Triggers for initial onset include strep throat or another infectious disease, which may cause an overreaction in the immune system in those who are susceptible. Triggers for onset and a flare include: stress, which can trigger symptoms and make them worse.
Doctors don't know what causes psoriatic arthritis. But factors such as immunity, genes, and the environment may play a role.
Symptoms usually develop slowly meaning that many people are unaware that they are developing psoriatic arthritis. In rarer cases, symptoms can develop suddenly and without warning. The severity of the condition can vary considerably from person to person.
The HIV virus could also be involved. Psoriatic arthritis is more common in people who are HIV-positive. A bout of strep throat or other upper respiratory infection can lead to a flare-up of symptoms.
For many people with psoriatic arthritis, knee pain is one of the first indicators of a flare. Inflammation affects the knee joints, causing them to become stiff and swollen. This can make it difficult to walk, kneel, climb stairs, extend, or bend the knee.
Even so, the pain and discomfort associated with psoriatic arthritis can be significant. A study published in 2015 in the journal PLoS One found that the overall pain, joint pain, and fatigue reported by psoriatic arthritis patients was significantly greater than that reported by people with rheumatoid arthritis.
Stress Is the Top Psoriatic Arthritis Trigger
Stress sets off the immune system's inflammatory response, according to the Arthritis Foundation. Inflammation, in turn, can fuel joint damage in people with psoriatic arthritis and other arthritic conditions.
Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis
The severity of the condition can vary considerably from person to person. Some people may have severe problems affecting many joints, whereas others may only notice mild symptoms in 1 or 2 joints.
No cure exists for psoriatic arthritis. Treatment focuses on controlling inflammation in your affected joints to prevent joint pain and disability and controlling skin involvement. One of the most common treatments are prescription medications called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
If left untreated, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) can cause permanent joint damage, which may be disabling. In addition to preventing irreversible joint damage, treating your PsA may also help reduce inflammation in your body that could lead to other diseases.
Joint pain, stiffness and swelling are the main signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. They can affect any part of the body, including your fingertips and spine, and can range from relatively mild to severe. In both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, disease flares can alternate with periods of remission.
“Left untreated, it can result in fatigue and a general feeling of sickness. It can also result in anemia due to prolonged inflammation.” Anemia can be an independent reason for fatigue and can be resolved with treatment, adds Gupta.
“Fatigue is a common symptom of psoriatic arthritis. And for perhaps a third of people with the disease, the fatigue is severe,” says rheumatologist Rochelle Rosian, MD. As anyone dealing with chronic exhaustion knows, it can have a significant impact on your quality of life.
To the question "how long does a flare last?" the answer is that they can persist for weeks or months unless there is a change in treatment. Usually your symptoms are reliable indicators of an arthritis flare, so it is important to keep tabs on them, as well as what you are doing to treat your arthritis.
PsA does not usually affect life expectancy, but a person with PsA may have a higher risk of other conditions, such as cardiovascular disease.
Joints in the arms, legs, hands, and feet may also be involved. The most severe and least common type of psoriatic arthritis is called arthritis mutilans.
Studies have shown that there are certain autoimmune diseases that occur in people with psoriatic arthritis more frequently than in the general population. These include conditions such as celiac disease, systemic lupus erythematosus, thyroid autoimmunity, and vitiligo.
Psoriatic arthritis tends to be much more persistent when untreated. It can cause, as I said, joint destruction when untreated. But some people do experience significant flares of skin and joint disease, as well as periods where they are not in as much pain. Fibromyalgia also has flares and remission.
Bananas are not a typical choice for people with arthritis, but the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in them may aid in protecting the body against certain oxidative stress.
Water Intake Helps Ease Joint Pain and Boosts Joint Health
It's important to keep your joints in tip-top shape if you have psoriatic arthritis.
Get Some Sun — But Not Too Much
“Ultraviolet rays are anti-inflammatory and can calm the skin and improve lesions,” says Dr. Gohara. This is why psoriasis flares can almost disappear altogether during summer months in a warm climate. The key words when it comes to “phototherapy” are controlled exposure.