Psoriatic arthropathy resembles that of rheumatoid arthritis. But arthritis is preceded by skin lesion and nail changes of psoriasis.
Onset is between 25 to 40 years of age. Psoriatic arthropathy occurs in 7% of patients with psoriasis.
Clinical features.
Distal interphalangeal joints of hands first and then proximal interphalangeal joints are affected. But metacarpophalangeal joints (the knuckle between hand and finger) are not involved.
Symmetrical polyarthritis is seen in women.
Fever, ulnar deviation deformity of hand and lymph node enlargement are absent. ESR is elevated. Rheumatoid factor is negative.
Treatment
Aim of homeopathic treatment is multifactorial.
First, the basic cause of the arthritis should be treated. Here the cause is psoriasis.
And the second thing is to control the joint affections like stiffness, pain and deformity.
However, from my clinical experience, psoriasis is not completely of curable. Even so, the ray hope in homeopathy is that the disease can be controlled and can very well prevent the complication that is the psoriatic arthropathy.
But if the patient approaches even with well developed psoriatic arthropathy homeopathy can control the pain and will definitely prevent further worsening of the arthropathy. Depending up on the chronicity of the disease, it will take some months to control the progress. But pain and other unwanted symptoms can be controlled within days of starting the treatment itself.
