Joint pain, swollen fingers, morning stiffness, or low back pain may be more than the result of aging or a tough workout. For some people, especially those with psoriasis, these symptoms may be signs of psoriatic arthritis, an inflammatory condition that affects the joints and surrounding tissues.

“With psoriatic arthritis, patients often tell me it feels like I'm moving through molasses,” when they first wake up, shared Melanie H. Smith, MD, PhD, rheumatologist at HSS, in a recent article with GQ. “You can definitely feel sore in the morning after a hard workout, but usually you can still move pretty normally after two to 10 minutes as opposed to an hour,” Dr. Smith continued. “When someone's telling me ‘I'm stiff in the morning’ or ‘I feel worse in the morning than I do in the afternoon,’ to me that is a flag that this is not mechanical issues or a gym injury.”

The good news is that effective treatments are available, and staying active remains an important part of managing the condition. If you have psoriasis and experience persistent joint pain or stiffness, experts recommend seeing a rheumatologist early, since prompt treatment can help prevent long-term joint damage.

Read the full article at gq.com.