What Happens If I Get Psoriatic Arthritis In The Future?

For people who get arthritis, specific arthritis treatment may be needed to stop the disease from getting worse. For joint disease, systemic therapy is often needed. Some treatments for psoriasis, such as methotrexate and some biologic therapies, will treat psoriatic arthritis and skin psoriasis at the same time by decreasing inflammation throughout the body.

For people with joint disease and minimal or no skin problems, the first approach is often pain management with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories ranging from ibuprofen (found in pain relievers such as Motrin and Advil), to prescription medications called the COX-2 inhibitors (found in medications such as Celebrex).

Other oral medicines such as sulfasalazine or stronger anti-inflammatories may also be used. A rheumatologist can help decide which therapy works best for a particular person. It is important to treat this arthritis early, and to have it monitored by an expert to ensure that the therapy is working effectively. This is especially critical since joint damage can be disabling and permanent.

When a person does not have arthritis, attention to new joint pain is important. Joint pain can come from many causes, including injury or overuse. Any new joint pain should be evaluated by a physician, especially when it appears with redness, swelling, or tenderness of the surrounding tissues, or persists over time.