How To Treat Psoriatic Arthritis Pain

What Are The Symptoms Of Psoriatic Arthritis

The symptoms of psoriatic arthritis may be gradual and subtle in some patients in others, they may be sudden and dramatic. It may be mild, affecting only one joint or can be severe, affecting multiple joints. Not all patients experience all symptoms.

The most common symptoms of psoriatic arthritis are:

Joint symptoms

• Pain or aching, tenderness, and/or swelling in one or more joints – most commonly hands, feet, wrists, ankles, knees.
• Joint stiffness most notable in the morning or with prolonged inactivity such as sitting for a long time.
• Reduced range of motion in affected joints.
• Pain or stiffness in the lower back.
• Tenderness, pain, or swelling where tendons and ligaments attach to the bone , such as the Achilles tendon of the heel.
• Swelling of an entire finger or toe with a sausage-like appearance .

Skin symptoms

• Silver or gray scaly spots on the scalp, elbows, knees, and/or the lower spine.
• Small, round spots called papules that are raised and sometimes scaly on the arms, legs and torso.
• Pitting of the nails.
• Detachment or lifting of fingernails or toenails.

Other symptoms

Reduce Stress And Pace Yourself

Relaxing your muscles is important to ease the pain of psoriatic arthritis. People who have chronic pain tend to tense their muscles, which can actually tighten the joints and make pain worse. Deep, abdominal breathing and guided imagery like closing your eyes and imagining a relaxing place can be an effective way to help quiet your muscles. Balancing your life from day to day is also important rushing to get as much done as possible on a “good” day may only cause you more pain later on.

Work And Psoriatic Arthritis

Having psoriatic arthritis may make some aspects of working life more challenging. But, if youre on the right treatment, its certainly possible to continue working.

Help and support is available, and you have rights and options.

The Government scheme Access to Work is a grant that can pay for equipment to help you with activities such as answering the phone, going to meetings, and getting to and from work.

The 2010 Equality Act, and the Disability Discrimination Act in Northern Ireland makes it unlawful for employers to treat anyone with a disability less favourably than anyone else.

Psoriatic arthritis can be classed as a disability if it:

• makes daily tasks difficult
• lasts for more than 12 months.

Your employer may need to make adjustments to your working environment, so you can do your job comfortably and safely.

You might be able to change some aspects of your job or working arrangements, or train for a different role.

In order to get the support youre entitled to, youll need to tell your employer about your condition. Your manager or HR department might be a good place to start.

Other available support might include:

• your workplace occupational health department, if there is one
• an occupational therapist. You could be referred to one by your GP or you could see one privately
• disability employment advisors, or other staff, at your local JobCentre Plus
• a Citizens Advice bureau particularly if you feel youre not getting the support youre entitled to.

Don’t Miss: How To Find Out If I Have Rheumatoid Arthritis

Lifestyle Changes For Psoriatic Arthritis

You can make some changes that will improve your quality of life:

• Eat healthy food. Focus on a healthy eating plan like the Mediterranean diet. Opt for foods that may ease inflammation, like:

Walking, biking, and swimming are all good options.

• Get to, and stay at, a healthy weight. Almost half the people with PsA are overweight. Studies show that losing just 10% of your body weight can improve your response to medications for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.
• Manage your stress. Things that make you worry can also make your PsA worse. Exercise, medication, and talk therapy can all help.
• Rest. Give an achy joint a break. You can go back to what you were doing when you feel better.
• Donât drink. Mixing some PsA medications with alcohol can lead to liver damage. Your doctor can let you know if you should quit.

How Will Psoriatic Arthritis Affect Me

The effects of psoriatic arthritis can vary a great deal between different people. This makes it difficult to offer advice on what you should expect.

Psoriatic arthritis can cause long-term damage to joints, bones and other tissue in the body, especially if it isnt treated.

Starting the right treatment as soon as possible will give you the best chance of keeping your arthritis under control and minimise damage to your body allowing you to lead a full and active life with psoriatic arthritis.

You dont need to face arthritis alone. If you need support or advice, call our Helpline today on . Our advisors can give you expert information and advice about arthritis and can offer support whenever you need it most.

Also Check: Are Mushrooms Good For Arthritis

Complementary And Alternative Therapies

You can try:

• Acupressure and acupuncture: These ancient Chinese treatments involve putting pressure on or inserting needles into the bodyâs healing points or energy lines. Acupressure isnât proven to help, but studies show that acupuncture can ease your pain.
• Curcumin: Thereâs some proof that this substance, the active ingredient in the spice turmeric, can help curb inflammation.
• Massage: It can help stretch your muscles and joints, promote circulation in your lymph system, and help you relax.
• Reiki: This Japanese relaxation technique can help you manage stress.
• Tai chi: This gentle Chinese exercise helps with relaxation and can ease sore, stiff joints.
• Yoga: The controlled movements can relax stiff muscles, ease sore joints, and boost your range of motion. It can also help with pain.
• Vitamin D: As an ointment, itâs been used to treat psoriasis for years. You can also get it from foods like:
• Coldwater fish like Sockeye salmon, mackerel, tuna
• Vitamin D-fortified products like nonfat milk, orange juice, yogurt

Always talk to your doctor before you add any supplement or treatment. Look for a practitioner who is certified and, if possible, has experience with people who have psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis.

Bimekizumab In Patients With Active Psoriatic Arthritis And Previous Inadequate Response Or Intolerance To Tumour Necrosis Factor

• Amsterdam Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Center, Amsterdam, NetherlandsZuyderland MC, Heerlen, Netherlands
• Iain B McInnesCorrespondenceCorrespondence to: Prof Iain B McInnes, College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK
• Frank BehrensAffiliationsDivision of Rheumatology, University Hospital and Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP, Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Immune-Mediated Diseases CIMD, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
• Sorbonne Université, INSERM, Institut Pierre Louis d’Epidémiologie et de Santé Publique, Paris, FranceRheumatology Department, AP-HP, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France
• Richard B WarrenAffiliationsDermatology Centre, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
• Nuffield Department of Orthopaedics, Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Diseases University of Oxford, Oxford, UKOxford Biomedical Research Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, UK

Read Also: What Makes Arthritis Pain Worse

Lifestyle Changes To Manage Psoriatic Arthritis

Being knowledgeable about your symptoms, triggers, and treatments can help you successfully manage psoriatic arthritis. When flare-ups occur, keep track of what foods you ate, if you were under a lot of stress, whether you had a cut, whether you had a good nights sleep, etc. Knowing what is triggering your symptoms and educating yourself is half the battle. The other half is managing it.

How can you take control of your symptoms?

• Take the medications prescribed by your doctor regularly dont skip doses: Skipping or stopping doses of medications prescribed to treat the inflammation and pain associated with psoriatic arthritis may cause a flare-up of symptoms.

• Be as proactive as you can about cuts and burns: If youre going to be out in the sun, make sure to wear sunscreen to minimize the occurrence of any sunburns. While you cant prevent cuts and scrapes from occurring in everyday life, you can minimize the probability of an accident by being mindful of your activities. Slow down, dont rush, take your time.

• Get a good amount of sleep: Try to maintain a full 8 hours of sleep per night. Avoid stimulants that might keep you awake at night . If you dont get enough sleep at night, try to plan a good nap to counter the effects of losing sleep.

• Take things slower: Because fatigue is a common symptom of psoriatic arthritis, take rest breaks often. Break activities into multiple part. Dont overexert yourself.

Oats And Dead Sea Salts

Applying an oat paste to your skin or bathing in an oatmeal bath may help relieve psoriasis symptoms, though theres no research to back these claims.

Options like Dead Sea salts have a little more evidence behind them.

The Dead Sea is located in Israel, roughly 1,300 feet below sea level. Its full of minerals and is very salty.

People have been soaking in the Dead Sea for centuries to improve the appearance of their skin and reduce inflammation.

Soothing a skin condition by bathing in mineral springs is known as balneotherapy. Only a few studies have looked at this remedy for psoriatic arthritis, but .

If a trip to the Dead Sea isnt feasible, you can purchase Dead Sea salts online.

You May Like: What Is The Best Cream To Use For Arthritis Pain

The Lancet Publishes Results From Two Bimekizumab Phase 3 Studies In Psoriatic Arthritis

• Two articles report results from the Phase 3 BE OPTIMAL and BE COMPLETE studies evaluating bimekizumab, an investigational, selective inhibitor of IL-17A and IL-17F, in patients with psoriatic arthritis

BRUSSELS and ATLANTA, Dec. 7, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — UCB, a global biopharmaceutical company, today announced that The Lancet has published two articles detailing 24-week results from the Phase 3 BE OPTIMAL study and 16-week results from the Phase 3 BE COMPLETE study, evaluating the efficacy and safety of bimekizumab in the treatment of adults with active psoriatic arthritis who were biologic naïve and tumor necrosis factor inhibitor inadequate responders , respectively.1,2

“Publication of two articles in tandem in The Lancet, one of the world’s most prestigious peer-reviewed journals, highlights the significance of these Phase 3 bimekizumab studies to the medical community. We look forward to continuing to work with regulatory agencies to make bimekizumab available to people living with psoriatic arthritis as soon as possible,” said Emmanuel Caeymaex, Executive Vice President, Immunology Solutions and Head of US, UCB.

Bimekizumab is an investigational product its efficacy and safety have not been established for any indication in the U.S., and it is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration .

Notes to editors:

About BE OPTIMAL

About BE COMPLETE

About Psoriatic Arthritis

About bimekizumab

For further information, contact UCB:

Investor Relations

email

About UCB

Nsaids Dmards And Other Medications For Psoriatic Arthritis

Currently, theres no cure for psoriatic arthritis, but some medications can significantly help control psoriatic arthritis symptoms such as joint pain and inflammation.

Some psoriatic arthritis medications can actually help to prevent psoriatic arthritis from worsening, and they can also help you maintain your quality of life.

Below are common medications used to treat psoriatic arthritis.

Before trying any new medications for psoriatic arthritis, have a conversation with your doctor. The medications listed in this article may have side effects or interact with other medications or supplements youre taking, so be sure you let your doctor know everything youre taking.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs : Over-the-counter NSAIDS are frequently the first line of treatment for psoriatic arthritis, and theyre also used for mild psoriatic arthritis cases. Ibuprofen and naproxen are examples of NSAIDs you can take without a prescription.

If over-the-counter NSAIDs dont work, your doctor may want you to try a prescription-strength NSAID, such as Celecoxib .

Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs : These powerful medications are typically reserved for more moderate to severe cases of psoriatic arthritis. They work by actually preventing the disease from worsening as well as modifying the psoriatic arthritis by preventing joint damagenot just pain and inflammation,

However, DMARDs act very slowly, so you may not notice the effects of the medication for a few weeks.

Recommended Reading: Can You Collect Disability For Arthritis

Get Regular Physical Activity

Exercise is important for maintaining a healthy weight and strong muscles, both of which can reduce pressure on your joints. The National Psoriasis Foundation recommends getting 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least five times a week. If walking, biking, or running causes joint pain, Lawton recommends trying swimming or water aerobics. The buoyancy of water prevents you from putting stress on your hips, knees, and spine, while helping you to build strength, according to the NPF. Several organizations offer exercise programs geared toward people with arthritis. For more information, check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which offers a list of such programs.

How Will It Affect Me

How much you are affected by the condition can differ greatly from person to person, you could experience pain in a number of joints around your body, or you might find that you have mild symptoms in only a couple of joints.

Like many autoimmune diseases, psoriatic arthritis is prone to flare ups where the symptoms are predominately worse, or the conditions will go into remission where your symptoms improve for a short period of times. These cycles are often difficult to predict, but they can be managed by medication, speak to your GP to find out how you can soothe your symptoms.

You May Like: What’s The Best Treatment For Arthritis In The Knee

Gut Health And Inflammatory Responses

However, when you struggle with pain and fatigue, most of our choices come down to convenience, especially from a dietary standpoint. We dont have personal chefs preparing the perfect meals to manage our particular concoction of diseases.

“Eating healthy” is expensive. And all we have is our limited energy and whatever the local grocery store can deliver.

Who Will Be Responsible For My Healthcare

Youre likely to see a team of healthcare professionals.

Your doctor, usually a rheumatologist, will be responsible for your overall care. And a specialist nurse may help monitor your condition and treatments. A skin specialist called a dermatologist may be responsible for the treatment of your psoriasis.

You may also see:

• A physiotherapist, who can advise on exercises to help maintain your mobility.
• An occupational therapist, who can help you protect your joints, for example, by using splints for the wrist or knee braces. You may be advised to change the way you do some tasks to reduce the strain on your joints.
• A podiatrist, who can assess your footcare needs and offer advice onspecial insoles and good supportive footwear.

Also Check: Are Pickles Good For Arthritis

What Are The Types Of Psoriatic Arthritis

There are different types of psoriatic arthritis, which tend to affect different parts of the body. These include:

• asymmetric arthritis usually affects one side of the body, or different joints on each side
• symmetrical polyarthritis often affects several joints on both sides of the body
• distal interphalangeal arthritis affects the joints closest to the fingernails and toenails
• spondylitis affects the spine, particularly the lower back
• arthritis mutilans a rare condition that severely affects the bones in the hands

There is also a type of psoriatic arthritis that affects children, although the symptoms are usually mild.

Which Psoriatic Arthritis Medication Is Right For You

Your doctor will let you know which medicationor combination of medicationsis right for you. Keep in mind that although medications for psoriatic arthritis can help to dramatically decrease your joint pain and other psoriatic arthritis symptoms, theyre not a cure.

• Psoriatic arthritis. American College of Rheumatology Web site. http://www.rheumatology.org/practice/clinical/patients/diseases_and_conditions/psoriaticarthritis.asp.
• Psoriatic arthritis. MedlinePlus Web site. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000413.htm.
• Psoriatic arthritis: Treatments and drugs. Mayo Clinic Web site. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/psoriatic-arthritis/DS00476/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs. Published December 9, 2010.
• Treating psoriatic arthritis. National Psoriasis Foundation. http://www.psoriasis.org/sublearn02_treat.

Don’t Miss: How To Alleviate Arthritis Pain Naturally

When A Patient Has Controlled Joint Pain But Ongoing Skin Issues Or Vice Versa How Can Clinicians Approach Care An Acr Convergence Meeting Highlight With Joseph Merola Md Msc And Belinda Birnbaum Md

Among the most challenging cases of psoriatic disease are those that occur when skin and joint symptoms are divergent, according to Joseph Merola, MD, MMSc, associate professor at Harvard Medical School. He spoke at the American College of Rheumatology annual meeting in November 2022.

Current treatments for psoriatic skin problems can work well but clinicians sometimes need better options to treat co-occurring joint issues, and often, vice versa.

This is not an uncommon scenario, he told the audience, before presenting a host of case histories. Research suggests that something like 80% of patients present with joint disease before skin disease, he said. However, he believes this percentage is an overestimate and that if physicians go looking for psoriasis, they would likely find more of it.

What Are The Treatment Options For Psoriatic Arthritis

The aim of treatment for psoriatic arthritis is to control the disease and relieve symptoms. Treatment may include any combination of the following:

Choice of medications depends on disease severity, number of joints involved, and associated skin symptoms. During the early stages of the disease, mild inflammation may respond to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs . Cortisone injections may be used to treat ongoing inflammation in a single joint. Oral steroids, if used to treat a psoriatic arthritis flare, can temporarily worsen psoriasis. Long-term use of oral steroids should be avoided when possible due to the negative effects on the body over time.

DMARDs are used when NSAIDs fail to work and for patients with persistent and/or erosive disease. DMARDs that are effective in treating psoriatic arthritis include: methotrexate, sulfasalazine, and cyclosporine.

Biologic agents are an important consideration when disease control is not being achieved with NSAIDS or DMARDs. Biologics have been utilized for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis since 2005 and are highly effective at slowing and preventing progression of joint damage. Your healthcare provider will complete additional laboratory tests and review safety considerations before initiating a medication regimen. Gaining good control of psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis is important to avoid increased systemic risks, particularly heart disease.

Exercise

Heat and cold therapy

Joint protection and energy conservation

Also Check: Is Heating Pad Good For Arthritis