People suffering from psoriatic arthritis should take steps to manage symptoms. To reduce the effects of the disease, patients can lose weight, protect their joints, and exercise regularly. Exercise keeps the muscles and joints flexible and is less stressful on the joints. Some examples of exercises include walking, biking, and swimming. Tai chi and yoga are also good options for arthritis sufferers. Avoid smoking and alcohol; both are associated with worsening the condition. Smoking can also increase the side effects of medication like methotrexate.
One of the most common symptoms of psoriatic arthritis is pain and stiffness. Patients often experience pain in the joints of the feet and hands. They may also experience swelling of the feet and toes. Symptoms may be accompanied by skin lesions. People with psoriatic arthritis may also experience changes in the nail bed. These changes can result in thickened nails or separation of the nail bed from the skin. Additionally, patients may experience swelling of the ball of the foot, which may cause hammer toes. Also, psoriatic arthritis may result in inflammation of the Achilles tendon, which connects the heel bone to the calf muscles. This can cause significant pain in the heel.
A TNF-blocker biologic is often recommended as the first treatment for people with active psoriatic arthritis. This medication may be over-the-counter or prescribed by a doctor. If the first medication does not work, patients may switch to another type of TNF-blocker biologic. Abatacept, a TNF-blocker, works by attaching to the surface of inflammatory cells and blocking their communication.