What should you know about pain management for psoriatic arthritis?

Psoriatic arthritis can cause joint pain, swelling, tenderness around tendons, and morning joint stiffness. Symptoms may vary between joints and may affect skin, nails, energy, or movement. Pain that is swollen, warm, or stiff after rest can reflect active inflammation; pain after repeated use may have a mechanical component. Recording which joints hurt, how long stiffness lasts, and whether swelling returns helps your clinician judge control. Read about Psoriatic Arthritis, Joint Pain, Joint Swelling, and Morning Joint Stiffness.

Take prescribed medicines as directed and discuss unwanted effects before changing them. Anti-inflammatory medication may be considered by a clinician, taking account of your health and other medicines. Break demanding tasks into shorter periods, alternate activity with recovery, and use gentle range-of-motion or strengthening exercises chosen for your joints. Physiotherapy can help maintain movement, build support around painful joints, and adapt exercise during a flare. Protect swollen joints from forceful loading while avoiding complete inactivity.

Contact your rheumatology or primary-care team when swelling persists, pain is worsening, morning stiffness is becoming longer, or treatment no longer lets you manage ordinary activities. Seek urgent help for a hot, very swollen joint with fever or feeling acutely unwell, sudden severe eye pain or vision change, or new chest pain or breathing difficulty. Do not wait for a routine review if a medicine reaction causes facial swelling or trouble breathing.

Which symptoms suggest active inflammation? What should I do during a flare? Is my current medicine still appropriate, and what monitoring is needed? Which exercises are safe for my affected joints? Could physiotherapy help with a specific task or movement?