When you are living with psoriatic arthritis, you’ll likely have good days and bad days. There will be days when you aren’t experiencing any symptoms and there will be days when you have painful flare-ups. However, the good news is that despite the challenges you may face with psoriatic arthritis, there are ways to handle the disease and make your life easier on those bad days.
1. Determine what’s triggering your flare-ups
What triggers flare-ups is different for everyone, so being able to determine what is directly triggering your flare-ups will help you avoid those painful days. If you know what is causing your flare-ups, you can simply avoid those things altogether.
One way to successfully do this is by keeping a log of when you are experiencing a flare-up and what you were doing, eating, etc. ArthritisPower is a great app for this. It helps you keep track of your sleep, fatigue, pain, and other symptoms by collecting the data in charts and graphs that you can send to your doctor.
2. Eliminate stress
Stress is a big trigger for many people living with psoriatic arthritis, so it is a good idea to eliminate it wherever you can. Of course, there are some things in your life that you can’t control, but what you may not realize is that there are also a lot of things that you can control. For example, if you know that the weather is going to be bad, leave earlier so that you aren’t stressing trying to get to work on time. You can’t control the weather, but you can control what time you leave the house. Meditating, yoga and practicing mindfulness are all great ways to eliminate stress.
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3. Get the most out of treatment
Even when you are having what you may consider a good day, you should continue to take your medication unless your doctor tells you that you are in remission and it’s fine to stop. Stopping your medication on your own can cause you to have a flare-up.
Additionally, you should keep a log of any improvements or setbacks you experience as a result of your treatment. This will give your doctor a clear picture of which treatments are working and which aren’t and allow him or her to adjust your treatment if needed. You should also keep a log of the questions you want to ask your doctor during your appointment so that you don’t forget anything.
Having a medical professional who suits you is also an important part of being treated well. So, if your doctor isn’t a good fit; shop around until you find one that is.
4. Have a backup plan for bad days
Your symptoms could interrupt your life at any time, so it is important to have a backup plan and plan for every possible outcome. You can feel well in the morning, and begin to experience a bad flare-up by the afternoon or evening. If you notice that your medicine hasn't been working well, talk with your doctor about a backup treatment plan.
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Additionally, it is a good idea to have extra pain relievers on hand, according to David Pisetsky, MD, PhD, professor of medicine at the Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, and past president of the U.S. Bone and Joint Initiative.
“Talk to your doctor about the best pain reliever for you and make sure you have it with you at all times,” he says.
5. Get plenty of rest
On days when you are having bad flare-ups, you may simply need to take it easy and get some rest. If you can, try to go to bed earlier and rest throughout the day. You should also limit your to-do list as much as possible. Try saving the laundry for another day or ordering takeout instead of cooking.
6. Utilize heat, cold, stretching, and massages
If you have morning stiffness, a warm bath or shower first thing in the morning can help. Heat or cold typically works well on stiff, achy joints. You can do gentle stretch exercises to increase range of motion and massage your joints with essential oils.
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7. Get moving
Movement will help loosen your joints and reduce inflammation and pain. Exercise can also reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes, which often accompanies psoriatic arthritis.
8. Ask for help at work
One-third of people with psoriatic arthritis report missing work because of the condition and say that the symptoms affect their ability to work full-time, according to a study published in June 2016 in the journal Rheumatology and Therapy.
Instead of struggling through the pain at work, which could lead to a flare, ask your boss if there are any workplace adjustments that can be made to make it easier to do your job.
When to see your doctor
Make sure to regularly check in with your doctor to make sure that you are doing all you can to reduce your psoriatic arthritis symptoms, Pisetsky suggests. Sometimes simply adjusting doses or adding another medication may make all the difference for you.
“If you’re having more bad days than good days, you may not have the right treatment plan,” he says.
If you have psoriatic arthritis, it may be difficult to push through those bad days, but hopefully, these tips will help.
