1. It Starts with a Skin Rash
Psoriatic arthritis is most likely to show up for the first time in people in their 40s and 50s. Men and women are at equal risk. Usually the psoriasis will be present for months or even years, and the arthritic component emerges later. The psoriatic component affects the skin, so you might see patches of reddened skin with silvery scales. The rash is generally found on the elbows and knees, the scalp, the navel and in the genital area. Other common symptoms include ridges or pitting of your fingernails or toenails, loose nails, or perhaps some horizontal yellowish lines in the nails.
2. Joint Pain Appears
Joint pain is the arthritis component of psoriatic arthritis. You will begin to notice pain and stiffness in one to three of your joints, but psoriatic arthritis may attack up to five joints, including knees, ankles, feet and wrists. These joints become hot, red and swollen, and, of course, painful. One small consolation is that, generally speaking, not all joints are inflamed at the same time. You may also have morning stiffness, so getting up and moving might be difficult. Sometimes fingers---or even toes---will become so swollen that they look like sausages. In one type of psoriatic arthritis, the same joint may be affected on both sides. As this symptom is also present in rheumatoid arthritis, your doctor will have you take a test to determine which form of arthritis you have.
3. Stiffness Signals Spinal Involvement
You may wake up some mornings with stiffness and pain in your neck, back or buttocks. This is due to inflammation of the spinal vertebrae---also called spondylitis---caused by the psoriatic arthritis. The inflammation may only affect one or a few of your vertebrae, and you may also have inflammation in your pelvis or hips. In any case, it's still important to maintain some sort of exercise regimen to keep your joints---including the vertebral joints---mobile.
4. Tendonitis Is Another Common Complaint
If you have psoriatic arthritis, you may also notice inflammation in some of your tendons, most commonly those behind the heel. This is called Achilles tendonitis and makes it painful to walk or to climb stairs. Tendonitis could also affect the soles of your feet.
5. Psoriatic Arthritis Inflammation Might Reach to the Eyes
Quite a few people with psoriatic arthritis get conjunctivitis and some also get iritis. The latter is an inflammation of the iris, which can make the natural response of the iris to open and close with a change in lighting quite painful. If your child has psoriatic arthritis, have his eyes examined annually.
