Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment in Faisalabad

What is psoriatic arthritis?

Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune, inflammatory arthritis that occurs in some people who have psoriasis — a condition that causes red, scaly patches on the skin. The same immune process that affects the skin can also inflame the joints, leading to pain, swelling and stiffness.

Joint symptoms sometimes appear years after the skin problem, and occasionally before it. Because of this, psoriatic arthritis can be missed unless a rheumatologist connects the joint and skin symptoms together.

Symptoms to look out for

Psoriatic arthritis can affect people differently, but common features include:

• Painful, swollen joints — often the fingers, toes, knees or ankles • Swelling of a whole finger or toe, giving a 'sausage-like' appearance • Morning stiffness and stiffness after rest • Pain in the lower back or heel due to inflammation where tendons attach to bone • Nail changes such as pitting or separation, alongside psoriasis skin patches

If you have psoriasis and develop joint pain or swelling, it is important to be assessed for psoriatic arthritis.

Diagnosis and treatment in Faisalabad

Dr. Naseem Arshad diagnoses psoriatic arthritis from the pattern of joint and skin involvement, supported by examination, blood tests to rule out other conditions, and imaging where needed. Early diagnosis matters because, like other inflammatory arthritis, untreated psoriatic arthritis can cause lasting joint damage.

Treatment controls the inflammation in both the joints and, often, the skin:

• Anti-inflammatory medicines for pain and stiffness • DMARDs such as methotrexate to control the disease and protect the joints • Biologic therapies for more active disease — effective for both joints and skin • Advice on exercise, weight management and joint protection

With the right treatment, most patients achieve good control of both their joints and their skin.