Psoriatic Arthritis

Following are the causes of psoriatic arthritis:

• Psoriatic arthritis develops when the immune system of body starts attacking healthy cells and tissue. This causes inflammation in joints as well as the overproduction of skin cells.
• Many patients of psoriatic arthritis have a family history of psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. Some genetic markers are appeared to be associated with psoriatic arthritis.
• Physical trauma or infections as a viral or bacterial infection can stimulate the psoriatic arthritis in people with an inherited affinity.

Following are the risk factors of psoriatic arthritis:

• Psoriasis: The major risk factor for psoriatic arthritis is psoriasis. Patients of psoriasis with lesions on their nails are more prone to develop psoriatic arthritis.
• Family history: People who have a parent or sibling with psoriatic arthritis have more chances of developing it.
• Age: The occurrence of psoriatic arthritis is more in the adults between the ages of 30 and 50 years.

The signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis generally resembles to that of rheumatoid arthritis.

• Swollen toes and fingers: Psoriatic arthritis can cause a painful swelling of fingers and toes. The swelling and deformities may also develop in hands and feet.
• Foot pain: Pain at the back of heel or in the sole of foot may appear.
• Lower back pain: Spondylitis may also result due to psoriatic arthritis. Spondylitis causes inflammation of the joints between spine and pelvis and joints between the vertebrae of spine.

Following are the ways to diagnose to psoriatic arthritis:

Physical Examination

Doctor may examine your joints, fingernails or may press on the soles of your feet and your heels to find the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis.

Imaging Tests

• X-rays: X-rays can assist in revealing the changes in the joints which occur in psoriatic arthritis but not in other condition of arthritic.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): MRI produces very detailed images of hard and soft tissues present in your body. It will help to check the problems with the tendons and ligaments in feet and lower back.

Laboratory Tests

• Rheumatoid factor (RF): RF is an antibody which is generally present in the blood of rheumatoid arthritis patients, but it is usually not present in the blood of psoriatic arthritis. Therefore this test helps the doctor to differentiate between the two conditions.
• Joint fluid test: A small fluid sample is removed using a needle from one of affected joints. The presence of uric acid crystals in joint fluid may indicate gout rather than psoriatic arthritis.

Following are the treatments to control the inflammation in affected joints to inhibit joint pain and disability:

Medications for Psoriatic Arthritis

• NSAIDs: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used to relieve pain and decrease inflammation. Its side effects include heart problems, stomach irritation, and liver and kidney damage.
• Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs): These drugs slow the progression of psoriatic arthritis and protect the joints and tissues from permanent damage. They show side effects as liver damage, lung infection and bone marrow suppression.
• Immunosuppressants: These medications act to control the immune system, which is out of control in the patients of psoriatic arthritis. They make you more prone to infection.
• TNF-alpha inhibitors: TNF-alpha inhibitors help to decrease the pain and morning stiffness. It causes side effects as nausea, hair loss, and diarrhea.
• Newer medications: Certain newly developed medicines for plaque psoriasis can also decrease the signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis for example, Apremilast, Ustekinumab and Secukinumab.

Surgical and Other Procedures for Psoriatic Arthritis

• Steroid injections: They are helpful in reducing the inflammation quickly.
• Joint replacement surgery: In this surgery joints that are severely damaged are replaced with artificial prostheses made of plastic and metal.

Alternative treatments for psoriatic arthritis:

• Acupuncture: However there are no formal studies that show that acupuncture relieves the pain of psoriatic arthritis but many doctors recommend it
• Ayurvedic medicines: Khadirodaka, Khadira rasa, Nimbadi Kalka, Vidangadi Kalka and Vidangadi Churna are the main medicines used in the Ayurvedic treatment of psoriatic arthritis.
• Homeopathic medicines: Kali carbonicum, Rhus Toxicodendron, Natrum Muriaticum, Sulphur, Thuja occidentalis, Sepia and Silica are the commonly used homeopathic medicines for psoriatic arthritis.

Dietary Supplements

Dietary supplements play a crucial role in the maintenance of health. They include minerals, herbs, vitamins, and many other products. They come as pills, energy bars, drinks, capsules, and powders. For arthritis GLME is the best dietary supplement that helps the psoriatic arthritis pain in the treatment and management of disease:

• GLME (Green Lipped Mussel Extract): GLME (Green lipped mussel extract) is the dietary supplement for psoriatic arthritis which is most beneficial in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis. It is extracted from the green lipped mussels. Green lipped mussel is a shell fish which is grown in the farms of New Zealand.

GLME (Green lipped mussel extract) has unique role in the treatment and management of Psoriatic arthritis as below:

• It lubricates the joints and thus increases the joint mobility.
• It prevents the joint deterioration.
• It protects the stomach lining from the severe reactions of medicines that are used in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis.
• It controls the process of inflammation through several mechanisms and thus reduces swelling, pain, and inflammation.
• It helps other medicines to show their maximum efficacy.

Seatone is the best form of GLME (green lipped mussel extract) which is accessible as capsules. Seatone is the safest GLME product because:

• It is extracted only from the top quality of fresh green lipped mussels at the best times of year.
• Seatone is made available to you after several tests and trials.

Seatone is better than all the other treatments for Psoriatic arthritis because:

• Seatone does not show any side effects while the other medicines used in the treatment of psoriatic arthritis show a number of side effects as bleeding problems, cardiovascular problems, liver damage and infections.
• Medicines as NSAIDs and analgesics show damage to the delicate lining of stomach however the Seatone protects the stomach lining by acting as gastro-protective.
• Blood clot or infection can occur after surgeries done for the treatment of arthritis.
• Medicines used for psoriatic arthritis can provide you fast but temporary relief from pain and swelling. On the other side the Seatone provides gradual but progressive relief.
• Seatone is safe even at higher doses but the medicines as analgesics, TNF-alpha inhibitors; Immunosuppressants, DMARDs or NSAIDs can show side effects at higher doses.

Some home remedies and changes in lifestyle can help you to manage with psoriatic arthritis:

• Protect your joints: Change the way of doing your everyday tasks. It will make a big difference in your condition. For example, you can avoid straining your finger joints by using gadgets such as jar openers to twist the lids from jars, by lifting heavy pans or other objects with both hands, and by pushing doors open with your whole body instead of just your fingers.
• Maintain a healthy body weight: Maintaining a healthy body weight reduces strain on your joints, leading to decreased pain and enhanced energy and mobility.
• Exercise regularly: Regular exercise will keep your joints flexible and muscles strong. Biking, swimming and walking put less stress on joints.
• Pace yourself: Take rest before becoming too tired. Divide your exercise or work into short segments.

Psoriatic arthritis cannot be prevented. However, it is best to treat the skin optimally. Treatments can control the disease by preventing its recurrence.

With prompt treatment and monitoring of the skin and the joints excellent outcomes are expected. It is important to start treatments at the early stage of psoriatic arthritis for best results. Newer biologic medicines can be highly effective for those who fail to respond to DMARDs.