The first thing that needs to be understood is that psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are not the same and in fact it is necessary to be clear about the differences between psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In fact, arthritis has more than a hundred different forms and so there is much to learn about this disease including also understanding the differences between psoriatic and rheumatoid arthritis/

Common Symptoms

That is not to say that there are no common symptoms between psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis because many symptoms including inflamed joints and stiffness in the joints are experienced in both psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, both conditions develop on account of inflammatory arthritis that is erosive by nature.

The differences between psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are notable and in the case of rheumatoid arthritis it would mean that the disease will mainly affect the wrists and PIP joints. In the case of psoriatic arthritis the symptoms show up in the form of sausage shaped deformed toes and fingernails.

The common features of psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis also extend to the way that both conditions are treated. This can be seen in the fact that psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis is treated by using anti-inflammatory agents as well as anti-malarials and also by using Methotrexate which is used in the treatment of particularly stubborn cases.

Another fact related to psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis that needs to be known and understood is that both conditions are very disabling and rheumatoid arthritis in particular is known to affect approximately one in every 100 adult Americans which works out to about two million people. It is also an autoimmune disease and it mostly affects a person’s smaller joints such as those found in the hands and feet.

In regard to psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis it has also been found that psoriatic arthritis affects fewer people as compared to rheumatoid arthritis patients and in fact psoriatic arthritis is more of a disease that is closely linked with psoriasis and involves experiencing pain as well as developing inflamed joints. Both psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are highly disabling and so treatment should be begun as soon as symptoms begin to show up.

Getting the right and prompt psoriatic arthritis treatment is essential for your good health. At one time psoriatic arthritis was treated as effectively as is being done today; but now that disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) have become available it is possible to prevent deformities and destruction as well as disabilities that an unchecked psoriatic arthritis condition can cause.