Psoriatic Arthritis: Diagnosis and Finding the Right Specialist

Psoriatic is a complicated disease that is associated with inflammatory joints which can also affect skin, nails, scalp, skull, spine, fingers, and toes causing them to become inflamed and painful. While a physician or a primary care doctor may have the skills to help manage the conditions, other specialists diagnose for the underlying cause to provide specific care and treatment.

 

Symptoms

In some patients with psoriatic, psoriatic arthritis can occur, a condition that can lead to red patches on the skin. However, in some cases, the joint problem can begin first before skin patches appear. Some people with mild symptoms will just get occasional flare-ups. In other people, it is continuous and can cause further damage if not treated with the help of specialists.

Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling are the main signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis, especially those with lower extremities can affect the large joints like the back and sacroiliac joints of the pelvis.

 

Moreover, sometimes the symptoms may often resemble those of rheumatoid arthritis, as it also causes the joints to become painful, swollen, and warm to touch.

 

If you are having these symptoms or already diagnosed, it can become part of your life if not treated well. So finding a doctor, when you search for 'psoriatic arthritis specialist near me' is a critical part to get the treatment right. In fact, maybe one of the most important decisions you make.

 

How to get the diagnosis right?

The first person of contact may be your primary doctor who may be able to diagnose and manage your milder symptoms. However, to ensure quality care and successful recovery you need a skilled staff that is most experienced in treating the underlying symptoms and the inflammation that contributes to successful recovery. As everyone's symptoms are different, the specialist may:

 

  • Closely examine your joints for the signs of swelling and tenderness if any.

  • Check for swelling on an entire finger or toe as opposed to just on the joint.

  • Check your finger nails for pitting, flaking, and other abnormalities.

  • Ask for symptoms like morning stiffness.

  • Check the soles of your feet and around your heels to find tender areas.

 

No single symptom sometimes can confirm a diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis. Along with searching for 'psoriatic arthritis doctor or specialists near me', you also need to listen to your symptoms and take regular note of them. While this condition can affect patients of both genders at a range of age between 30 to 50, but can begin as early as childhood.

 

All-in-all, if you have joint pain that lasts more than a few days or you have constant flare-ups of tender or swollen joints, it is time to get the diagnosis done and consult a specialist. Since many types of other arthritis appear similar at first, but a medical diagnosis with the help of specialists can help you identify and treat psoriatic arthritis quickly.

 

Depending on your case and circumstances, here are a few of the tests that might be carried out by the doctors to confirm the diagnosis:

  1.  X-ray: Plain X-rays can help pinpoint changes in your affected joints, as well as your spine if it appears to be affected. This will help them determine the changes. If the symptoms are in the early stage it might require additional screening.  
  2. Ultrasound: For examining disease activity and scale of damage in tendons and ligaments an ultrasound is performed.
  3. MRI: Along with the above mentioned tests, to get more insight this test can help produce very detailed images of both hard and soft tissues, especially helpful in allowing your doctor to investigate the damaged or paining joints associated with the disease.

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