Psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory joint condition that is associated with the chronic skin condition psoriasis. For Black people, misperceptions and insufficient data on how skin diseases impact them have become a widespread issue.
“The estimated prevalence of psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis is somewhat less in patients of color, so for example 3.6 percent of Euro Americans versus 1.9 percent of African Americans,” says Ashira Blazer, MD, a rheumatologist at NYU Langone Health in New York City and co-chair of the American College of Rheumatology’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force. “It’s possible this is a true difference, but it’s also possible that it’s underdiagnosed in African Americans.”
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Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis
The Arthritis Foundation says common symptoms of psoriatic arthritis include:
- Joints that are swollen and painful.
- Pain and soreness where tendons attach to bone, such as at the heel.
- Pitting or separation of nails from the nail bed.
- Back pain.
- Conjunctivitis, characterized by redness and pain in tissues surrounding the eyes.
- Feeling fatigued, reduced range of motion in the joints and feeling stiff in the morning.
“Patients of color tend to report higher pain scores for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis,” Dr. Blazer adds. “The caveat is that those patients tend to have less access to care and tend to be diagnosed later.”
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How to relieve morning stiffness
For many people with psoriatic arthritis, their joints may become painful, stiff and inflamed. However, stiffness is often worse in the morning due to an extended period of immobility.
Luckily, there are certain modifications you can make to your morning routine to help decrease morning stiffness and associated joint pain.
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Stretches
Stretching before you get up in the morning will help decrease morning stiffness and improve your movement and function throughout the day.
Another option is to use one hand to grab each finger of your opposite hand and stretch it back and forth through full flexion and extension of all the finger joints.
Heat Therapy
Applying heat helps improve blood flow to the body, which helps promote joint mobility and decrease joint stiffness.
If you are applying heat on larger areas of the body like the spine, try a heating pad. You can use heating pads that need to be plugged into the wall or ones that can be put in the microwave to heat up. However, be sure to protect yourself from skin irritation and burns by having a towel or clothing layer in between your skin and the heating pad.
You can find relief for smaller areas of the body like the hands and fingers, by soaking a small towel under warm water and placing it around your hands to apply heat and leaving it on for 10 to 20 minutes.
Warm Showers or Baths
Taking a warm shower or bath in the morning will also help loosen your joints up and improve blood flow. This is a relaxing option that can decrease your muscle tension and leave you feeling more flexible in the morning.
Time Regulated Thermostat
A Regular Sleep Schedule
If you aren't getting an adequate amount of sleep every night, it can be hard for your body to fight inflammation. This can lead to joint stiffness and psoriatic arthritis flare-ups. Aim for seven to nine hours of sleep every night.
Uninterrupted sleep is also crucial because it allows the body to rejuvenate and detoxify from inflammation. If you aren't getting adequate sleep, your body won't have enough time to repair and recover from daily stressors and toxins.
Extra Time in the Morning
If you are one of those people that like to hit snooze a couple of times before getting out of bed, you may want to try waking up earlier than usual. This will give you extra time to allow your joints to loosen up so that you can go about your daily tasks with ease. Waking up 30 to 60 minutes earlier is enough time to help with this.
Anti-inflammatory Diet
Gluten, dairy, sugar, artificial flavors and preservatives are all inflammatory foods that can worsen the inflammation throughout your body.
A Regular Medication Schedule
Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune condition, which means medication is often required to manage symptoms and decrease inflammation throughout the body.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can be used over-the-counter (OTC) to help decrease pain and inflammation. Biologic injections will also help decrease autoimmune processes in the body and slow disease progression.
If you are taking medications, it is important to stay on schedule. This will help decrease the severity of your psoriatic symptoms and the level of your joint inflammation, pain and stiffness.
When to see a doctor
Certain modifications to your morning routine can help decrease morning stiffness and joint pain. However, if your stiffness and joint pain haven't improved with these methods, it may be time to consult with your doctor about what other methods can help you manage your symptoms.
