My knees are so sore

Q

For most of my adult life I’ve had psoriasis. It’s mainly just a few patches on the front of my knees, so it hasn’t been much trouble. But recently, I’ve had a lot of pain and swelling in my knee joints. My GP thinks I may have psoriatic arthritis. I didn’t even know that was a thing. Should I ask for a second opinion?

A

About one in three people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis, typically five to 10 years after the psoriasis is diagnosed, but it can start before any skin lesions are noticed. It can affect any joint, although knees, ankles, feet and hands are the most common.

Your GP will probably suggest you try non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to alleviate the pain but, if these are not enough, you may be given a referral to a rheumatologist.