Managing Bad Days With Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriatic arthritis is a condition that combines two autoimmune conditions: psoriasis and arthritis. Psoriasis leads to itchy, irritating, and often painful skin rashes. This arthritis causes inflammation in a number of different joints. 

If you have this condition, you’ll have both good and bad days. A flare-up occurs when your symptoms become severe and remain so for an extended period of time.

Read on to discover 10 tips for managing your bad days with psoriatic arthritis. 

You might not feel like exercising when you’re in the middle of a flare-up — but you still need to fit some physical activity into your schedule. It’s a necessary part of maintaining both your mental and physical health. 

Just make sure that your activity is compatible with your symptoms. Talk to your doctor or a physical therapist for advice on activities that are safe for you.

Heat can increase your circulation and relieve stiffness in your joints. Coldness, on the other hand, can reduce inflammation, and it feels good on your irritated skin. 

You should regularly use heat wraps and cold packs on the parts of your body that need it the most. 

Over-the-counter medicines — specifically non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — are great at relieving the inflammation caused by your flare-up. Use these on days when you have a lot of joint pain. 

Ibuprofen is a common and easily obtainable NSAID.  

Coping with your flare-up will likely consume a lot of your normal energy reserves. Prioritize what activities you most urgently need to get done and give yourself ample breaks as you go about your day. 

Make sure to get plenty of sleep. You’ll be able to handle your flare-ups better when you’re not exhausted from doing too much and sleeping too little. 

Use plenty of thick creams and ointments on your skin — possibly multiple times a day during a flare-up. Don’t use lotions with a high water content. 

Also, make sure that you moisturize immediately after showers or any time that you’re in water. This will help ease some of the itchiness and irritation that can occur with your flare-up. 

During a flare-up you should choose soft, loose clothing — it’s less scratchy and painful on your skin. 

Also, choose your detergent and soaps with care — the wrong ones will only make your flare-ups worse. Fragrance-free options are usually your best bet. 

Eating too many foods that are high in sugar, fat, and salt can make you feel tired. These foods aren’t helpful — especially when your flare-up is already draining most of your energy. 

Instead, stick to a diet that’s full of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Multiple studies have found that people with psoriatic arthritis who didn’t smoke reported better overall symptoms than those that did. They also responded better to treatments. 

If you cut down on smoking or quit entirely, there’s a good chance that your future flare-ups will be less severe. 

If lifestyle changes and over-the-counter pain meds aren’t enough to manage your symptoms, there are a number of other medications you can try. Talk to your doctor about the following options to see if they are right for you: 

• Biologics
• Oral Steroids
• Cortisone Shots

It’s important that you don’t neglect your mental health during a psoriatic arthritis flare-up. Staying positive will make the pain seem less all-consuming and help you cope with your condition.

Try activities like meditation and journaling to help you deal with the emotional pain of this disease.