a change of thickness, shape, dimension and pattern of nails. In the most severe state nail can separate from their nail beds and crumble from their initial position. Don’t ignore these signs of nail pitting which surely indicates the beginning of nail psoriasis which further worsens up to become psoriatic arthritis.

Backache

Psoriatic arthritis may lead to severe back pain or the ache in the spinal region of the body. It occurs with swelling in joints in the spinal region and gets severe to become a medical condition called “Spondylitis”.

Spondylitis is caused due to inflammation in vertebrae. It hampers and creates a hurdle in day to day physical activities of a person.

Fatigue

As an early sign of Psoriatic Arthritis, the feeling of tiredness and exhaustion arises in a person that occurs with an urge to rest and to take a long refreshing nap. The sense and feeling of tiredness and exhaustion arise when a person starts experiencing this problem. This is an early symptom as well as it is the cause of severe psoriatic arthritis. It also gives birth to other disorders like depression and anxiety related issues.

Don’t ignore these early signs which might be pointing towards this major problem.

Possible Causes

• Stress – Stress is one of the main possible reasons behind the escalation of psoriatic arthritis. People already suffering from psoriasis should try to remain calm and cool with the help of relaxation and meditation techniques.

• Skin injuries – Koebner’s phenomenon states that the traumas experienced by the skin due to psoriasis trigger this situation.
• Genetics- Majority of the people suffering from this problem have their family members suffering from psoriasis or arthritis. Genetics or heredity also plays a big role in this problem,
• Medicines –Some medicine work as a trigger for this problem.

Antimalarial drugs are one of their examples.

If any of the symptoms show the early signs, consult your doctor immediately. If there is a pain in your joints and muscles you can try some herbal oils for the natural treatment. Try Dr Ortho Oil, it is one of the leading and effective ayurvedic medicine in joints pain care segment. If you like this post, don’t forget to share and subscribe. If you have any suggestions and recommendations you can express your views in the comment box given below.