Tests of fluid drawn with a needle from the joint may
reveal crystals of uric acid, confirming a diagnosis of gout; calcium
pyrophosphate dehydrate, confirming pseudogout; or a bacterium, suggesting that
joint inflammation is caused by an infection.
Often a sample of blood or joint fluid can help
you doctor confirm a diagnosis about health problem. For example, a blood test
showing high blood levels of rheumatoid factor – an antibody that acts against
the blood component gamma globulin – or an antibody called anti-cyclic
citrullinated peptide antibody (anti-CCP) may suggest rheumatoid arthritis.
High levels of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs), abnormal antibodies directed
against the cells' nuclei, could suggest lupus or another inflammatory disease.
A high erythrocyte sediment rate (ESR, or sed rate), along with muscle pain in
the shoulders, could help confirm a diagnosis of polymyositis or polymyalgia
rheumatica.
If your doctor suspects your pain may be caused by
disease of the heart, liver, gallbladder or other organ or area of the body,
different types of blood tests may aid in the diagnosis of those problems. But it should co-relate and persistently arising
the issue.
The following are some of the most common shoulder
injuries:
Dislocated shoulder. The shoulder is one of the most
frequently dislocated joints. Pulling the shoulder backward or rotating it too
far can cause the ball of the upper arm bone (humerus) to pop out of the socket
(glenoid). Shoulder instability is a condition in which the shoulder dislocates
frequently. Sometimes the ball of the upper arm bone is only partially out of
the socket. This is called a partial location or subluxation.
Shoulder separation. This injury involves the
acromioclavicular (AC) joint, where the collarbone meets the shoulder blade
(scapula). The injury occurs when a fall, blow to the shoulder or other trauma
tears the ligaments that hold the AC joint together. The outer end of the
collarbone may slip out of place, resulting in shoulder pain – ranging from
mild to severe – and possibly a bump on the top of the shoulder.
Glenoid labrum tear. Also called shoulder joint tear,
this is an injury to the cartilage that surrounds the rim of the shoulder
socket. This injury often results from repetitive motion or trauma from a fall,
pull or blow to the shoulder. Symptoms include pain, loss of strength,
decreased range of motion and catching, locking or popping of the shoulder.
Torn rotator cuff. Overuse, aging, a fall or other
type of trauma can strain the rotator cuff tendons, which can cause them to
become inflamed, leading to a tear. The rotator cuff is a network of muscles
and tendons that cover the top of the upper arm bone (humerus) to hold it place
and enable the arm to rotate. If you experience a rotator cuff injury you may
experience pain over the deltoid muscle at the top and outer side of the
shoulder, especially when you raise or extend your arm out from your body. Your
shoulder may feel weak and you may hear a click or pop when you try to move
your shoulder.
Frozen shoulder. Also called adhesive capsulitis,
frozen shoulder is a condition in which the shoulder's movement is severely
restricted due to the growth of abnormal bands of tissue (called adhesions)
between joint surfaces and a lack of synovial fluid to lubricate the joint.
Frozen shoulder may have several different causes, including an injury that
forces you to stop using your shoulder due to pain, arthritis or recent
surgery.
Shoulder fracture. A shoulder fracture is a brake or
crack in one of the bones of the shoulder, which usually occurs from a fall or
blow. The most commonly fractured areas in the shoulder are the collarbone, or
clavicle, and the top of the upper arm bone, or humerus, just below the ball. A
shoulder fracture usually causes severe pain, with redness and bruising.
Impingement syndrome. This condition is a form of
tendinitis in which an inflamed and thickened rotator cuff gets squeezed by or
impinged on by the acromion, or edge of the shoulder blade, when the arm is
moved. Impingement is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain.
Shoulder bursitis. Bursitis is inflammation of bursae
(singular: bursa) small, fluid-filled sacs that cushion and lubricate large
joints, such as the knees, hips and shoulders. Bursitis in the shoulder can
have a number of causes including an injury or underlying form of arthritis or
rheumatic disease. The result can be pain, swelling and tenderness in the
affected area.
Remedies for Rheumatoid Arthritis Flare-Ups
- 1.
Rest and relaxation.
- 2.
Exercises and yoga.
- 3.
Creams, gels, pain relief oil and lotions .
- 4.
Fish oil supplements.
- 5.
Plant oils.
- 6.
Heat and cold pack.
- 7.
NSAIDs.
Most of these common treatments to ease rheumatoid arthritis :
1.
Heat and Cold
Many doctors recommend heat and cold
treatments to ease rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. Each offers different
benefits:
2.
Cold: It curbs joint swelling and inflammation. Apply
an ice pack to the affected joint during an RA flare-up, for instance. Just
don't overdo it. Apply the cold compress for 15 minutes at a time. Take at
least a 30-minute break between treatments.
3.
Heat: It relaxes your muscles and spurs blood flow.
You can use a moist heating pad or a warm, damp towel. Many people like using
microwaveable hot packs. Don't go too hot. Your skin shouldn’t burn. You can
also use heat therapy in the shower. Let the warm water hit the painful area on
your body. That may help soothe it. A hot tub is another good way to relax
stiff muscles. Just don’t use hot tubs or spas if you have high blood pressure,
heart disease, or are pregnant.
4.
Magnets
Magnet therapies come in a variety of
forms, such as bracelets, necklaces, inserts, pads, or disks. You can find them
at most natural food stores.
5.
Most research on magnets involves people with
osteoarthritis, the wear-and-tear type of arthritis linked to aging, not RA.
6.
In people with knee and hip osteoarthritis, some early
studies have shown they improved joint pain better than a placebo. Doctors
don’t know exactly how magnets might relieve pain, and there’s no clear proof
that they actually help people with rheumatoid arthritis.
7.
Acupuncture
8.
This traditional form of Chinese medicine is one of
the oldest natural pain remedies around. It uses super-fine needles to
stimulate energy along pathways in your body called meridians. The goal is to
correct imbalances of energy, or qi (pronounced “chee”). There isn’t a lot of
research specific to RA, although studies do show it lowers levels of chemicals
in your body linked to inflammation. It also helps with chronic pain,
especially back pain. It may also help with osteoarthritis.
9. Since it involves needles that need to be clean and
properly placed, ask your rheumatologist to recommend a practitioner who works
with people that have RA.
10.Aromatherapy
This natural treatment doesn’t appear to
affect pain levels or chemicals that cause inflammation. But it might boost
your mood. One small study found lemon scent might boost your mood, but that’s
about it. Essential oils can be a nice addition to a massage. Be careful if you
apply them to your skin or let someone else do it. Some are known irritants. Try
a test patch to see how you react. Don’t use it on broken or damaged skin.
11.Biofeedback
This technique helps you learn to
control automatic responses such as heart rate and blood pressure. You do it
with sensors on your body, which send information to a monitor. A therapist
teaches you how to control your reaction to stresses.
12.Deep
Breathing
Take slow breaths from your belly. It
can calm you and turn off the stress receptors that tighten your muscles and
make pain worse. Plus, when you focus on your breathing, you take your brain
away from thoughts about pain.
13.Exercise
You may not feel like moving, but it’s
good for you. It won’t make your RA worse, and it could lower the swelling in
your joints and help ease your pain. Talk to your doctor or a physical
therapist before you get started. They can help create the right program for
you. It’ll probably focus on:
14.Aerobics,
like walking or swimming, to get your heart moving
Strength
training, to keep the muscles around your joints strong
15.Range-of-motion
exercises to help your joints move like they should
Balance moves to help you avoid stumbles
and falls
Best Vegetables for Arthritis
Green & Yellow Vegetables including:Broccoli, spinach. Sweet Potatoes, Carrots, Red PeppersRed and Green PeppersOnions, Garlic, Leeks and ShallotsOlives
Best
Grains for Arthritis
whole grains
include:Barley.Brown rice.Buckwheat.Millet.Oatmeal.Popcorn.Whole-wheat
bread, pasta or crackers
Best
Nuts and Seeds for Arthritis
Walnuts
Almonds
Cashew nuts
Anti-Inflammatory Diet for Arthritis
Salad incl. Tomato,
cheese, cucumber, carrot, salmonBlackberries,
berries
Pistachios
Olive oilOnionOatmeal, fruit,
papaya
Best
Spices for Arthritis
GarlicGingerTurmericCinnamon
How to Relieve Shoulder Pain at Home
- Anti-inflammatories
- Heat
- Ice
- Salt Bathe
- Stretching
- Massage
Take care of your body for pain management:
Choose good diet / Eat well. To stay as healthy as possible, give your body the best nourishment it
needs. There are so many food intake can relax your body and manage the
pain. So, schedule your daily diet plan
and manage your pain. You can start
making healthier food choices today.
Improve your Body posture. Good posture can prevent future arthritis
pain. Just having rest for pain management, will not serve the purpose. Years of compensating for a sore knee can
result in pain in a hip or ankle. Jutting the abdomen forward can cause lower
back pain, as can slouching in a desk chair. Consult a physical therapist. A
physical therapist can observe how you sit, stand and walk and teach you how to
adjust your posture so you can move with less pain.
Stay active. Regular exercise strengthens muscles that support the joints and
improves flexibility and balance. To start, try a 20–30 minute walk four times
a week. A physio therapist can suggest
appropriate type of exercises that will improve your Joints strength.
Take a break. Balance activity with periods of rest. Rest can help reduce
inflammation. If you need to, take time out to relax your entire body by lying
down for 15 minutes. Or allow a specific joint to rest by wearing a brace or
splint. Letting yourself refresh mentally and physically can reduce arthritis pain
and restore energy. Even working in
Office or Garden or Kitchen, your activities should be balanced, as continues
strain on body will entail your body to worsen the pain.
Use Heat and Cold Therapy technique:
Cold decreases blood flow to reduce swelling, slows the transmission of pain signals through nerves, and inhibits inflammatory chemicals. Warming tissues eases arthritis pain by increasing blood flow to affected areas, which decreases inflammation, relaxes tight muscles, and eliminates waste products, like lactic acid, that cause stiffness and soreness. Cold therapy is best for pain and swelling after exercise, during a flare, or in the first 48 to 72 hours after an injury.
When there is swelling on back neck or on muscle, take a small pot of water and store it for two to three hours, to make it Ice. Then take this Ice into a plastic bag, wrapping with cloth and apply on a swollen area. It will decrease inflammation, relaxes tight muscles as well as reduce the swelling part.
