What Are the Symptoms of Psoriatic Arthritis in Your Shoulder?
There are several symptoms of psoriatic arthritis in your shoulder. Many of the symptoms in the joint are similar to rheumatoid arthritis. However, you may also see changes in your nails and eyes.
Psoriatic arthritis symptoms may include the following:
- Pain in your shoulder joint
- Swelling in your shoulder joint
- Warm sensation in your shoulder joint
- Joint stiffness
- Skin rash
- Fingernails crumble or form pits
- Eyes become inflamed and irritated
- Inflammatory bowel disease
Causes of Psoriatic Arthritis
Psoriatic arthritis is an autoimmune disease. This means that your immune system attacks the healthy cells and tissue in your body. This results in inflammation, as well as an overproduction of skin cells.
Most people with psoriatic arthritis will already have psoriasis. On average, people will develop psoriatic arthritis 7 to 10 years after the onset of skin symptoms.
It seems that genetic and environmental factors contribute to the cause of psoriatic arthritis. If you have an inherited tendency towards this condition, then physical trauma or possibly a bacterial infection could trigger the immune response.
How to Diagnose Psoriatic Arthritis
Your doctor will begin with a physical exam. They will examine your joints for swelling and tenderness. They may also check your feet and heels for tenderness. In addition, they may look for psoriasis symptoms, such as pitting or flaking nails and red, scaly rashes.
Since there’s no specific test for psoriatic arthritis, further testing may be needed to rule out other causes of joint pain, such as gout or rheumatoid arthritis. These tests may include X-rays and other lab work. X-rays can highlight changes in the joint that occur only in psoriatic arthritis.
Lab work could include blood tests for rheumatoid factor. This antibody is present in those who have rheumatoid arthritis.
Other lab work could include a joint fluid test. The test will show the levels of uric acid crystals in the fluid, indicating the possibility of gout. The test may be inconclusive, though, as it’s possible to have psoriatic arthritis and gout.
How to Treat Psoriatic Arthritis in Your Shoulder
Treating psoriatic arthritis aims at controlling the joint inflammation in your shoulders to prevent shoulder pain and permanent bone and joint damage. A common treatment for managing psoriatic arthritis is a class of prescription medications called disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
Other treatments for psoriatic arthritis may include the following:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Conventional DMARDs
- Biological agents
- Targeted synthetic DMRADs
- Steroid injections
At Georgia Hand, Shoulder & Elbow, our specialists will always try non-surgical methods of controlling the symptoms of psoriatic arthritis. However, if medications and other therapies are not able to control the pain and/or there is significant joint damage, they may recommend shoulder joint surgery.
Get Professional Shoulder Treatment
Consulting a shoulder specialist can help you to find solutions for chronic pain and help you resume some of your everyday activities.
At Georgia Hand, Shoulder & Elbow, we offer professional treatment for shoulder arthritis. Our specialists will assess your condition to identify suitable treatment methods. They will then provide personalized therapy and recommend exercises to restore motion.
Contact our team at Georgia Hand, Shoulder & Elbow now if you require arthritis treatment. We have offices in Marietta and Atlanta, GA for your convenience. Schedule an appointment today!
