PsA in the feet can make it hard to walk and perform activities of daily living.
And while PsA has no cure, there aretreatment optionsavailable to slow down the disease and relieve symptoms.
With appropriate treatment, people with PsA can manage pain, stay active, and lead fulfilling lives.
Illustration by Jessica Olah for Verywell Health
This article will help you understand how psoriatic arthritis affects your feet and what it can look like.
Illustration by Jessica Olah for Verywell Health
What Is Psoriatic Arthritis?
PsA is a form of inflammatory arthritis that often affects people with the autoimmune skin conditionpsoriasis.
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It causes parts of the feet to become inflamed, sore, and tender.
PsA affects people assigned male and female equally.
According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, an estimated 30% of people with psoriasis also have PsA.
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Psoriasis affects 2% to 3% of the worlds population.
What Does It Look Like?
Additional symptoms of PsA in the ankle include swelling and stiffness of the ankle and problems with mobility.
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The condition will eventually affect gaitthe way a person walks.
PsA can cause significant pain and swelling.
Sometimes, the toes become so swollen that they can resemble sausages (dactylitis).
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You should call your doctor if your toes show signs of becoming clawed.
In the midfoot, symptoms include pain and swelling that becomes worse with standing and walking.
Other Changes in Appearance
PsA can cause changes in the appearance of feet.
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These include skin and nail changes, bunions, and bursae inflammation.
Skin and Nail Changes
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PsA can cause skin and nail changes.
Up to 80% of people with PsA will have nail involvement.
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They occur when the bones at the front part of the foot move out of place.
The skin covering the bunion can become red and sore.
The foot and ankle have several bursae.
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Conditions like PsA can cause the bursae to become inflamed, leading to a symptom calledbursitis.
Bursitis can cause pain, swelling, and redness.
Bursa pain can be disabling and affects the ability to walk.
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With PsA, it’s common to experience periods of symptom flare-up followed by periods of remission.
Swelling or Heat
Swellingand warmth are common characteristics of inflammation.
Pain and Stiffness
Pain is one of the most common symptoms of PsA in the feet.
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Pain can make it harder to do normal daily activities.
Locked Joint
Locked jointsare typical when there is a lot of swelling and stiffness.
Locking means that the joint is hard to bend.
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Rough edges on bones and bone spurs can also cause joints to lock up.
Toe joints can get locked up, which can be painful.
Fortunately, a locked toe joint isnt permanent.
you might usually loosen a locked joint by walking around or manipulating the toe joint so it bends again.
They include:
Nail psoriasis can be an important predictor.
The pain and swelling also can occur in other parts of the body, including the neck and hips.
This can lead to permanent changes.
Other serious consequences can occur with untreated PsA as it advances.
These include:
PsA is associated with a higher risk ofmetabolic syndrome.
Diagnosis
If you have symptoms of psoriatic arthritis, see your healthcare provider.
You may need an imaging test such as an X-ray, CT scan, or ultrasound.
Blood tests can help rule out other types of arthritis such as gout and rheumatoid arthritis.
A blood test can also tell your healthcare provider if you have inflammation.
Treatment
Your healthcare provider might recommend different therapies to treat PsA in your feet.
Summary
Psoriatic arthritis can cause pain, swelling, stiffness, and other foot symptoms.
It may also cause your toes to become claw-shaped or sausage-like.
The nails may develop thickening and pitting.
PsA foot and ankle pain can be debilitating, but it is treatable.
Reach out to your healthcare provider if you experience symptoms or see a visible deformity in your foot.
Your healthcare provider may prescribe medications like NSAIDs or steroid injections to help treat your psoriatic arthritis.
If these treatments don’t work, you may need surgery.
Maintaining a healthy weight can also help.
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National Psoriasis Foundation.Psoriasis statistics.
University of Washington.Ankle arthritis.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.Psoriatic Arthritis Symptoms.
Arthritis Foundation.When foot pain may mean arthritis.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.Claw toe.
Aljohani R.Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components in Psoriatic Arthritis.Open Access Rheumatol.
2022 Feb 17;14:7-16. doi:10.2147/OARRR.S347797.
National Psoriasis Foundation.Why treat psoriatic arthritis?
Weatherford BM.Rheumatoid arthritis of the foot and ankle.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
2021;8(2):639-649. doi:10.1007/s40744-021-00298-9
