Psoriatic Arthritis

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What happens when your body thinks your joints and skin are the enemy?

If you have psoriatic arthritis (PSA), you probably know all too well. From scaly patches of skin to stiff, painful and swollen joints and fatigue, your days can be filled with constant aches, worry and more than a few self-conscious moments. And without treatment, this battle can cause permanent joint damage — along with a few emotional scars.

But having psoriatic arthritis doesn’t have to be a fight. Cleveland Clinic healthcare providers can help reduce the severe inflammation, fatigue and flare-ups that go along with this condition. And we’ll control your pain and smooth out your skin, so you can confidently enjoy life again.

Why Choose Cleveland Clinic for Rheumatoid Arthritis Care?

Research and innovation:

Cleveland Clinic experts take part in clinical trials and other research into arthritis and inflammatory conditions. Our patients have access to leading-edge treatments that aren’t yet available elsewhere.

Personalized care:

Your team will create a treatment plan that matches your needs and keeps you and your lifestyle in mind. We’ll help you manage your psoriatic arthritis, start or talk about treatment options to care for your joints, let you know about health risks you may be more prone to have and help lessen any fears about your future.

Collaborative care:

People with psoriatic arthritis often have other chronic (lifelong) conditions and need care from other specialists. Your Cleveland Clinic providers will all work together to treat the whole you, giving you the care and support you need every step of the way. Meet our team.

National recognition:

Cleveland Clinic is a trusted healthcare leader. We're recognized in the U.S. and throughout the world for our expertise and care.

Psoriatic Arthritis Diagnosis at Cleveland Clinic

At your first few visits, we’ll confirm your diagnosis by talking with you about your overall health and symptoms — and how they affect your life. We’ll also give you a physical exam so we can check on your joints and skin. We might also order blood tests to look for signs of inflammatory disease, like include abnormal antibodies, uric acid, proteins or things that could indicate a genetic (inherited) problem.

If you’re having skin problems, like scaly spots or pitted nails, we may work with your dermatologist to get a skin biopsy to learn more about these symptoms. You might also have imaging tests, like an X-ray, CT scan or MRI, to look for inflammation or damage.

Meet Our Psoriatic Arthritis Team

Diagnosing psoriatic arthritis isn’t always easy. You may have seen different healthcare providers for years — getting treatment for many different symptoms and hoping for answers. At Cleveland Clinic, our providers work as one team to care for you. Your team could include:

Providers Who Treat Psoriatic Arthritis

Locations

Our healthcare providers see patients at convenient locations throughout Northeast Ohio, Florida and in London.

Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment at Cleveland Clinic

Psoriatic arthritis is a lifelong condition. But your Cleveland Clinic team will work with you to manage it, relieve your symptoms, protect your joints and skin from more damage and help you move better — without pain.

We’ll take the time to help you learn more about PSA and put together a treatment plan that focuses on you, your symptoms, test results and goals.

Medications

Depending on your unique needs, your care team may use different medications to treat your psoriatic arthritis. And we’ll make adjustments along the way, if needed.

Medications to ease your joint symptoms might include:

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including COX-2 inhibitors, ibuprofen and naproxen.
Biologic agents, which are injected or an infusion and can slow down your immune system from attacking your joints.
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), which ease symptoms and slow disease progression. DMARDs block the effects of chemicals released when your immune system attacks your joints.
Corticosteroids, which are cautiously used only for short-term relief of flare-ups.

Long-term psoriatic arthritis care

Psoriatic arthritis is chronic, which means you’ll need to manage it for the rest of your life. But don’t worry. You don’t have to do this alone. Our specialists will partner with you and your primary care provider to make sure your treatment is working. And they’ll help you cope with any side effects from it.

We’ll keep a close eye on you with regular follow-up appointments. You’ll also likely have more testing to see if your treatment is working, if your organs, joints and skin are staying healthy and if you’re on the right medications. Depending on what we learn at these follow-up visits, we might adjust your treatment to make it even more effective, or to lessen or prevent side effects.

Taking the Next Step

Managing a long-term condition like psoriatic arthritis can take a physical and emotional toll. And you might feel overwhelmed at times. We understand that — and you don’t have to worry, because we’re here for you. We’ll help you keep your flare-ups at bay and stay as healthy as possible, so you can live an active life.