Synovitis (Arthritis)
Are your joints inflamed and swollen? This is called synovitis and involves an inflammation inside the arthritis. Synovitis can cause joint pain and redness swelling.
Synovitis is painful, especially when moving the joint. In synovitis, one will normally see a swelling in the joint due to accumulation of fluid (known as synovia) and small accumulations or soft 'balls' may form. This arthritis can occur in all synovial joints, but most often affects weight-bearing joints.
The condition is particularly linked to rheumatic arthritis (RA) - in fact, the phenomenon always occurs in rheumatoid arthritis -, juvenile arthritis (juvenile Arthritis), Psoriasis arthritis og lupus. Synovitis can also occur in rheumatic fever, gout, tuberculosis or trauma. Synovitis can occur in the shoulders, knees, hands and
What is Synovitis (Arthritis)?
In synovitis, which occurs in rheumatoid arthritis, among other things, the synovial membrane becomes inflamed - the synovial membrane is the softer mass that surrounds a synovial joint. Inside the synovial membrane we find a fluid called synovia. When this membrane becomes inflamed, we get increased fluid accumulation and an increase in inflammation cells from other places in the body.
This causes the joint to become swollen and very compressed. This in turn leads to the body mobilizing its own immune system that attacks the uninvited guests - which leads to increased blood circulation and that the joint is felt warm to the touch. The inflammation leads to the release of enzymes that contribute to irritation and increased pain in the joint - if this process is allowed to continue over several years, it will gradually destroy the cartilage and bone inside the synovial joint itself. The latter is something we see in rheumatoid arthritis.
Symptoms of Synovitis (Arthritis)
The most characteristic symptoms of inflamed joints and synovitis are:
Swelling, Heat and Redness
An inflamed joint may swell and become hot by touch. Due to the increased fluid retention and inflammatory reactions, it will also be possible to see an increased redness of the skin around the affected joint.
Morning stiffness in the joints
Being extra stiff and numb in the morning is associated with both joint inflammation and rheumatic disorders. The stiffness is usually improved within about 30 to 60 minutes
Reduced function
The inflamed joints will be more difficult to use due to swelling and associated pain. This can, among other things, lead to difficulty knitting or crocheting if the arthritis strikes fingers and wrists.
Painful Pain in Joints and Muscles
Inflammation of the affected joint can naturally lead to joint pain - these are often described as aching and pulsating in nature. Inflamed joints will also in many cases be painful with compression - which means that sleeping on an inflamed shoulder or hip can be almost impossible at times.
Joints and muscles are interconnected purely functional. This is precisely why inflamed and stiff joints can lead to an increase in muscle pain and muscle aches.
Other Symptoms of Arthritis
The four above symptoms are among the most common when afflicted with synovitis, but you may also experience symptoms mentioned in this comprehensive list below.
movement Difficulties
When you have pain, you tend to move less. It's not as fun to take down a glass from the top shelf in the kitchen when the shoulder is inflamed - in the same way that pain when walking due to inflamed hips means that you are not as hungry on the daily walk.
Bad condition
Arthritis leads to less movement and cardio - which in turn results in a gradual deterioration and reduced oxygen uptake.
Poor Sleep Due to Synovite
Sleeping on your side is in many cases very painful if you have an inflammation in a shoulder or a hip. Even if you first fall asleep on your back or the other side, the body tends to move when we sleep - and thus we can suddenly end up lying on the sore shoulder. As the shoulder hurts more and more, this will cause us to wake up. This pattern tends to occur several times each night when the synovitis is active.
Fever and Arthritis
We must remember that synovitis involves inflammation inside the joint capsule. One of the weapons for the body to fight inflammation is to increase body temperature - better known as fever. This means that inflamed joints can also cause a mild or moderate fever depending on how extensive the inflammation is.
High CRP in Inflammation of the Joints
CRP is known as c-reactive protein. This is something that is measured by traditional blood tests and which can give you an answer as to whether there is an inflammation or infection in your body. Among healthy and healthy adults, the value should be around 0.8 mg / L to 3.0 mg / L.
High Pulse and Arthritis
This symptom may come as a surprise to many, but it does happen that when we have inflammation in the body or in a joint, the heart rate will increase. The mechanism occurs to circulate the blood more quickly in the body, thus helping to send more antibodies and white blood cells to the inflamed site.
Less joint movement
At synovitis, an inflamed joint will be filled with inflammatory fluid. This fluid takes up space inside the joint and causes the joint capsule to not have the same range of motion as before.
Neck pain and stiff neck
The joints in the neck are sensitive to changes in the body - and especially in the shoulders. With synovitis in the shoulders, one will, among other things, experience that the neck stiffens as well. This has to do with the anatomical interaction between neck and shoulder.
Overweight
Another secondary effect often seen among those who are severely affected by synovitis. Arthritis leads to less activity in everyday life - which in turn leads to less calorie consumption.
Back pain
Inflamed joints in the pelvis (sacroilitis) or in the hip can result in a changed pattern of movement - which then leads to an increase in pain inside the back.
Weak Muscles and Muscle Wounds
Many people with arthritis report that they notice that the muscles become smaller and shrink. This is called muscle wasting and is due to too little use of the muscles in question. Other causes of muscle loss can be lack of nerve supply - which can be seen with prolonged nerve pinching. A good example of this is having a pinch of the median nerve in the wrist (carpal tunnel syndrome) which can then lead to shrinkage of the muscles inside the hand.
Dizziness
People affected by synovitis often report more frequent dizziness. This usually occurs secondary to the fact that arthritis leads to significantly more tense muscles and stiffer joints.
Fatigue, Fatigue and Fatigue
Have you experienced that your body is not completely one hundred percent when you are ill with the flu? In the same way as with the flu, you can experience that you become very tired and tired from being affected by arthritis. This is due to the ongoing inflammation inside the joints that are affected - and which the body is constantly working to alleviate.
Soreness and Hypersensitivity
Why are the joints hurt even when slightly touched? Have you experienced that a joint is incredibly tender only if you know it easily? This is often due to synovitis and hypersensitivity to the affected area.
Diseases Associated with Synovitis
As you can see from the list above, arthritis can lead to a lot of pain and discomfort in everyday life - which can go beyond both physical and mental form. It has been seen that synovitis is also strongly linked to the following diagnoses - and that people affected by synovitis often have one of these diagnoses (but not always). These include:
Treatment of Synovitis (Arthritis)
Synovitis primarily consists of inflammation of the joint as its main cause. Therefore, it is important that the treatment is aimed at alleviating these inflammation, but also that you receive clinical treatment for the pain in the nearby muscles and joints. The three main treatments for synovitis involve:
Anti-inflammatory Diet
Physical Treatment
NSAIDS Medications
Anti-inflammatory Diet against Synovite
Did you know that certain types of food stimulate increased inflammation in your body and joints? This kind of inflammatory food has pro-inflammatory properties; which causes the inflammation in your body to be further nourished and can stay strong. Some of the bad guys are sugar, soda, cakes and alcohol.
At the opposite end of the scale, we find anti-inflammatory foods - and these are foods with a high content of antioxidants and nutrients that help you regulate inflammation in the body. Vegetables, coffee, oily fish, roots (ginger and turmeric), berries and fruits are on the menu if you want to eat foods that help you fight inflammation. In a recent study (1) they proved, among other things, that these four dishes led to minor symptoms in those affected by rheumatic arthritis and synovitis:
Blueberry
Fat fish
Strawberry
spinach
In other studies it has also been proven that green tea, ginger (2), turmeric (3) and olive oil have symptom-relieving effect.
Physical Treatment
As you understood from the information earlier in the article, synovitis causes a whole list of side effects - including reduced function in nearby muscles and joints. Therefore, it is very important that you get help to loosen up tense muscles and stiff joints - to prevent the physical form from deteriorating further. Treatment aimed at stimulating improved function in muscles and joints is normally performed by publicly authorized health professionals - such as modern chiropractors and physiotherapists.
These therapists can, among other things, help you with advice on using supports (for example compression gloves), lifestyle changes (diet and activity), exercise guidance (exercises adapted to synovitis) and physical therapy aimed at muscles, tendons and joints. Some of the treatment techniques used may include:
Anti-inflammatory Laser Treatment (if the therapist has expertise in this area)
Intramuscular Needle Therapy (if the therapist has the necessary expertise)
Massage and Soft tissue work
Customized joints mobilization
Trigger Point Treatment and Muscular Techniques
If the need is there, your doctor or chiropractor can help you with a referral for an imaging examination - or help you get a sick note in phases of the problem where work becomes difficult.
NSAIDS Medications
Your doctor will advise you on the use and dosage of anti-inflammatory drugs. These have the main purpose of reducing the inflammatory process in the joint. Common medications used are ibuprofen (ibux), voltaren, vimovo, aspirin and other NSAIDS. In more severe cases of synovitis, larger dosages or other medications may be needed.
Surgery and Surgery
Operations and surgical procedures are reserved only for the most severe cases where repeated inflammatory cures, lifestyle changes and physical treatment have not been able to provide symptom relief to the patient. Among other things, the procedure may involve surgically removing parts of the inflamed arthritis.
Self-Action: What Can I Do for Anti-Arthritis (Synovitis)?
The three most important things you can do yourself are as follows:
Get physical treatment to keep the function going
Seek expert medical help from your doctor
Take hold of positive lifestyle changes (healthier diet and more daily exercise)
Recommended Self-Help for Rheumatic and Chronic Pain
- Compression Noise (such as compression socks that contribute to increased blood circulation to sore muscles or specially adapted compression gloves against rheumatic symptoms in the hands)
Click on the image to read more about compression gloves.
- Mini tapes (many with rheumatic and chronic pain feel that it is easier to train with custom elastics)
- Trigger point Balls (self-help to work the muscles on a daily basis)
- Arnica cream or heat conditioner (many people report some pain relief if they use, for example, arnica cream or heat conditioner)
- Many people use arnica cream for pain due to stiff joints and sore muscles. Click on the image above to read more about how arnica cream can help relieve some of your pain situation.
Frequently Asked Questions about Arthritis (Synovitis)
Below is a list of questions we have been asked.
Has synovitis and hydrops in the shoulder. What does that mean?
This means that you have an arthritis in the shoulder joint with abnormally high fluid buildup. Hydrops are particularly common in rheumatic disorders and indicate an increased volume of fluid.
What is the best medicine for synovitis?
Your GP will help you with advice on anti-inflammatory drugs based on your medical history, age and severity of synovitis.
What is synovitis in English?
If we translate from Norwegian to English then synovitis is known as synovitis.
Can pigs and lambs get arthritis?
Thank you to the Norwegian Farmers' Union for the question. Both pigs and lambs have synovial joints that are similar to humans. This is why pigs and lambs can also be affected by both arthritis and synovitis.
Can you get synovitis in the jaw joint?
The jaw joint is a synovial joint - and can thus also be affected by arthritis. It is important to note that it is rare to occur in the jaw joint, but it can certainly occur.
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