Psoriatic arthritis is a form of arthritis that affects some people who have psoriasis, a serious skin condition. The condition usually develops after the appearance of skin lesions on your skin, but not always, and it seems to target the fingers and toes most frequently. Psoriatic arthritis has no known cures, but there are ways to control the joint pain, swelling, and stiffness

Symptons of Psoriatic Arthritis

If you notice pain, inflammation, or a warming sensation in your joints, and you have already been diagnosed with psoriasis, it’s very possible that psoriatic arthritis is developing in your joints. If this is the case, it’s always best to see a doctor asap to get the problem correctly diagnosed before you start any treatments to control the symptons.

How to Treat Psoriatic Arthritis

While there is no known cure for this form of arthritis, there are ways to treat its symptoms. According to MayoClinic.com, the most common way to treat psoriatic arthritis is through drug treatment. They recommend the following drugs to help ease the pain and inflammation caused by psoriatic arthritis:

  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) – Best for people with minor joint pain. Includes over-the-counter medication, such as aspirin and ibuprofen.
  • Corticosteroids – This form of steroids is either taken orally or injected directly into the joint. Typically prescribed to patients with minor pain, and it can provide relief for months at a time in some cases.
  • Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) – Instead of reducing pain and inflammation, this type of drug helps to minimize damage on your joints. It’s often used in conjunction with NSAIDs drugs, such as aspirin, because its healing power usually doesn’t take effect for weeks or months.
  • Immunosuppressant medications – These drugs act to supress the body’s immune system, which tends to attack the healthy tissue in psoriatic arthritis patients. This type of drug is typically used in extreme cases, and it carries a hefty number of potential side-effects.
  • TNF-alpha inhibitors – Also used in severe cases of psoriatic arthritis, this type of drug helps block the protein that causes pain and swelling in your joints. This type of drug carries quite a few of potential side-effects as well.

Natural Treatments / Alternative Medicine for Psoriatic Arthrits

There are a number of natural treatments available to those who suffer from psoriatic arthritis. Supplementing the proper vitamins and minerals (i.e., daily multivitamin), glucosamine and chondroitin supplementing, and taking a fish oil supplement are just a few of the alternative medicine options out there that can help relieve some of the pain, inflammation, and swelling associated with psoriatic arthritis.