Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that leads to inflammation in the joints and ligaments of the spine and the sacroiliac joint. However, due to the close proximity of the shoulders to the spine, it’s not uncommon for ankylosing spondylitis to cause problems for a person’s shoulders. In fact, estimates suggest that roughly 30 percent of people with ankylosing spondylitis will develop symptoms in their shoulders. In today’s blog, we explore how ankylosing spondylitis can affect our shoulders and how the issue can be treated with the help of a specialist like Dr. Holloway.
When Ankylosing Spondylitis Affects The Shoulders
Ankylosing spondylitis affects the joints in the spine and the surrounding soft tissues, but for some patients the systemic disorder leads to inflammation in nearby areas like the shoulders and hips. Symptoms that present in the spine are similar to what you might experience if the condition ends up impacting your shoulders, with pain, stiffness and decreased range of motion the most common culprits. It also tends to affect one shoulder more than the other, but you still may develop symptoms in both shoulders. Discomfort is typically greatest in the morning or after extended periods of inactivity.
As ankylosing spondylitis affects nearby tissues, you are at risk for a few different shoulder conditions, including shoulder bursitis, tendonitis and synovitis, as inflammation plays a common theme in each of these issues.
If you are dealing with any of the above symptoms, especially if you have been previously diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, it’s important that you reach out to your primary care physician, your spine specialist or a shoulder specialist. They’ll take a closer look at your medical history and conduct a physical exam of the shoulder region to look for signs of inflammation or range of motion restrictions. They may also order a few different tests to look for signs of arthritic changes due to ankylosing spondylitis. An X-ray can showcase changes in the joints and bones, while an MRI can see if soft tissue damage is prevalent in the shoulder region. A blood test can also look for markers of inflammation that suggest ankylosing spondylitis is leading to chronic inflammation in your spine or shoulders.
Treating Ankylosing Spondylitis Of The Shoulders
The main goal of ankylosing spondylitis treatment is to reduce or resolve inflammation that is contributing to arthritic degeneration. Oftentimes this is best done with the help of anti-inflammatory medications or corticosteroid injections into the shoulder. Paired with controlled physical therapy exercises, many patients see enough symptom relief that additional treatment is not necessary.
If those methods are ineffective, your doctor may prescribe stronger drugs to prevent joint damage and inflammation. Surgery may be an option in some instances, but is typically reserved for patients with severe arthritic deterioration of the shoulder joint. Physical therapy, targeted shoulder exercises and lifestyle modifications to live an overall healthier lifestyle typically end up being the most common treatment path for patients with referred pain from ankylosing spondylitis.
For more information about shoulder issues caused by ankylosing spondylitis, or for help with a different shoulder problem, reach out to Dr. Holloway and his team today at (865) 410-7887.
