What is Psoriatic Arthritis?
Psoriatic Arthritis is an autoimmune disease that is a combination of two other conditions – psoriasis and arthritis. It causes joint pain and swelling in combination with common, uncomfortable psoriasis symptoms such as skin lesions. It can affect many different parts of the body and your loved one’s symptoms will be concentrated in those areas that are affected while unaffected areas will have no symptoms at all. Areas of the body to be affected by psoriatic arthritis can range from the top of the head to the tips of the toes.
Eight Ways Having Psoriatic Arthritis Can Affect the Body
Understanding the many ways this condition can affect the body can help you provide support for your loved one with the condition.
- Muscle Weakness. During a flare in just about any part of the body, your loved one may feel weak and easily exhausted. Muscles tend to get tired much more quickly during a flare.
- Itchy skin. The psoriasis part of this condition can make your loved one uncomfortably itchy 24 hours a day, making sleep difficult and creating injuries on the skin that could let in infections.
- Knee swelling. The knees may become easily swollen, especially in the morning. Making movements difficult and sometimes dangerous.
- Stiffness in the Fingers. The joints of the fingers may become stiff and difficult to bend, making fine motor movements difficult.
- Mental Health Issues. Living with any chronic condition can cause harm to a person’s mental health as well. Many people with Psoriatic arthritis battle anxiety and depression.
- Flaky Scalp. If the scalp is affected, your loved one may develop patches on the scalp that itch and flake like a severe case of dandruff.
- Shoulder and Elbow Pain. Inflammation can cause these joints to stiffen up and limit the range of motion your loved one has to perform everyday tasks such as brushing her hair or cleaning the home.
- Eye Infections. Occasionally, psoriatic arthritis can lead to uveitis, an infection of the eye.
Helping Your Loved One with Psoriatic Arthritis Care at Home
Since there is no cure for psoriatic arthritis, you should strive to help your loved one manage their symptoms by coordinating her arthritis care at home. Here are four tips to help your loved one manage her condition and its symptoms.
- Allow her to rest during a flare-up. While it’s difficult to know when a flare-up will occur, it helps to have on-hand items ready to provide comfort when symptoms are especially bad. Make sure items like medications, heating pads, and ice packs are always available.
- Avoid activities that cause flare-ups or stress trigger points. You might consider having someone come to the home to help with chores that your loved one struggles with. A provider who helps with arthritis care at home may help with chores around the home or grooming.
- Offer plenty of food options that reduce inflammation. Foods like leafy greens, blueberries, and fatty fish all contain antioxidants which can reduce inflammation.
- Encourage strengthening and flexibility exercises- when she’s not having a flare- so that she’ll have fewer flares or they will be less severe.
