So what’s the cause of swollen fingers?

August 25, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I was wondering if you could help answer a problem I have been having. For about the past year, at least four times a week I will wake during the middle of the night with my fingers feeling very swollen and stiff. I don’t believe they are actually swollen but they are so stiff I can hardly close a fist.

When I get up in the morning they are not abnormally stiff any more. I do have a slight case of psoriatic arthritis but I always believed that when we slept our bodies healed themselves. Is there anything I can do to prevent this and is it something I should see my doctor about?

DEAR READER: As a general rule, I feel strongly that each person knows his or her body, its limitations and its strong points. [Read more...]

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A simple cure for psoriasis

July 7, 2012 By

DEAR DR. GOTT: I have had psoriasis for about 55 years. During that time I have tried many different types of treatment and many years I have just lived with it. Always I have had significant involvement in my scalp, knees and elbows. Other times I have also had varying degrees of involvement on my trunk, legs, arms and buttocks. About 9 years ago due to a significant flare-up, I began receiving UV light treatments 2-3 times per week, along with topical steroids. The results, during the six years I continued this treatment, were moderate improvement but I still had red scaly patches scattered over most of my body.

A conversation with a person at the gym who has psoriatic arthritis led me down a different path. He mentioned taking various natural substances, in addition to eliminating coffee and caffeine. The coffee/caffeine seemed easy to do, so I started with that. [Read more...]

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Sunday Column

April 12, 2009 By

DEAR DR. GOTT:
Your recent article about the difference between osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis was great. It was simply written so that the general public can understand.

I am writing to you now because I hope that you can explain psoriatic arthritis. This is a very painful, sometimes disabling, type of arthritis. Little is known about it, despite the fact that it affects a great number of people.

Patients with psoriatic arthritis also have psoriasis so they are doubly affected. They have to put up with the constant skin lesions on top of the painful arthritis. It is treated with the same biological medications as RA. I am a sufferer and am tired of trying to explain the difference so I hope you will be able to help get the word out in your column.
[Read more...]

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