Psoriatic Arthritis

Question: Psoriatic Arthritis? I have psoriatic arthritis and some of the areas of my affected by this is my wrists and fingers. Last night I got a horrible pain in between the pointer and middle knuckle on my left hand. It is to the point where I cant turn a doorknob or lift something as light as a phone with my left hand. It is painful to pick up my 13 month old daughter, get her dressed etc. My question is, can psoriatic arthritis affect in between your knuckles, or is something completley unrelated? Thanks in advance for all your insight!!

Answer: Sorry, I am not a rheumatologist, but if there is a joint nearby, there can be the pain from psoriatic arthritis. You should be contacting a physician, primary if you have to for insurance first, or a rheumatologist. There are new medications out, injectibles, that are wonderful medications. They help the arthritis AND psoriasis. I wish you well.

Question: Looking for naturopaths who could treat psoriatic arthritis in Sacramento without Enbrel? My young son is on Enbrel for arthritis. His uncle had psoriatic arthritis also and had been on Enbrel for 3 years, then had cancer 3 months ago. He died last week from it. His doctors thought Enbrel caused the cancer. We're looking for doctors to give alternative treatment without Enbrel.

Answer: Enbrel is a strong drug, potentially taking away too much of the immune reaction. You would be better off with antibiotics. Rheumatic diseases are the result of a defective gene and collagen inflammation, often from a chronic infection. Collagen is present throughout the body, from the eyes, skin and joints to the heart. Hence, the multiplicity of symptoms, depending on the location of the most affected internal organs or body parts. I have had seronegative rheumatoid arthritis for 27 years. The telling signs of seronegative rheumatoid arthritis are the following: - Joint pain in the feet (or cracking ankles) in the early 20's or late teens; - Fatigue, especially after a moderate exercise like a 30 minute walk; - Blood test showing a negative or low level of Rheumatoid factor; - Joint deformities of the fingers, after a few years, a specific sign of rheumatoid arthritis; - Consecutive X-Rays, over several years, showing bone erosion, a consequence of rheumatoid arthritis; - Generalized arthritis, involving the whole body; - Elevated levels of C-Reactive protein and Sedimentation rate, as evidenced in blood tests. NSAIDs like Voltaren, COX-2 inhibitors like Celebrex, acetaminophen like Tylenol, and codeine are all used to control inflammation and relieve the pain of arthritis. Regular exercise like walking, biking and swimming is also helpful for most patients. Make sure that you are not overweight as carrying too much weight can only increase the pain of arthritis in the supporting joints of the hips, knees, ankles and feet. For any form of arthritis, you should consult an Orthopaedist who will order blood tests, joint scans and X-Rays to better diagnose the type of arthritis from which you suffer. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons at http://www.aaos.org maintains a public online directory where you can find the address and phone number of orthopaedists who belong to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Orthopaedists are listed by geographic location and family name, inside the USA and in most countries. The membership directory of the AAOS is located at: http://www6.aaos.org/about/public/members.cfm Lyme disease could be a possibility. Ask your doctor to test you for the bacteria causing Lyme disease. Are there any other cases of arthritis or rheumatic diseases among your relatives? Chronic forms of arthritis are usually prevalent in families where a defective gene is passed on by parents to their children. There are a few hundred types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases. The good news is that science is progressing rapidly in its understanding of rheumatic diseases. Antibiotics are now used to achieve full remissions for at least 40%, if not 65% of patients with rheumatoid arthritis. For more info, please join the antibio group at: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/antibio

Question: Is there anything I can do about the swelling in my toe due to psoriatic arthritis? I have psoriatic arthritis, which I take Enbrel for. It really helps, but I still have swelling in my big toe. Would like to find out it there is anyway I can relieve this.

Answer: As the inflammation in the joint diminishes so should the swelling. Sometimes toe splints help because the toe is immobilized...They can be purchased at the drug store.. Good luck..

Question: Can drinking green tea help psoriatic arthritis? I've read it can help rheumatiod arthritis so I was wondering if it helped psoriatic arthritis as well.

Answer: No I am affraid it won't sorry xx

Question: Can the severe symptoms of psoriatic arthritis be reduced? After several mis-diaganoses since my first visit to hospital in September 06 - they thought it was fractured metatarsals/ cuboid bones - my specialist has eventually realised that I am a long standing sufferer of Psoriasis. Psoriatic Arthritis is now suspected after a bone scan and the blood tests should confirm it. I am due to see my specialist again on 10th January and the foot pain/ difficulty in walking has now spread to my knee causing locking, extreme pain and clicking noises. Even more tests and delays are now anticipated, possibly a MRI scan with a 19 week waiting list and a sample of fluid from my knee. Meanwhile I am only taking un-prescribed drugs - Ibprofen and Anadin Extra - and am worried that irreversable damage may be caused due to the delay in diagnosis. Is there any light at the end of the tunnel? Will I always suffer pain and disability? Why don't doctors ask the right questions & arrange the right tests when you see them? I feel let down by our Health Service

Answer: Treatment Options Skin care Light treatment (UVB or PUVA) Corrective cosmetics Medications: glucocorticoids, NSAIDs, DMARDs (disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs) such as methotrexate, sulfasalazine, gold, cyclosporine Exercise Rest Heat and cold Splints Surgery (rarely) The wait for MRI scans is rediculous! I had to wait for about 2 months and only got one that "quickly" as I could get to teh hospital at short notice!!! I hope you get some solutions to your problem soon;

Question: If Psoriatic Arthritis is a "T" cell malfunction, does exercise have the same benefis as those with Osteo ? I know that strengthening and stretching are good ways to support joints and maintain an active lifestyle with Arthritis, but the cause of my condition is genetic, and not physical. Will excercise have the same effect for me as it would for someone with Osteo-Arthritis, or even Rhumatoid? Thanks for the answer... I am a tennis pro who teaches full time on hard courts. I am worrie that my career is going to aggrivate my condition. Am I kidding myself in thinking that I can maintain my condition AND teach tennis for a living?

Answer: Psoriatic arthritis: Self-care Some of the most encouraging news about psoriatic arthritis is that you can do a great deal on your own to help manage the condition: Maintain a healthy weight. Maintaining a healthy weight places less strain on your joints, leading to reduced pain and increased energy and mobility. The best way to increase nutrients while limiting calories is to eat more plant-based foods — fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Exercise regularly. Exercise is essential for everyone — and that includes people with arthritis. In fact, exercise alone can help relieve many of the symptoms of arthritic conditions, including pain and fatigue. You're the best judge of how much you can do, but an appropriate activity level should make you feel the same or better afterward, not worse. Introduce new activities gradually and heed warning signs. If you experience new pain later in the day or fatigue the following day, you've probably done too much. Good Luck! DS

Question: What is a good way to tell someone that you accidentally gave them psoriatic arthritis? It really was an accident. Maybe a singing telegram? Help!

Answer: It was YOU! I'm going to limp to your home and beat you with my four-pronged cane thing. here I come... I'm getting up! .... I'm stilllll getting up.....

Question: Which is the best way to ease the pain of Psoriatic Arthritis? I am on Diclofenac at the moment which are not stopping the swelling and paractamol for the pain which is not stopping that either.

Answer: www.maxavita.com Apparantly has amazing results. And if you smoke, as Ruth J says, smoking cannibis DOES help arthritis pain - a LOT!