i need a little help? anyone there?

[Kat]

Hello,

I have been looking around the site for a while now...and with jiml's help I have been able to add my replys, but I don't know how to ask a question without going on PM.

So if anyone is there here's the question:

How do you know the difference between psoriasis arthritis and osteoarthritis?

I don't do the doctors anymore...the first thing they say is "do you smoke?" I want to reply  "well I didn't smoke when I was four?"

So...any help with the arthritis thing?  would be very greatful

Fifty

Not sure I have done this right either?  sorry

The difference between the two can be complicated, but I hope my answer isn't so. Osteoporosis (OA) is permanent joint damage typically caused by over using the joint. The pain caused by OA typically goes away with rest.

The damage caused by PsA is related to your body's inflammatory process. Typically, joints gets stiff and sore with rest.

To sum it up - Rest makes OA feel better while rest with PsA makes the joint more stiff and it may hurt more. Hope this helps.

This summed it up well. Psoriatic Arthritis is an auto immune disease and Ortho Arthritis is a degenerative disease. At least that's how I understand it to be. I have Ortho and it's true that rest helps with the pain, sadly once you start using the joint again it tends to go right back to hurting. Doctors can usually tell which one it is by testing... bloodwork, xrays, etc however I don't believe there is an actual "test" for psoriatic arthritis, but it's determined by ruling out other types and by symptoms.