Osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis are diseases that affect many Ohio residents. According to statistics, approximately 70 percent of people between the ages of 55 and 78 have the most common form of arthritis called osteoarthritis, which mostly affects the hip or knee joints, while only about 1 percent of the U.S. population suffers from psoriatic arthritis. In addition, about 20 to 40 percent of those who suffer from psoriasis have psoriatic arthritis as well.
Osteoarthritis is a disease of the joints that takes place as people age and the cartilage in their bones wears away. As a result, people affected with this wear-and-tear disease experience pain and friction in their joints, as they move their knees, hands, spine and hips and as their bones rub together. Psoriatic arthritis, on the other hand, occurs when a person’s joints dangerously swell to the point of becoming damaged.
Because both osteoarthritis and psoriatic arthritis typically affect a person’s small joints and can also cause bone spurs, people often have difficulty differentiating between them. However, because they are two distinct diseases with different conditions, they necessitate different forms of treatment. Symptoms of psoriatic arthritis include severe foot pain, swollen feet and hands, and inflamed and swollen joints, including the spine and pelvis area. The symptoms of osteoarthritis are similar to those of psoriatic arthritis except that with osteoarthritis, the symptoms gradually become worse as the disease advances.
A misdiagnosis of the correct form of arthritis could lead to a worsened medical condition and increased pain and suffering. Patients who have been the victim of such an error might want to meet with a medical malpractice attorney to see if they have any recourse for seeking compensation.
Source: Bel Marra Health, “Psoriatic arthritis vs. osteoarthritis, differences in symptoms, causes, and treatment”, Dr. Victor Marchione, June 30, 2016