What should you know about people with psoriatic arthritis?

Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory condition that can affect joints, tendons and the areas where tendons attach to bone. Joint pain and joint swelling may affect fingers, toes, knees, feet or the spine. Morning joint stiffness can make the first part of the day difficult and may ease as you move. Skin psoriasis or nail changes may be present, but joint symptoms can also need assessment when skin symptoms are subtle or absent.

Arrange a medical review if persistent pain, swelling or stiffness is affecting function. Treatment may involve anti-inflammatory medication or other medicines selected for your pattern of inflammation and health history. Physiotherapy can protect movement with joint-friendly strength, mobility, pacing and hand or foot strategies. During a flare, balance activity with rest, avoid repeatedly loading a swollen joint, and record which joints are affected and when symptoms are worst.

Contact a clinician promptly when a joint becomes newly swollen, hot or difficult to move, or symptoms repeatedly interrupt sleep or work. Seek urgent help for a painful red eye with light sensitivity or vision change, sudden severe weakness, fever with a hot swollen joint, or rapidly worsening mobility.

Which joints or tendon areas show inflammation? How will skin, nail and joint symptoms be coordinated in my care? What movement is safe during a flare? When should medication be reviewed?