the treatment of the arthritis aspects of psoriatic arthritis is discussed below. the treatment of psoriasis and the other involved organs is beyond the scope of this article. generally the treatment of arthritis in psoriatic arthritis involves a combination of anti-inflammatory medications (nsaids) and exercise. if progressive inflammation and joint destruction occur despite nsaids treatment more potent medications such as methotrexate (rheumatrex trexall) corticosteroids and antimalarial medications (such as hydroxychloroquine or plaquenil) are employed. exercise programs can be done at home or with a physical therapist and are customized according to the disease and physical capabilities of each patient. warm-up stretching or other techniques such as a hot shower or heat applications are helpful to relax muscles prior to exercise. ice application after the routine can help minimize post-exercise soreness and inflammation. in general exercises for arthritis are performed for the purpose of strengthening and maintaining or improving joint range of motion. they should be done on a regular basis for best results. nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (nsaids) are a group of medications that are helpful in reducing joint inflammation pain and stiffness. examples of nsaids include aspirin indomethacin (indocin) tolmetin sodium (tolectin) sulindac (clinoril) and diclofenac (voltaren). their most frequent side effects include stomach upset and ulceration. they can also cause gastrointestinal bleeding. newer nsaids called cox-2 inhibitors (such as celecoxib or celebrex) cause gastrointestinal problems less frequently.
what is the treatment for psoriatic arthritis?