What treatments are available for psoriatic arthritis?
There is no cure for psoriatic arthritis, but there are medications that will effectively relieve symptoms, stop joint damage and hence reduce disability. Firstly, pain-killers such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), are given to relieve the joint stiffness and pain. But they do not change the course of the disease. As PsA is an auto-immune arthritis, there needs to be treatment aimed at suppressing the inflammation caused by the abnormal activation of the immune system’s cells and thus slow down disease progression. These medications are called “disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs” (DMARDs). DMARDs should be started early, before any joint damage, and will need to be taken regularly over a period of time (months and years, not days) to control the disease. Adjunctive treatments such as heat, exercises or physiotherapy may also help relieve the joint pain and stiffness. In addition, topical creams or light therapy (ultraviolet radiation) may be used to help the psori
