I Have Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA)
Pain? Fatigue? Stiffness?
These are the common signs of PsA
About 1 - 4 % of Malaysians are living with psoriasis right now. About 3 out of 10 psoriasis patients also live with psoriatic arthritis.
You may have been living with Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) for a substantial time.
With PsA, your experience with illness is complicated by the following common conditions:
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Fatigue
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Tenderness, pain and swelling over tendons
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Swollen fingers and toes that sometimes resemble sausages
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Stiffness, pain, throbbing, swelling and tenderness in one or more joints
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Reduced range of motion
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Nail changes, such as pitting or separation from the nail bed
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Redness and pain of the eye (uveitis)
Medical advancement in the understanding of PsA has come a long way and continues to advance. For now, It is important to know that you know your medical treatment options including the following support :
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Medical Care
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Familiarize yourself with psoriatic arthritis treatments. These medications can relieve pain, reduce swelling, help keep joints working and possibly prevent further damage. Damage caused by PsA can be irreversible and permanent. To learn more about the available PsA treatments in Malaysia, speak to your rheumatologist.
Depending on your unique situation, you may need to build a team of doctors and other health care providers to best manage your disease and help you thrive. You may also learn more about PsA treatments by visiting psoriasis.org
Rheumatologist
This specialist helps you treat and manage your psoriatic arthritis. Learn more about rheumatologists in Malaysia here.
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Test your level of PsA knowledge
Can you:
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List a least 3 different types of treatments for PsA available in Malaysia that you could consider. For answers click here.
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List at least 10 different types of related illness for Psoriatic patients and do you know what they are? For answers click here.
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Emotional and Mental Health Care
In general, the more severe your PsA your emotional and mental health may be affected negatively.
PAM association members understand that active PsA can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. We understand that not everyone may face this but for those that do, it can start affecting your emotions and mental health.
We recommend that facing up to negative emotions or mental health is nothing to be ashamed about. In fact, it is an important part of managing your condition and is just as important as managing the physical aspects of Psoriasis.
Another important aspect is not having to go through PsA alone. Many Malaysians have found that their journey in PsA has improved tremendously by knowing more Malaysians with PsA through the Psoriasis Association of Malaysia or Arthritis Foundation of Malaysia. Make new friends and we have patients that speak different languages in Malaysia.
Joint us on Facebook and or join the association by clicking here.
Self Care
Staying motivated to care for yourself and adopting an attitude to care for your own health are important attitudes.
It is important to manage the following areas of your life.
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Diet
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Exercise
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Sleep
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Screening for comorbidities
Financial Care
Depending on the severity of your PsA, costs from annual treatment maybe challenging especially pursuing treatment with biologics.
To know what options are available for financial assistance, please click here.
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