Treatments and Lifestyle Changes Can Ease PsA Symptoms
But once you’ve been diagnosed, it’s important to work with your doctor to find a treatment plan that’s right for you.
Psoriatic arthritis can cause irreversible joint damage, but certain treatments can prevent or delay permanent changes, manage symptoms, and improve quality of life.
It can be helpful, when meeting with your doctor, to have a diary or list — of symptoms, concerns, medication side effects, dates of flares — to refer to.
“Write things in a notebook, so when you are talking to your doctor, you can look in your notebook for details,” advises Cynthia, a woman in her sixties with PsA. Adds another woman who’s been living with PsA for several years, “it’s easier than trying to remember when brain fog is thick, and it seems like doctors pay more attention when it is on paper. We are our own best advocates.”
In addition to medication, guidelines from the American College of Rheumatology and National Psoriasis Foundation suggest that you might be able to improve your psoriatic arthritis symptoms by making certain lifestyle modifications, including:
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Use a combination of exercise, physical therapy, occupational therapy, massage therapy, or acupuncture.
- Avoid smoking.
Stress and your mental health are important factors in keeping PsA in check. “Stress can exacerbate symptoms and actually worsen fatigue,” says Kellie Blake, a woman with PsA. “I practice meditation and yoga daily. But find what works for you to quiet your mind and body.”
A healthy diet is also key. “Look into anti-inflammatory diets. Cutting out foods that cause inflammation and increasing foods that fight it is a game changer for me,” says Tyrell Hoover, a thirtysomething man living with PsA. “You will also have to keep track to see if other foods affect your PsA symptoms.”
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