PsA (Psoriatic Arthritis) is a chronic condition that causes pain, swelling, and inflammation in the joints. It also causes dactylitis, which refers to the swelling of entire toes or fingers.
This article examines how PsA can affect the feet, including symptoms, risk factors, and diagnosis. It also covers how to manage and treat the foot-related symptoms of PsA.
Key takeaways
- Psoriatic arthritis is a chronic inflammatory condition that commonly affects the feet and toes, causing pain, swelling, stiffness, and dactylitis (sausage-like swelling of entire toes).
- Symptoms in the feet include heel pain similar to plantar fasciitis, claw-like toe bending, flattened arches, and morning stiffness that may last over 30 minutes.
- Treatment may involve nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), plus supportive footwear, physical therapy, and anti-inflammatory dietary changes to manage symptoms and prevent joint damage.
Symptoms of PsA in the feet include:
- foot swelling
- stiffness in the feet and ankles
- pain and difficulty walking, especially in the morning or after a long period of rest
- dactylitis, also known as sausage toes or sausage digits, which is a condition that causes entire toes to swell up
- heel pain, similar to plantar fasciitis, which is inflammation in the Achilles tendon
- bending and shortening of the toes, making them look like claws
- overextending of the big toe
- painful calluses or sores over the joints
- flattening of the foot arch, leading to a tendency to roll the foot inward when standing or walking
- limited range of motion and a tendency for the joints to lock
- the skin of the affected area turning red or purple
The joints that PsA affects typically worsen with inactivity. People often experience stiffness in the morning. This difficulty can last for more than 30 minutes.
In the later stages of the condition, the joints can become so damaged that the toe bones fuse together. There are a number of tests which can be performed in order to diagnose PsA. While there is no direct action to be taken in this regard the doctor may look for signs of asymmetrical joint pain. The joint pain of PsA affects the two sides of the body differently. This is a key difference between PsA and other conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, which tends to affect both sides of the body symmetrically.
How to manage PsA in the feet
There is no direct cure for this, but it may be helpful to work with a doctor or podiatrist to help find the right footwear for their condition. Using shoe inserts may also provide symptom relief and make walking easier.
Strengthening exercises and stretches may also prevent more severe symptoms. Doing exercises that involve slow, gentle, strength-building movements, such as yoga and can be safer tai chi, for the joints than higher-impact exercises, such as running.
Medications
A treatment plan for PsA-related foot problems aims to reduce pain, lower inflammation, and prevent permanent joint damage.
- For milder pain, people can get nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs over the counter or as a prescription medication from a doctor.
- A doctor can also prescribe corticosteroids as an oral medication or as an injection. These medications can reduce inflammation when the symptoms are more severe.
- There are also more powerful medications called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for long-term use. People can get these as oral medications, injections, or infusions. DMARDs include traditional DMARDs, which target the whole immune system, and other types, such as biologics, which only target specific parts of the immune system.
- A person can also try oral small molecule drugs, which are an alternative to biologicsTrusted Source.
When the effects of PsA are severe, a person may need surgery.
Diet
Since psoriatic disease, which includes psoriasis and PsA, is an inflammatory process in the body, it may affect more than the skin, joints, or feet.
People who are prone to psoriatic inflammation may be more at risk of health issues such as obesity, higher cholesterol, higher blood pressure, heart disease, and insulin resistance. A person with PsA should consult a doctor and attend regular checkups to monitor their overall health.
In addition, a person may choose to eat a balanced diet and maintain a moderate weight.
To read the original article click here: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324723
Written by: Danielle Dresden