Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease that attacks the tissue in the skin and joints, most commonly occurs in people who already have psoriasis—a condition that causes red, scaly patches of skin on various areas of the body.
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This isn’t always the case, however, as Arthritic Research UK says “some people develop the arthritic symptoms before the psoriasis, while others will never develop the skin condition.” As such, it’s important to be aware of the symptoms associated with psoriatic arthritis in order to obtain treatment to help manage them, since the disease is progressive in nature. The following are the seven most common to keep an eye out for.
1. Joint and Tendon Problems
People with psoriatic arthritis commonly experience pain and stiffness in their joints, typically in the ankles, knees, fingers, toes, and lower back. According to Health.com, the joints are typically “red and warm to the touch,” and are especially stiff first thing in the morning.
Individuals may also feel pain in certain tendons or ligaments, particularly where they attach to the bones. This is called enthesitis, which the Arthritis Foundation says most commonly occurs “at the heel (Achilles tendinitis) or the bottom of the foot (plantar fasciitis), but it can also occur in the elbow (tennis elbow).”
