5 Foot Problems That Can Be Caused by Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is a condition that can affect both the joints and the tissues that support the feet and ankles.
According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, almost 50 percent of patients with psoriatic arthritis have enthesitis, which is inflammation of the entheses (areas where ligaments or tendons join to bones). The bottoms of the feet and the Achilles tendon are commonly affected by enthesitis. Enthesitis can contribute to pain and stiffness even before the joints are afflicted.
If you have psoriasis, tell your doctor if you have stiffness, pain, swelling, redness, or other symptoms in one or both feet or ankles. These are symptoms of psoriatic arthritis and enthesitis, which you may have developed.
Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis in the feet and ankles can be mistaken for injuries. However, psoriasis skin symptoms usually appear before arthritis symptoms, which makes diagnosis easier.
According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, over one-third of patients with psoriasis also have psoriatic arthritis. Psoriatic arthritis does not always lead to psoriasis, and some people with psoriatic arthritis never develop psoriasis. If you don't have skin psoriasis, it may be more difficult to receive a proper diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis of the feet or ankles.
Foot problems caused by psoriatic arthritis might include:
1. Plantar fasciitis
The plantar fascia is a dense band of connective tissue, or ligament, that connects the heel to the front of the foot. It is located on the bottom of the foot. Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of this ring of tissue in the sole of the foot that can cause discomfort.
Psoriatic arthritis foot pain is frequently caused by plantar fasciitis with a heel spur (a bony protrusion that often arises with plantar fasciitis). You may have soreness at the heel on the bottom of your foot, especially while taking your first steps in the morning.
People with psoriatic arthritis often have a severe form of the condition and thus may require plantar fasciitis surgery. If you have psoriatic arthritis and experience foot pain, consult a specialist and get timely treatment.
2. Dactylitis
Dactylitis, also known as "sausage digits," is a swelling of the tendon that spans the length of a toe or finger. Toes and fingers can enlarge to the point of resembling sausages. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, dactylitis affects about 40% of patients with psoriatic arthritis. Toes are more likely to be affected than fingers.
3. Achilles tendinitis
Achilles tendinitis is a type of enthesitis that affects the area where the Achilles tendon joins to the bone. Psoriatic arthritis discomfort in the back of the lower leg, towards the heel, is caused by this ailment. Exercise that requires ankle mobility causes the discomfort to worsen, and there may also be tenderness and swelling.
4. Foot deformities
According to the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance if left ignored, psoriatic arthritis can contribute to long-term foot changes and deformities such as shortened or clawing toes, upward bending of the big toe, and some in-rolling of the ankle with flattening of the metatarsal arch (the transverse arch at the ball of the foot).
5. Skin and nail changes
Patients with psoriatic arthritis and psoriasis might develop a type of skin psoriasis known as
pustular psoriasis. The condition is characterized by small, pus-filled bumps and redness and tenderness on the soles of the feet. Psoriatic nail disease can make the toenails get pitted or start to lift away from the nail bed.
Foot problems caused by psoriatic arthritis can be treated in different ways. There are a lot of therapies used in controlling psoriatic arthritis anywhere. The goal of treatment is to minimize inflammation and pain associated with psoriatic arthritis while avoiding chronic impairment.
According to Husni, treatment options range from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) to more powerful drugs such as disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) and biologics. Another important aspect of caring for psoriatic arthritis feet is self-management.
