Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA) is not as widespread as other forms of arthritis, such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. As a result, it is often poorly understood by the general community.

If you have been diagnosed with PsA, you might find it difficult to comprehend what is going on in your body, especially if you are still trying to deal with the emotions that come with the diagnosis itself.

Psoriatic arthritis is a form of inflammatory arthritis that occurs when the body’s immune system gets confused and starts attacking healthy cells in the joints, skin or nails as well as damaged ones. It is closely associated with the skin condition psoriasis.

To help you get a better understanding of PsA and how it might affect your life, the people at Medicine X have created the new illustrated story Psoriatic Arthritis Xplained.

Psoriatic Arthritis Xplained

Medicine X is a team of doctors and artists whose goal is to turn complicated medical information into engaging, entertaining and easy to understand stories. They believe (as we at CreakyJoints Australia do) that patients who understand their condition are less likely to feel anxious about it and are more likely to be proactively involved in their personal healthcare decisions.

Psoriatic Arthritis Xplained is an illustrated flip-through story that takes you through real Australian patient Jessica’s journey with PsA. In it, Jessica explains how she learned about PsA symptoms, treatment options and lifestyle modifications which all helped her set her short and long-term goals.

You may relate to many aspects of Jessica’s story. You might also find it useful to share this resource with your family, friends and healthcare team to help them understand how psoriatic arthritis affects you.

Other Xplained Resources

Medicine X has also created a range of similar Xplained resources for other conditions, including other types of arthritis. Many of these stories have been based on real Australian patients and all have been reviewed extensively by medical professionals and patient advocates. Some of the other conditions covered include:

  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Ankylosing spondylitis
  • Osteoporosis
  • Psoriasis

More conditions are added regularly. Many condition stories also have a corresponding Medicine X closed Facebook group to provide a forum for patients to talk to others in similar situations.

If you find this information helpful, please let us know in the comments below.

Further Reading