Tell us about your symptoms and treatment experience. Take our survey here.

A woman's body reveals symptoms not seen by others

Unknown Symptoms: Why PsA is More Than Just a Joint Pain

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an autoimmune disease that is often labeled as one of the most frustrating types of inflammatory arthritis. Why is it described this way? Well, because of how varied its impact is and how unique the treatment options are to each patient diagnosed with it.

Breaking down the unknown symptoms

PsA is more commonly known for peripheral arthritis, wherein the hands, wrists, and knees are primarily affected. In some cases, the damage caused to the joints becomes irreparable due to the long-term inflammation.

Unknown to others; however, PsA is more than just joint aches and the inability to walk without pain. In this article, we are going to enumerate a few symptoms that are linked to PsA.

Skin psoriasis

Usually, only those diagnosed with psoriasis are likely to develop PsA. Often, joint pain flares are accompanied by skin psoriasis, which may include itchy skin, red rashes, silvery-white patches, flaky and dry scalp.

Fatigue

Most people diagnosed with PsA experience fatigue that sleep or bed rest could not cure. This leaves you utterly exhausted even just by doing the bare minimum. It’s the constant state of being tired and the constant battle against putting tasks off and delaying them because you feel drained or unmotivated.

Nail changes

Another symptom is nail involvement which includes having noticeable lesions, dents, and ridges in the nails, most commonly known as nail pitting. Sometimes, nails appear to be thickened or discolored. Nail separation, however, occurs when the nail pulls away from the nail bed itself.

Uveitis

This occurs when there is inflammation in the eyes. This includes redness, pain, blurry vision, and sensitivity to light. Although not all those diagnosed with PsA suffer from eye inflammation, a frequent visit to your optometrist and ophthalmologist would be helpful because uveitis might lead to permanent eye damage if left untreated.

Dactylitis

This refers to the swelling in the finger or toe and is most often known as “sausage fingers” because they take on the shape of a sausage due to inflammation. This happens when the fingers or toes appear red, swollen, and enlarged.

Other comorbidities

PsA is an illness that affects the entire body. It increases the risk of being susceptible to different diseases and other complications such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, osteoporosis, depression, inflammatory bowel syndrome, etc.

The initial symptoms and related illnesses further prove that PsA disrupts the entire life, not only of the people diagnosed with it but also those who are around them.

Could this have been connected all along?

As we finish this article, we invite you to take some time to reflect if you are suffering from these symptoms too? Is your current lifestyle increasing your risk of developing the comorbidities above?

At times, we feel like the symptoms, and the pain that we handle all over our bodies overlap to the extent that it becomes too overwhelming to function. May this article clarify that the pain or condition you are going through, whatever it is, might not be something that just came out of the blue. It might be related to your PsA all along.

By providing your email address, you are agreeing to our privacy policy.

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.

Join the conversation

Please read our rules before commenting.

Community Poll

How does fatigue affect you? Check all that apply