Is Your Psoriatic Arthritis Getting Worse?

How you experience psoriatic arthritis (PsA) will be unique to you, however, studies show that Blacks with PsA have more psychological effects than whites. Fortunately, though there are a few ways to tell if your PsA is getting worse. New joint pain or swelling “In terms of your joints, you always want to pay attention to pain and swelling,” Rebecca Haberman, M.D., associate director at NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital Arthritis Clinic in New York City explains. “For example, it is important to do a self-check at least seasonally and determine if more joints or new joints have become involved or if your lower back or buttocks have started to hurt.” Ali Ajam, M.D., a rheumatologist and associate professor at Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, OH advises watching out for back pain as well.  “A common culprit of increased back pain in those living with PsA is sacroiliac joint dysfunction,” he says. “If there is an increase in inflammation occurring around the sacroiliac joint, this may feel like more back pain or more hip pain.”  The sacroiliac joint is what connects the hip bones to the sacrum (a triangular bone between the lumbar spine and the tailbone). Elbow...