Question
I have been diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis in my left knee. This causes my knee to become inflamed. What can I do to reduce this inflammation?
Answer
The management of your arthritis depends on the severity of the condition and the frequency of relapse. Minor degrees of inflammation can be satisfactorily treated with standard non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, if the inflammation were severe and was occurring on a frequent basis more aggressive drug management might be necessary. This could include the use of methotrexate or salazopyrine, both of which help to modify the course of the disease rather than simply relieving pain and inflammation. If such a course of action were necessary these “disease-modifying agents” could be used in conjunction with the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.