Swollen fingers or toes

PsA can start in small joints like the fingers or toes and progress from there. Dactylitis, or swelling of the toe or finger joints, may accompany spondylitis. This is also known as "sausage fingers". Dactylitis is thought to affect up to 50% of PsA patients and is uncommon in other types of arthritis except for gout or pseudogout. Dactylitis caused by PsA may affect individual digits differently. Your left hand, for example, may be swollen while your right is not. Unlike other types of arthritis, PsA causes swelling of the entire finger or toe, rather than just the joint.

PsA may be indicated by pain in the feet or ankles. Enthesitis, or pain where tendons attach to bones, is common in people with PsA. This usually manifests as pain, swelling, and tenderness. The following are the most common sites for enthesitis:

• Achilles tendon
• foot
• knee
• pelvis
• elbow
• shoulder