KENSINGTON, Md., Aug. 11- The golfer, Phil Mickelson was nearly crippled with psoriasis arthritis earlier this summer. The psoriatic arthritis began in his ankle and quickly spread from there to his finger and wrist to his hips, elbows and shoulders. Pretty tough for a pro golfer. His wife, in the meantime, is still battling cancer.

Fortunately for Mickelson, he is able to maintain his edge and participate in his sport due to a positive response to the prescription drug Enbrel, a biologic treatment that has transformed the lives of many people with psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and other immune system diseases. Psoriatic arthritis is a lifelong disease but it can go into remission for very long periods of time.

Psoriatic arthritis typically involves the skin symptoms of psoriasis in the form of plaque or pustular, in addition to swelling, pain and stiffness in one or more joints. Most people with psoriatic arthritis also have nail psoriasis. Psoriatic arthritis can range from very mild to severe and debilitating. It can also grow progressively worse, and lead to permanent bone damage so many times the treatment is necessary for bone preservation. Available treatments can stop or slow the progression of the disease. It is most common in the fingers and toes but can also manifest itself in the back, neck, legs and other parts of the body.

Sportsmedinfo.net has been tracking the success of Enbrel, particularly with amateur and pro athletes, and will be posting our first and only prescription drug review. It does have side effects and contraindications that are to be thoughtfully and carefully considered. But many time the balance between quality of life and potential side effects is an easy choice when people with serious arthritis are facing debilitating pain and movement so restrictive it's crippling.