What specialists should I see for PsA at age 26?

Question

Hello doctor,

I was just told I might have psoriatic arthritis after months of my fingers swelling up and my lower back being stiff every single morning. Some days, I can barely make a fist when I wake up. My rheumatologist mentioned something about getting imaging done and blood work, but I have no idea where to even begin with all this. I feel like I am being sent in a hundred directions, and nobody is explaining anything to me clearly.

At 26, what specialists should I see for PsA workup?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

The most important specialist for diagnosing and treating psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a rheumatologist. They coordinate the evaluation and decide whether your symptoms are due to psoriatic arthritis (PsA) or another inflammatory arthritis. If you have psoriasis of the skin or nails, a dermatologist also plays an important role because treating the skin disease and joint disease together often gives the best results.

The imaging and blood tests your rheumatologist mentioned are used to:

Look for inflammation or joint damage (X-rays, ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), depending on the joints involved).
Exclude other causes of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis or gout.
Assess inflammation and establish a baseline before starting treatment.

You have had a history of swollen fingers and morning stiffness in the lower back for a while. It is important not to put off the workup and to get it finished, as early diagnosis and treatment can help decrease the risk of permanent joint damage.

Please tell me:

Do you have psoriasis on your skin or scalp, or nail changes such as pitting or nail lifting?
Which joints are swollen besides your fingers?
How long does your morning stiffness usually last?
Have any blood tests, such as C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), rheumatoid factor, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP), or human leukocyte antigen B27 (HLA-B27), or any imaging already been performed?

For a detailed review of your reports and a personalized explanation of your workup and treatment options, you may continue the consultation with me here.

I hope you are satisfied with my answer. For further queries, you can consult me at iCliniq.

Thank you.