Natural Methods to Help Psoriatic Arthritis Pain

By Diane T

2 min read

I have had psoriasis for 56 years and psoriatic arthritis for over 30 years. I recently had to stop treatments because of health issues. My PsA started flaring so badly, I had to find other things to keep me in motion.

Not all psoriatic arthritic patients are comfortable using new drugs for pain relief. We just don't know enough about them. Some are afraid of drug addictions, and side effects. Some don't trust modern medications at all.

Ways to improve chronic pain

Psoriasis is not limited to your skin only. Approximately 30% of people with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis. It is a painful joint condition. Your immune system attacks your skin and gives you psoriasis and your psoriatic arthritis attacks the joints and inflames them causing considerable pain.

My typical areas of pain include ankles, knees, neck, lower back, and wrists. Right now, my prevalent pain is in my toes and fingers right now - it's unbearable.

Movement & exercise

Working out is good for your joints; when you're in pain, exercise is often the last thing that you are interested in doing. It has been known to keep your joints limber. This will also help you lose weight. In return, will relieve your joints of the pressure of handling the extra weight.

These are some exercises that I have tried: Tai chi, swimming, and yoga.

Acupuncture

Personally, I have not tried this. This treatment involves the insertion of thin long needles into the skin. The body releases pain-killing chemicals into the body relieving the pain. This method of treatment is safe and has minimal side effects.

Hot and cold

This is my favorite. Using hot and cold temperatures can relieve pain in certain parts of the body. It is up to you to make the best choice of which of the two makes you feel better. Using a cold cloth against your sore joints will relieve the pain by numbing your joints.

Putting a hot cloth on the hands relieves pain by bringing the swelling down and soothing your tight muscles.

Rest

It is important that we all take a break and relax. Working or exerting too much pressure on your joints will cause you pain. Take a break and relieve pressure from your joints.

Massage

This treatment method eases your pain by loosening your muscles and getting rid of the stiffness. You can visit a clinic or a spa near you or just have the therapist come to you.

Meditation

Meditation helps you focus on your breath and relax. Stress is relieved by this exercise which means less psoriatic arthritis pain.

Support & assistive aids

Some doctors have there patients wear splints or a brace to relieve the pressure from sore joints.

Find what works for your pain

Some supplements and herbal treatments that are not considered as drugs are used to relieve pain.
They include tea tree oil, aloe vera, turmeric, apple cider vinegar, and dead sea salts.

Different psoriatic arthritis patients use some of the above pain relief methods and they work for them. The main reason for using them is pain relief. Make sure to see a doctor before trying anything new.

This article represents the opinions, thoughts, and experiences of the author; none of this content has been paid for by any advertiser. The Psoriatic-Arthritis.com team does not recommend or endorse any products or treatments discussed herein. Learn more about how we maintain editorial integrity here.

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etm1109 Member
I have used acupuncture and I guess what they call cups? I was surprised that there was some relief; however, it didn't last very long. A day or two for me. I was a skeptic.
LaurenJDK Member
This article highlights the laziness and ignorance of many people. "I don't trust modern medicine" is the rallying cry of fools who won't get the Covid-19 vaccine and put those of us who are immunosuppressed at risk. It is your personal responsibility to research medications that your doctor recommends for you. This does not mean asking people on Twitter, your hair stylist or dry cleaner if they think you should take this medication. It means you need to do the heavy lifting of reading medication information readily available on the internet from pharmaceutical manufacturers and the FDA. It's not easy reading but critical so you make informed decisions about your care. Educate yourself.
1. Lori.Foster Community Admin
 Hi <inline-mention username="LaurenJDK" user-id="3296067"/>. I understand your frustration. Many people are fooled by fake news and by ignorant fear mongers into believing that science and medicine are causing the problems, not answering and relieving them, and I share your frustration with those who refuse to vaccinate. However, there are some people who honestly cannot take PsA medications or for whom no medications have helped. That is the case with the advocate who wrote this article: She cannot take traditional PsA meds, so she had to figure out natural solutions on her own. She mentions those who distrust medicine as part of her description of people who might benefit from the article, but does not indicate one way or the other whether she condones that way of thinking. There are good reasons to be cautious about some PsA medications. Those who have mild symptoms sometimes feel the long-term risks are not worth the benefits, at least at this point in their progression. Others have already suffered negative effects of long-term use and are not willing to try something new. You are right to advise people to educate themselves, but we also have to be careful not to assume that everyone who declines traditional PsA meds is ignorant or that their decision means they won't get vaccinated again Covid. Let's hope that most are more open-minded than that and can separate the two issues. Thanks for your input and your advice. I hope you have found something that brings you relief. Best of all wishes! - Lori (Team Member)