Do You Have Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms? 9 Symptoms to Look For

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Since about 10% to 30% of people with psoriasis eventually develop psoriatic arthritis, it’s very important for people with psoriasis to be aware of psoriatic arthritis symptoms and talk with a doctor as soon as they are seen in the body.

The most common psoriatic arthritis symptoms:

Inflammation of joints and joint stiffness

This is the most common symptom – the knees, ankles, and the feet and hands’ joints are inflamed and painful. They also become swollen and hot and they might look red. Inflammation in the joints of the feet or hands can make the whole digit look swollen and thick.

The stiffness in the joints is usually noticed more in the morning. This is one of the most common psoriatic arthritis symptoms.

Pain and stiffness in the lower back, buttocks, neck, and upper back

This type of pain and stiffness is caused by the inflammation of the spine and the sacrum.

Pain when walking and climbing stairs

If you experience pain when you’re walking or climbing stairs, it’s possible that the tendons in your body are inflamed as well as the areas around cartilage. More specifically, the tendon behind the heel can become inflamed and cause pain while walking. Also, the joint in the pelvis could become inflamed and swollen as well, and that could cause pain.

Chest pain and shortness of breath

The same thing that happens to the tendon behind the heel can also happen to the chest wall of the cartilage that connects the ribs to the breastbone. When this area is inflamed, you might have chest pain and shortness of breath. It might also be painful to take deep breaths. All these are important psoriatic arthritis symptoms to discuss with your doctor, because they can lead to serious conditions, such as a heart attack.

Nail changes

Nail changes may include pitting and ridges in the fingernails or toenails. This is a common form of psoriatic arthritis symptom that’s seen in 80% of patients with psoriatic arthritis.

Acne

It has been noticed that people with psoriatic arthritis have more acne, so if you are having joint pain and swelling along with an increased amount of acne, check with your doctor.

Irritation and redness in the eyes

Any organ in the body can be inflamed due to psoriatic arthritis, including the eyes. So, irritation and redness in the eyes could be a sign of inflammation. Also, if your eyes are more sensitive by bright light, the iris (colored part) of the eyes could be inflamed.

Psoriatic arthritis symptoms may include other psoriasis symptoms

Since most people with psoriatic arthritis also have psoriasis (such as plaque psoriasis), psoriasis symptoms like dry red lesions can help your doctor determine that you have psoriatic arthritis. If you don’t have any psoriasis symptoms, it might be more difficult to determine a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis.

If you see any of these symptoms showing up in your body, be sure to see your doctor as soon as possible. It could be psoriatic arthritis or it could be psoriatic rheumatoid arthritis. Your doctor may refer you to a rheumatologist to get the proper diagnosis and treatment. Psoriatic arthritis is a serious condition that requires treatment as soon as possible before the tissues and muscles associated with the joints become too severely damaged. Treatment will probably involve systemic medications or biologics – talk to your doctor about your options. The condition can affect your quality of life if measures are not taken immediately.

In general, be vigilant about what goes on with your body if you have psoriasis. Your doctor may notice psoriatic arthritis symptoms when discussing your psoriasis with you, but it’s ultimately up to you to be aware of what is going with your body and to seek out treatment as needed.