Inflammatory Arthritis

When you hear the word “arthritis” you probably think of your grandmother. Or maybe an older athlete with bone-on-bone wear and tear. That is osteoarthritis. But there are actually more types: juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), ankylosing spondylitis…These are all inflammatory types. Basically, your body is attacking itself.

It’s believed that roughly 30% of the people with psoriasis will develop psoriatic arthritis. So if you have the skin part, pay attention to the rest of your body. Even if it’s a mild case (mine was always pretty mild).

I have psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and Axial spondyloarthritis (in the spine). PsA, however, is very similar to RA. One of the nice things about RA (if you can say that…!) is that there is a blood test for it! Not so much for PsA. But, there are a lot of tests that can point you in that direction to confirm it. Here are a few signs of PsA:

*Skin issues – psoriasis, plaque psoriasis, etc.

*Joint issues – constant inflammation/pain/stiffness/swelling that gets better as you move around in the day.

*Foot pain – plantar fascitiis, Achilles Tendinitis

*Asymmetrical pain – not the same on both sides (with RA it’s on both sides of the body)

*Back pain – specifically SI/Hip/Low back pain (an MRI will confirm this)

*Dactylitis – “Sausage fingers”, your fingers swell

*Pitting in fingernails – tiny pits/dents in your nails (I always thought I just needed more biotin and vitamin e!)

*Eye issues

*Fatigue

Do you have to take medication for it? No. But Left untreated, joint damage can be permanent and disabling. There are a lot of options for treatment now. The patent for Humira (the big drug for arthritis) expired in 2023 so that means it opens the market up for a lot of other drugs (called a Biosimilar), and for treatment to be more affordable to people.

Can I cure myself with _____? No. There is no cure. But with treatment you can achieve remission.

But so-and-so said they cured their PsA or RA with a specific diet/supplement etc? There is no cure. Avoid anyone trying to sell you something that promises a “CURE”.

Can I fix my arthritis with diet and exercise? People should definitely use diet and exercise in conjunction with the treatment plan their doctors suggest.

It’s so common when you don’t get answers or a fix to go down a rabbit hole trying to cure yourself. I suggest you read The Wellness Trap by Christy Harrison – she writes a lot about the disinformation era. Also check out Maintenance Phase podcast. They talk a lot about scams and snake oil cures!

The bottom line, sure, there is a link to a healthy diet and moving your body being beneficial for all aspects of your health. Movement is particularly important for inflammatory arthritis conditions. MOTION IS LOTION. Keep the body moving to avoid stiffness and pain.