What Is Psoriatic Arthritis?

If you have psoriasis, you are at risk of developing psoriatic arthritis. In fact, 30% of people with psoriasis may develop psoriatic arthritis. Our rheumatologists can help. Drs. Jacqueline Vo, Haihui Wang, and Mary Catherine Gibson at Rheumatology Center of Houston in Houston and Pearland, TX, offer comprehensive rheumatology services, including treatment and management of psoriatic arthritis.

What To Know About Psoriatic Arthritis

Like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks healthy cells. The key difference between rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis is that psoriatic arthritis is also accompanied by psoriasis plaques on the skin. Other signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis include:

• Joint swelling and redness
• Joint inflammation and pain
• Joint stiffness
• Loss of range-of-motion in a joint

If you are experiencing any of these signs and symptoms, it’s time to visit our rheumatologist for an evaluation. Our rheumatologist may order lab testing and imaging studies to help identify the type and severity of arthritis and the level of joint damage. Other testing may be ordered to determine if you have an underlying condition other than psoriatic arthritis which is causing your joint pain.

Our rheumatologist will also perform a comprehensive physical examination including a skin examination to determine the probability of psoriatic arthritis. If a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis is made, our rheumatologist may recommend medication therapy, including:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs to relieve pain and reduce inflammation
• Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or DMARDs to slow the progression of psoriatic arthritis
• Immunosuppressants to decrease the level of activity of the immune system
• Biologics to target parts of the immune system linked to causing inflammation

In addition to medication therapy, your rheumatologist may recommend:

• Physical therapy stretches and exercises, to strengthen joints, increase range of motion, and decrease pain
• Ultrasound therapy to warm and relax joints, easing joint pain
• Therapeutic massage, to increase circulation and reduce joint pain
• Thermal therapies, including ice packs or moist heat to relax joints, reduce swelling, and decrease pain

Want To Know More?

To learn more about the causes and treatments for psoriatic arthritis, call Drs. Jacqueline Vo, Haihui Wang, and Mary Catherine Gibson at Rheumatology Center of Houston in Houston and Pearland, TX. You can reach them in the office by calling (713) 640-5477, so call today.