Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is inflammatory arthritis that affects individuals with psoriasis. Psoriasis is a disease that causes red patches of skin with silvery scales. foot problems
According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, 30% of individuals with psoriasis develop PsA. PsA causes discomfort, swelling, and tenderness in your joints.
PsA shares many symptoms with other types of inflammatory arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis, but it also has distinctive hallmarks. These hallmarks include issues in the feet, toes, and toenails.
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What Kinds of Foot Problems Can PsA Cause?
PsA can cause various issues in the feet, including pain and swelling in the toes, ankles, heels, and soles.
Swelling of the toes
A typical characteristic of PsA in your feet is the swelling of one or more toes. This disorder is known as dactylitis of the toes. The swelling tends to impact your entire toe rather than a single joint. Tenosynovitis, or inflammation of the tendon sheath, is mainly answerable for the swelling.
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Other swellings
Swelling is a characteristic symptom of PsA. You may see swelling in the toes, ankles, or heels. Swelling is occasionally accompanied by color changes, especially a red or purple tint development. Swollen locations may be warm to the touch and incredibly tender.
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Heel pain
Individuals with PsA often develop a disorder known as enthesitis. This refers to inflammation at a juncture where tendons and ligaments connect with bone. In individuals with PsA, enthesitis often impacts the Achilles tendon. The Achilles tendon is the tough band joining your heel to your calf muscles.
You may experience tenderness and discomfort at the back of your heel or notice swelling in your ankle. You may also detect stiffness in