Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is of various types and is seen in patients suffering from various types of skin psoriasis.
Quite often, there will be a history of psoriasis in other family members too.
They present with single joint pain (monoarthritis) or in a few joints (oligoarthritis) or multiple joint pains (polyarthritis) or lowback pain and early morning stiffness (spondyloarthritis) or heel pain (inflammation of the enthesium, a unique structure where muscle tendon attachement is inserted into the bone) or chest pain (rib cage inflammation) or neck pain (cervical spine inflammation).
PsA disease is known for its sudden onset and rapid, irreversible joint damage. One should not take it lightly, and seeking rheumatologist help is very important.
They tend to affect distal interphalangeal joints more often compared to other types of arthritis.
Swolllen digits and toes, what we call it dactylyitis, are more common in PsA.
Nail deformities are more commonly seen in PsA.