Could Your Joint Pain Actually Be Psoriatic Arthritis?
Another “tell” of psoriatic arthritis, Saakshi says, is resting pain or stiffness that comes on after sitting much of the day as well as decreased range of motion. Smith adds joint swelling to the list, which can be one of the first symptoms of the condition and doesn’t tend to accompany typical post-workout soreness. “In the hands, if there are defined joints, let’s say one knuckle is painful, swollen, but the other ones aren’t, that can also be a sign that something’s up.” The technical term for this is dactylitis, but it’s sometimes referred to as “sausage digits,” Saakshi says. McBride agrees, adding “I always ask patients for changes they can see. Obvious swelling and discoloration of a joint or tendon warrants investigation.” With psoriatic arthritis, “some people also describe feeling flu-ish,” or achy all over, Smith says. Perhaps the biggest difference between diagnosable psoriatic arthritis and soreness, McBride says, is how long the symptoms last. “Even some of the worst cases of post-workout soreness should start to improve after 48 hours,” he says. Joint …
