Psoriatic Arthritis 2

Psoriatic arthritis: greatly affects patients with psoriasis

Arthritis, being one of the most common joint disorder today, has several types.  One of which is psoriatic arthritis, which can occur equally to both men and women, and although it usually attacks people from ages 30-50, it also affects the young and even the children.  Psoriatic arthritis, like most types of arthritis is an inflammatory arthritis, and they usually affect those who are suffering the skin illness, psoriasis. 

Psoriatic arthritis will lead to psoriatic nail lesions, which is actually the pitting of the nails, and if a person has a severe case of psoriatic arthritis, then it may lead to the loss of the nail itself.  The psoriatic arthritis may also cause tendonitis and a swelling of the digits called dactilytis.
Rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis have almost the same types of treatment.  Because of the swelling or inflammation that occurs, the treatment is also directed on it --- to control and reduce the inflammation.  There are two lines of defense for psoriatic arthritis; the first line of medication is through diclofenac and naproxen.  If there are only a few joints that are affected, then patients can opt to have a corticosteroid joint injection.  If the affected area or joint is already a severe case or can't be treated with the first line of medication, then a second line of medication must be applied, which is added to the first set of treatments.  Psoriatic arthritis's second blast of medicine is the immunosuppressants like the methotrexate.  Because this second type of medication is much stronger, it doesn't only treat the psoriatic arthritis, it treats psoriasis as well.

It is also important to know which type of psoriatic arthritis a person has, this way, he would know the magnitude of the disorder and the treatment or medication that must be taken.  Psoriatic arthritis has five types, which are distinctly affecting the joints and the person in various degrees and levels.  These are: (1) symmetric - affects the joints of both sides of the body simultaneously, (2) asymmetric - generally mild, and does not affect both sides of the body, (3) arthritis mutilans - a severe case, which is a deforming and destructive type of psoriatic arthritis, (4) spondylitis - almost the same as asymmetric psoriatic arthritis, but it usually affects the spine or neck, and (5) distal interphalangeal predominant - inflammation and stiffness of the joints nearest the finger or toe tips.

Psoriatic arthritis can be treated if it is cared for and treated immediately, one must learn to read the symptoms and signs.