Psoriatic arthritis is often associated with psoriasis. We understand the frustration of dealing with psoriatic arthritis. At the Trillium Clinic, we are very comfortable helping our patients with psoriasis manage their psoriatic arthritis. Begin your advanced psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis treatments today, and say goodbye to the persistent itch of psoriasis and the pain of psoriatic arthritis.
What is Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis can cause joint pain, swelling, and stiffness. The symptoms can affect any joint in the body, including the fingers, toes, wrists, knees, and ankles. Other common symptoms include fatigue, nail changes (such as pitting or separation from the nail bed), and inflammation of the tendons and ligaments. In some cases, psoriatic arthritis can also affect the spine. A diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis is typically made based on a combination of symptoms, a physical examination, medical history, and imaging tests (such as X-rays or MRI) to assess joint damage and inflammation.
What Causes Psoriatic Arthritis
How is Psoriatic Arthritis treated
The treatment of psoriatic arthritis aims to relieve symptoms, slow disease progression, and improve overall quality of life. The treatment options may include:
Physical therapy: Physical therapy exercises and techniques can help improve joint flexibility, reduce pain, and enhance overall physical function.
Lifestyle modifications: Adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, managing stress, and protecting joints from excessive strain can help manage symptoms and improve overall well-being.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): These medications can help reduce pain and inflammation in the joints. They are available over-the-counter or by prescription.
Corticosteroids: In some cases, corticosteroid medications may be prescribed to provide short-term relief from inflammation and pain. They can be administered orally or through joint injections.
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs): DMARDs target specific proteins or cells in the immune system that are involved in the inflammation and joint degradation seen in psoriatic arthritis. By blocking these proteins or cells, DMARDs help reduce inflammation and slow down the joint space destruction. Small molecules and are activated in the gut are called Targeted Synthetic DMARDs (tsDMARDs). Injectable DMARDs are referred to as biologic DMARDs (bDMARDs) because they are a type of medication made from living cells. Because bDMARDs cannot pass through the gut, they are given through injections under the skin (subcutaneously) or through intravenous (IV) infusions.
Describe DMARDs for psoriatic arthritis:
Types of DMARDs: There are different types of DMARDs approved for treating psoriatic arthritis. Methotrexate is a conventional or cDMARD. Methotrexate has been used for a long time, both alone and in combination with other DMARDs. Several tsDMARDs are available for treating psoriatic arthritis, including PDE-4 inhibitors (i.e. apremilast) and JAK inhbitors (i.e. upadacitinib). Multiple bDMARDs have been shown to be safe and effective in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis. Each type targets different immune system proteins or cells. Most are also approved for the treatment of psoriasis. bDMARDs include TNF-alpha inhibitors (such as adalimumab), IL-17 inhibitors (such as secukinumab), IL-23 inhibitors (such as risankizumab), and IL-12/23 inhibitors (such as ustekinumab).
Effectiveness: DMARDs have shown significant efficacy in managing psoriatic arthritis symptoms, including reducing inflammation, reversing joint space degradation, and improving the quality of life for many individuals. However, responses can vary among individuals, and some people may not respond as well to certain systemic medicines.
Safety considerations: DMARDs work by modulating the immune system, which can affect its ability to fight infections. It’s important to be monitored closely while on a DMARD to watch for potential side effects, such as infections or allergic reactions.
Embark on your journey to radiant skin
We invite patients from Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Hillsborough, Pittsboro, Mebane, Durham, Burlington, Cary, and surrounding cities, who suffer from psoriatic arthritis to schedule an appointment with us here. A member of our team will conduct a comprehensive evaluation of your psoriatic arthritis and then, together, we will explore the various options so that we find the psoriatic arthritis treatment best suited for your specific situation. The are many great options to help relieve your joint pain, call us today to learn more.