This week we are going to discuss and explore the condition known as psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis is an auto immune disease read the body’s immune system is attacking itself. In psoriatic arthritis the patient generally has psoriasis, a condition which causes red patches of skin topped with silvery scales.
The patient with psoriatic arthritis will not only have psoriasis but will also develop joint pain. The joint pain specifically includes swollen fingers and toes, lower back pain and foot pain. The patient’s with lower back pain typically have inflammation of the joints between the vertebrae known as spondylitis and can also develop sacroiliitis, an inflammation of the sacroiliac joint. The patients with foot pain can especially demonstrate pain at the back of the heel (Achilles tendonitis) or plantar fasciitis at the sole of the foot and heel.
In all cases, psoriatic arthritis behaves much like rheumatoid arthritis with the specific exception that it is associated with psoriasis, also an auto immune condition. Auto immune conditions are rheumatologic conditions, that is to say that they deal with the immune system and area grouped in a category of conditions in which the immune system attacks the human body (it’s own self) Auto immune conditions are particularly problematic as usually the body is attempting to heal itself while in auto immune the body is attacking itself for some reason.
Treatment of auto immune conditions largely depends on medications to suppress the immune system. Patients with psoriatic arthritis often have psoriasis of the skin and fingernails as well as a family history of the disease. It can occur in any age but most often develops in adults between the ages of 30 and 50. A small percentage of people with psoriatic arthritis develop arthritis mutilans, a more severe and painful disabling form of arthritis which destroys the small bones in the hands especially the fingers leading to disfigurement, debility and dysfunction.
As you can see psoriatic arthritis has commonalities and differences, however, no matter how severe, the condition should be treated. Seeing an occupational therapist is often helpful for the hand, pain and dysfunction, physical therapy for the foot and heel pain as well as the back pain and seeing a rheumatologist to deal with the auto immune portion of the condition with specific medications geared toward suppressing the auto immune response.
https://www.southplattesentinel.com/2019/12/26/psoriatic-arthritis-and-you/
No comments:
Post a Comment