Home remedies for psoriatic arthritis include the taking of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDS) such as ibuprofen or naproxen. These medications fight inflammation and are very good treatments for mild arthritis. They help take away morning stiffness and can shrink swelling of joint tissues.
You should always consider exercise as a method of relieving the pain and inflammation of psoriatic arthritis. Exercise helps you sleep better, keeps your heart stronger and takes away some of the stiffness this form of arthritis causes. Rest and sleep are important to combat the common fatigue found in psoriatic arthritis. You can use hot packs or ice packs to reduce the pain and swelling of the arthritic joints. Ice packs are especially good after exercise. Warm compresses help soothe an aching joint.
Doctors have three basic treatments for psoriatic arthritis:
- Topical therapy for the skin involvement
- Phototherapy for the inflammation of the skin
- Systemic therapy, which includes a range of prescribed drugs for inflammation and swelling
We will discuss the topical treatments and the phototherapy treatments for psoriatic arthritis later. In psoriatic arthritis, systemic treatment is the only really practical form of treatment. People who have severe physical impairments, pain, psychological, or social impairments are candidates for systemic therapy.
One form of systemic therapy is the local injection into the joint with corticosteroids such as Kenalog®. The doctor may anesthetize the overlying skin and will sterilize it with alcohol or betadine before injecting the anti-inflammatory steroid into the joint itself. It works best with large joints such as the knees and elbows.