HSS Doctor Explains the Pains with Psoriatic Arthritis

Ridgewood Daily Voice—May 24, 2016

In a recent publication of the Ridgewood Daily Voice, Dee Dee Wu, MD, a rheumatologist at Hospital for Special Surgery, explains common symptoms associated with psoriatic arthritis.

"Patients with psoriatic arthritis typically present with joint pain, swelling and morning stiffness. Patients may also have inflammatory low back pain, or back pain which improves, rather than worsens, with activity. Additionally, inflammation at the sites where tendons and ligaments attach to the bone is another key feature of psoriatic arthritis. This commonly occurs in the heel, foot, and hands," said Dr. Wu.

Dr. Wu continues, "Mild arthritis symptoms can be managed with non-steroidal anti-inflammatories or local steroid injections into the affected joints. Moderate symptoms are treated with anti-rheumatic drugs but there are several newer oral medications that have been approved for treatment as well. Patients with severe disease are often treated with biologic agents, such as anti-tumor necrosis factor inhibitors."

To read more, visit Ridgewood.DailyVoice.com.