People can suffer from psoriasis, a long-lasting non-contagious auto-immune disease, a long time before going on to develop psoriatic arthritis. However, this isn’t always the case and in rare cases, you may suffer from psoriatic arthritis without showing any noticeable signs on your skin.
Where psoriasis of the skin is characterised by patches of red or purple raised skin that can be dry, itchy and scaly, psoriatic arthritis tends to affect the joints, and all joints of the body can be affected by the condition. The most commonly affected joints are the hands, feet, knees, spine, neck, and elbows.
Psoriatic arthritis is classed as an auto-immune disease, which means the immune system becomes confused and starts attacking the healthy parts of your body instead of protecting it against infections.
The disease can affect people of any age so isn’t the same as arthritis that tends to affect older generations due to a lifetime of wear and tear on the joints. Psoriatic arthritis affects around 20% of the population to some degree.
Seeking out specialist help
Dr Naveen Bhadauria is a Consultant Rheumatologist currently practising from the prestigious, luxurious and world-renowned clinic rooms of Spire London East, BMI Cavell and King’s Oak, so you can consult with him at the location that is most convenient for you.
In most cases patients suspected to be suffering from psoriatic arthritis will be referred to specialist doctors called rheumatologists, such as Dr Bhadauria, by their own GP. However, NHS waiting lists for specialist diagnosis and treatment can be lengthy, with some patients waiting over a year or longer for a consultation.
Dr Bhadauria offers private consultations at his clinics in London to help people that don’t want to wait to get the specialist help they need. Using his expertise, you can get your condition properly diagnosed and assessed and checked to see if you are suffering from another health condition that may be causing your symptoms.
How do I get diagnosed?
You can book a consultation with Dr Bhadauria where he will talk to you about your symptoms. Your medical history will be checked and you will undergo specific tests that may include x-rays and blood tests that will be used to determine your condition and give you a confirmed diagnosis.
The treatments for psoriatic arthritis are formulated to help slow or reduce the spread of the disease and to help soothe and reduce the severity of your symptoms. You will have an individual treatment plan drawn up that will help to manage your condition and improve your quality of life.
Treatments for this disease will vary according to your needs and the severity of your condition, but you may be offered a combination of medication to treat the symptoms along with pain relief to help you feel more comfortable.
These treatments may include:
- Corticosteroids
- Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs)
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Biological DMARDs
If you are experiencing any worrying symptoms that you think could be psoriatic arthritis and would like to talk to our team, ask questions, or book a consultation, please get in touch with us.
Private diagnosis for arthritis UK
With around 10 million people of all ages in the UK suffering from arthritis, it is the most significant cause of disability in this country. However, it is often a condition that people in the early stages shrug off because it is an invisible disease often associated with natural ageing.
In actual fact, you can have arthritis at any age, and it can send your life reeling if you get an unexpected diagnosis of the condition, especially if you are still young.
Thousands of people are suffering from symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and are putting up with far more pain and discomfort than they need to because they are put off from going to their GP and facing weeks, or possibly months of waiting to be referred to a specialist for an official diagnosis.
Obtaining a private diagnosis
As a result of facing lengthy waiting lists for diagnosis and treatment, many people ignore their symptoms and allow their condition to worsen. However, the simple solution to getting an accurate diagnosis and the proper treatment to help relieve pain and manage the progression of RA is to obtain a private diagnosis with a specialist rheumatoid arthritis consultant, such as Dr Bhadauria.
By having a private consultation with Dr Bhadauria at one of his London-based practices, you will get a longer and more detailed initial consultation and examination. We will perform in-depth lab tests using blood samples and cutting-edge body scans, and physical tests to accurately diagnose your condition and prescribe the best form of treatment.
We work holistically, which means that we will use the most effective medications to treat your condition. Still, we balance that with other beneficial treatments, such as steroid joint injections, analgesia for pain relief, physiotherapy to aid movement in the body, and immunosuppression treatments where necessary.
Article by Dr. Naveen Bhadauria
