Rheumatoid Arthritis currently affects over 1.3 million adults in the US. Approximately 1% of the world’s population struggles with it as well. Women are 2 to 3 times more likely to experience it than men. Here at Dines Orthopedics, we specialize in all types of arthritis and are qualified to treat the worst cases. We do orthopedic services for shoulders, knees, elbows, and all sports-related injuries. Our Shoulder Specialist on Long Island has been Castle Connelly’s top doctor in America since 1996 and Newsday’s 3top doctors on Long Island for over 18 years. Our staff is more than qualified to tackle the toughest cases of RA. 

 

What is Rheumatoid ArthritisShoulder Specialist on Long Island

Rheumatoid Arthritis or RA is a joint-related disease that causes chronic inflammation in said areas. The most common symptoms include pain, swelling, and stiffness in the joint areas. The specific joints usually affected most often are the smaller ones, such as the hands and feet. However, the larger joints such as the shoulders, hips, and knees can also be affected. RA typically affects certain joints in patterns. In other words, if someone has RA in the hand joints, both their hands will likely be affected. The same goes for the feet, shoulders, and other body parts that contain joints and come in two. RA can result from genetics and/or environmental factors. It’s technically classified as an autoimmune deficiency, which results from one’s immune system attacking the joints by causing abnormal inflammation.  

 

Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Shoulder 

The shoulder is one of the most painful joints to get RA in. The disease essentially destroys the tissues that would normally separate the joints in the shoulder. This causes the three shoulder bones, the humerus, the scapula, and the clavicle, to uncomfortably and painfully rub up against each other. One of the biggest symptoms of RA in the shoulder is a very limited range of motion for those parts of the body. If left untreated, overtime can make it more and more difficult to do so much as lift your arm. Other symptoms include hearing grinding, clicking, or snapping sounds, also known as crepitus, as you move your shoulder. Redness and warmth in the shoulder can also occur. 

 

Diagnosing & Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis 

RA can be difficult to diagnose at first because many of its symptoms can be found in other diseases as well. In many cases, one test is simply not enough to determine whether or not a patient has RA. During one of the many exams, your doctor will need to perform, they will examine your joints for swelling, redness, and inflammation. One specific indication to diagnose RA is the presence of more C-reactive protein than normal. Your doctor will also perform X-rays to track the progression of your joints over time. Unfortunately, there is no specific treatment to alleviate RA completely. There are, however, specific remedies that make the pain and inflammation significantly more manageable. These include steroids, Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs,) and biologic agents. In some cases, surgery is necessary to combat RA. These types of surgical procedures include synovectomy, tendon repair, joint fusion, or in some cases, total joint removal.  

 

Treating Rheumatoid Arthritis in the Shoulder

Here at Dines Orthopedic, our shoulder specialist on Long Island is prepared to tackle the worst cases of rheumatoid arthritis in the shoulder. Specific shoulder conditions that are linked to rheumatoid arthritis that we are more than qualified to treat include Frozen Shoulder, dead arm syndrome, rotator cuff repair, shoulder arthroscopy, shoulder instability, shoulder replacement, and more. While surgery can be necessary in many cases, at-home remedies can combat it. These include rest, physical therapy that we offer, injections in the shoulder to reduce pain and swelling, applying moist heat to the infected areas, and certain dietary supplements. If surgery is absolutely required for your case, our shoulder specialist on Island has all the credentials available to perform a successful shoulder surgery. 

 

Contact Our Shoulder Specialist on Long Island

If you or someone you know is currently struggling with RA or, more specifically, RA in the shoulder, please contact us at 516-482-1037 or visit our website.