Some people find that psoriatic arthritis leads to another kind of fatigue: brain fog. People have reported problems with concentration, memory and other thinking skills. In part, this fuzzy-headed feeling may be the result of not getting enough sleep at night because of chronic pain.
Studies show close to 80% of people with psoriatic arthritis have some degree of fatigue. When you have this disease, your body makes proteins called cytokines that cause inflammation. They make your joints swell and become painful or stiff. These proteins may also cause fatigue, although doctors aren't sure why.
People describe it as being overwhelming and uncontrollable. They feel worn out and drained of energy, and sometimes even lose all interest in anything. It can increase the need for sleep and make it hard to concentrate or do anything.
“Left untreated, it can result in fatigue and a general feeling of sickness. It can also result in anemia due to prolonged inflammation.” Anemia can be an independent reason for fatigue and can be resolved with treatment, adds Gupta.
Joint pain, stiffness and swelling are the main signs and symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. They can affect any part of the body, including your fingertips and spine, and can range from relatively mild to severe. In both psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, disease flares can alternate with periods of remission.
Symptoms of Psoriatic Arthritis
Joint stiffness, pain, and swelling of one or more joints. The joints of the spine can be affected as well, leading to stiffness in the neck, lower back, and hips. Joint stiffness is often worse in the morning or after resting. Fatigue, or feeling tired often or having a lack of energy.
PsA symptoms can be debilitating. They can make it hard for someone to sleep, work, and do the activities they enjoy. Getting treatment for PsA can help reduce disease activity and relieve the symptoms. Read on to learn why PsA can be so painful and how to manage it.
Get Extra Rest
Sometimes even getting extra rest may not resolve this level of fatigue, but giving your body time to recover from pain and inflammation may be beneficial since fatigue can be related to severity of inflammation, according to a 2018 study.
More frequent (or intense) flares
If you're having more frequent psoriatic flares, or if your flares are keeping you in bed or affecting multiple joints, it's really important to let your rheumatologist know, says Dr. Schulman.
Why autoimmune disease and fatigue go hand-in-hand is not entirely understood, although inflammation may explain some of it. Other possible factors include pain, poor sleep, inactivity, and depressed mood. If you experience fatigue that completely saps your energy , it's not a sign of weakness.
When you have psoriatic arthritis, your immune system releases proteins called cytokines. Those proteins trigger inflammation throughout your body — a hallmark of the disease. Researchers believe the cytokines also cause fatigue, perhaps through several different pathways in your body.
Joints in the arms, legs, hands, and feet may also be involved. The most severe and least common type of psoriatic arthritis is called arthritis mutilans.
Even so, the pain and discomfort associated with psoriatic arthritis can be significant. A study published in 2015 in the journal PLoS One found that the overall pain, joint pain, and fatigue reported by psoriatic arthritis patients was significantly greater than that reported by people with rheumatoid arthritis.
What is clear is that many people who have psoriasis say they feel exhausted. Some people say the constant fatigue, which can interfere with everyday life, is one of the most troublesome symptoms of psoriasis.
Physiotherapy is an important part of treatment for most people with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Physiotherapists (or physios) are part of a team of healthcare professionals who help you to resume or maintain an active and independent life both at home and work.
There are eight primary triggers of psoriatic arthritis: stress, illness, skin trauma, drug interactions, alcohol and cigarette smoke, diet, and dry and cold weather. Symptoms can vary widely, and so can treatment options.
If left untreated, psoriatic arthritis (PsA) can cause permanent joint damage, which may be disabling. In addition to preventing irreversible joint damage, treating your PsA may also help reduce inflammation in your body that could lead to other diseases.
Psoriatic arthritis often causes joint swelling and tendon and ligament inflammation, which is mainly responsible for morning stiffness, says Anca Askanase, MD, MPH, a rheumatologist and associate professor of medicine and director of rheumatology clinical trials at NewYork Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University ...
Psoriatic arthritis causes inflamed, swollen, and painful joints. It happens most often in the fingers and toes.
The disease often appears between ages 30 and 50. For many people, it starts about 10 years after psoriasis develops, but some develop PsA first or without ever developing or noticing psoriasis.
Blood tests can help diagnose psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and rule out other possible causes of joint pain and stiffness, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Examples include tests for c-reactive protein (CRP) and rheumatoid factor. Doctors do not rely solely on blood tests to diagnose PsA.
Rheumatologists often prescribe nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, also known as NSAIDs, to people with psoriatic arthritis. These medications can help ease pain and curb the swelling that accompanies this condition. Common NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen.