Shoulder Pain Management
Synovitis
Warm, swollen shoulder joints can be an indicator of synovitis. The shoulder may be painful both at rest and with movement. If synovitis is suspected, a sample of synovial fluid from the shoulder joint should be sent to a laboratory to test for infection or the crystals that indicate gout.
Clinical Course
Symptoms may be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs such as NSAIDs. If lab tests confirm infection or gout, appropriate treatment of these illnesses needs to be undertaken.
Content in this section is adapted and/or repurposed with permission from:
Lotke, PA, Abboud, JA, Ende, J. Lippincott’s Primary Care Orthopaedics. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2008:section 8.
Authors: Abboud, JA, Ricchetti, ET, Tjoumakaris, FP, Yagnik, GP.
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins <http://lww.com>
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Important Note: This web site is intended to provide general information about the diagnosis and treatment of shoulder pain. It is not intended to be a recommendation from DePuy Orthopaedics, Inc. for any specific medical evaluation or treatment. It is the responsibility of each physician to determine an appropriate medical plan for an individual patient, based on the patient’s history, symptoms, physical examination, and medical tests.