Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic Arthritis is a form of Arthritis that affects some people with Psoriasis. Many people develop Psoriasis years before being diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis.
What are the symptoms?
Symptoms of Psoriatic Arthritis can range from relatively mild to severe, there may also be disease flares or periods of remission.
Symptoms include:
Swollen fingers and toes
Foot pain
Lower back pain
Nail changes
Eye inflammation
Causes
Unfortunately there is no known cause for this type of Psoriasis. It seems likely that both genetic and environmental factors play a role in this immune system response. Many people with psoriatic arthritis have a family history of either psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis. Researchers have discovered certain genetic markers that appear to be associated with psoriatic arthritis.
Diagnosis
No single test can confirm a diagnosis, but some tests can be done to rule out other causes of joint pain. To conclude the type of Psoriasis that is occurring, a physical examination alongside a variety of test will take place. The health care professional will examine your joints for signs of swelling or tenderness, checking your fingernails for pitting, flaking and other abnormalities; they may also press on the soles of your feet and around your heels to check for tender areas.
There will also be a variety of image and labatory tests that will take place, including the following:
X-rays
MRI
Rheumatoid factor (RF)
Joint fluid test
How it is treated conventionally?
There's no cure for psoriatic arthritis. Treatment is aimed at controlling symptoms and preventing joint damage. Without treatment, psoriatic arthritis can be disabling.
How does Surrey Centre for Nutrition work with Psoriatic Arthritis?
We work to identify the underlying causes and triggers for Psoriatic Arthritis. We build up a thorough functional medicine case review which dives into your health history and any predisposing factors. We then look at what the trigger/s was/were at the time of onset, and although these sometimes won’t be obvious we can use functional medicine timelines to pinpoint the most likely triggers. We will often also use functional and nutritional testing such as comprehensive stool testing (to identify the role of gut health as a disease) and food, pathogen and chemical reactivity testing to identify causative factors which can’t be identified through casework alone.
By identifying the triggers we can address these using functional medicine and nutritional therapy approaches to diet and lifestyle. Often we will work through a series of protocol phases focussing on gut health, food and nutrition, environmental and pathogenic inputs, stress and lifestyle factors to ensure we have addressed all aspects of health in relation to your Psoriasis.
Are you ready to work with us to reach your health goals?
If you or someone you know is suffering from the symptoms or conditions listed above, Surrey Centre for Nutrition may be able to help. We typically work with clients for 3-6 months depending on your health concerns. Are you interested in working with us?
Book a discovery call to see how the Surrey Centre for Nutrition can help
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