How to Diagnose Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is a condition that carries the same symptoms of both arthritis and psoriasis. Patients that have been diagnosed with psoriasis are at risk for developing psoriatic arthritis. You should visit a doctor to get a confirmed diagnosis of psoriatic arthritis.

Instructions

1. Find out if you have the skin condition psoriasis. This is the highest risk factor for developing psoriatic arthritis. Approximately 10 percent of patients with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis.

2. Look at your family history. Patients with relatives who have had psoriatic arthritis are more likely to develop the condition.

3. Notice any pain and stiffness in your joints. If you have typical arthritis symptoms along with psoriasis, then you are probably suffering from psoriatic arthritis. You may notice that the joint pain only occurs on one side of the body.

4. Visit a radiologist to get x-rays. After visiting a doctor about your possible psoriatic arthritis, he'll probably want you to get a series of x-rays done. An x-ray can show any changes in the joints of the body.

5. Get a joint fluid test. Your doctor may wish to remove fluid from your joints and have it sent to the lab for analysis. The results can indicate if you suffer from psoriatic arthritis.

Tips & Warnings

• You are more likely to develop the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis after you have experienced the symptoms of psoriasis. In rare cases, you will have joint pain then develop psoriasis on your skin.

• Psoriasis symptoms include red patches that appear on various areas of the body.