Heel Pain Points to Psoriatic Arthritis

When someone with psoriasis develops joint pain, is it always due to psoriatic arthritis? The answer is no, according to a report in Rheumatology News. Their pain is not always due to psoriatic arthritis. People with psoriasis can have osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or other types of arthritis. It's important to determine the type of arthritis so appropriate treatment can begin.

Paying attention to which joints are involved can help distinguish between the various types of arthritis. Heel pain, for example, is typically an indicator of psoriatic arthritis. Heel pain is often associated with dactylitis (sausage-shaped digits), one of the main clinical findings linked to psoriatic arthritis. Heel pain is not common with rheumatoid arthritis. Also, psoriatic arthritis typically affects the distal phalangeal joints of the fingers and toes but not the metacarpophalangeal joint which is commonly associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Actually the distal interphalangeal joint can also be involved in osteoarthritis, as well as psoriatic arthritis. But psoriatic arthritis is an inflammatory type of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is not. Spondyloarthropathy is another significant characteristic that points to psoriatic arthritis.

Many people mistakenly believe the rheumatoid factor blood test definitively dinstinguishes rheumatoid arthritis from psoriatic arthritis. Not so. About 15% of psoriatic arthritis patients are positive for rheumatoid factor.

Related Articles:

• Signs and Symptoms of Psoriatic Arthritis
• Psoriatic Arthritis Screening Quiz
• Spondyloarthropathy Explained
• Psoriatic Arthritis Treatment Guidelines

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