Psoriatic Arthritis Specialist
-
- Tweet
Ariel D. Teitel, M.D.
Rheumatologist & Board Certified Internal Medicine Physician located in Columbus circle, New York, NY
Psoriatic arthritis is known for developing after you’re diagnosed with psoriasis. But in 15-20% of patients, arthritis appears before the skin condition. Board-certified rheumatologist Ariel D. Teitel, MD, has extensive experience diagnosing and treating psoriatic arthritis, providing customized care that helps protect you from joint damage. Dr. Teitel also offers advanced treatments that help clear psoriasis. When you have joint pain, don’t wait to seek help. Call the office near Columbus Circle in Manhattan, New York City, or request an appointment online today.
Psoriatic Arthritis
What is psoriatic arthritis?
Psoriatic arthritis is inflammatory arthritis that most often affects your fingers, wrists, feet, ankles, and knees. However, it can also appear in other joints, including your spine and the sacroiliac joint connecting the base of your spine to your hip.
Anyone can get psoriatic arthritis, but it occurs in 30% of people diagnosed with psoriasis, a skin condition that causes itchy, red, scaly patches of skin. Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are both autoimmune conditions that develop when an overactive immune system attacks normal, healthy tissues.
What symptoms does psoriatic arthritis cause?
Psoriatic arthritis may develop in one or multiple joints. It can also appear on one or both sides of your body. Your symptoms usually cycle between flare-ups and periods of remission.
The primary symptoms of psoriatic arthritis include:
- Fatigue
- Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling
- Limited joint movement that gets progressively worse
- Swelling that affects an entire finger or toe
- Cracking, pitting, and white spots on fingernails or toenails
- Pain at the back of your heel, sole of your foot, elbow, back, neck, and other joints
The last symptom (pain in many joints) occurs when psoriatic arthritis causes inflammation in areas where tendons and ligaments attach to bones. This condition, called enthesitis, is a classic symptom of psoriatic arthritis.
The inflammation caused by psoriatic arthritis increases your risk of developing other conditions throughout your body, including cardiovascular disease, inflammatory bowel disease, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and eye inflammation (uveitis).
How is psoriatic arthritis treated?
Dr. Teitel has more than 25 years of experience diagnosing and managing psoriatic arthritis. Depending on your level of pain and swelling, he may recommend mild or aggressive approaches to bring your joint and skin symptoms under control.
Treatment usually begins with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. If your symptoms don’t improve, Dr. Teitel may prescribe disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) or other medications that can slow down progressive joint damage caused by inflammation.
In some cases, he may recommend an ultrasound-guided joint injection. Injecting steroids into the joint reduces inflammation.
DMARDs also improve the symptoms of psoriasis. Dr. Teitel may recommend other treatments for your skin condition, such as topical medications that slow down the rapid skin growth responsible for psoriasis patches.
Many patients benefit from physical therapy that incorporates active and passive exercise. Keeping your joints moving helps them stay flexible and eases your symptoms.
If you have questions about psoriatic arthritis, call Ariel D. Teitel, MD, or book an appointment online today.
