A type of arthritis called periarthritis causes pain and inflammation in a single joint. The most common condition affects the shoulders, but it can affect any joints. Symptoms occur when calcium crystals build up around the joint.

This type of arthritis usually resolves in 3 years. Treatment can help manage the pain.

Periarthritis is a disease that can have symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.

“When calcium crystals build around your joints, it’s called periarthritis and it’s a painful condition. This can cause pain. The joints may feel frozen.”

Your body has calcium crystals. They need to build strong bones. There are excessive calcium crystals around the joints.

The crystals can rub against the tendons and muscles and lead to pain and swelling. This is what leads to periarthritis. This condition is most common in the shoulder joint, but it can affect your hips, hands, and other joints, as well.

The primary symptoms of periarthritis are pain, swelling, and stiffness of the affected joint. Symptoms can come on suddenly and might be severe in some cases. Other symptoms might include:

  • There is some redness in the joint.
  • It is difficult to move the affected joint.
  • It is worse when you move the joint.
  • It gets worse at night.
  • It makes it hard to sleep.
  • a reduced range of motion (movement of the joint causes stiffness or severe pain)

It is a common condition. It can happen to anyone, even as your body ages, because of the calcium overload. There are some factors that increase your risk ofritis. These include:

  • Being between 40 and 65 years old.
  • Being a woman.
  • There is an overproduction of parathyroid hormones or any other condition.
  • A health condition that affects your kidneys.
  • having diabetes
  • having any heart health condition
  • having Parkinson’s disease
  • having had a stroke
  • Having had an injury to a joint.
  • having had a rotator cuff injury
  • having postsurgical scarring, especially in your shoulders
  • Having taken some drugs.
  • leading a sedentary lifestyle.

If your pain and stiffness are caused by periarthritis, a doctor will run several tests. You will likely have a series of tests after a physical exam and discussion of your symptoms.

  • imaging tests: Imaging tests such as X-rays and ultrasounds can help doctors look for calcium crystals around your joint and tendon.
  • blood work: Blood work can test for inflammation and for the amount of calcium in your blood. It can also help doctors rule out other conditions that could be causing your symptoms.

Without any treatment, periarthritis will resolve on its own. The calcium crystal build up usually lasts 3 years. Periarthritis can be very painful during this time.

Treatments can help you manage the pain. The severity of your symptoms will affect the treatment you receive. There are a number of treatments for periarthritis.

  • nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): NSAIDs can help reduce the pain and inflammation in your affected joint. For mild pain, your doctor might recommend over-the-counter NSAIDs. If your pain is moderate or severe, your doctor might write you a prescription for stronger NSAIDs.
  • needle aspiration: Periarthritis can cause swelling in the bursa between your joints. Aspiration is a procedure that uses a needle to remove excess fluid from the bursa for quick relief of pain and swelling.
  • steroid injections: Steroid injections can help reduce pain and swelling. Your doctor can inject the steroid medication directly into the affected area.
  • surgery: Sometimes, surgery is done to remove very large calcium crystals that are causing severe pain or that are making movement difficult.
  • shockwave treatment: Shockwave treatment uses high-frequency shock waves to break up calcium crystals that are causing severe symptoms.
  • physical therapy: Physical therapy is an important treatment for joints that are stiff and painful. The goal is to stretch and strengthen the joint, reduce pain, and regain lost movement.

You can take steps at home to help relieve the pain. Between appointments, lifestyle steps are a great way to manage your condition.

Your doctor might suggest lifestyle steps that are specific to the joint and the severity of your symptoms. Common lifestyle management steps are listed.

  • Try to stop smoking. Smoking can increase inflammation in your body. When you quit, you can reduce inflammation and pain.
  • Apply ice. Ice packs are a simple way to reduce swelling and relieve pain. You can use ice throughout the day to help manage your periarthritis.
  • Rest. It’s important to get a good night’s sleep as your body heals and recovers.
  • Exercise. Keeping your affected joint moving can help promote healing and prevent stiffness. Your doctor might order a few physical therapy sessions to help you learn exercises tailored to your periarthritis that you can do at home.
  • Manage your weight. Obesity is hard on your joints. Achieving and maintaining a healthy weight can help you reduce pain.
  • Consider your diet. The amount of calcium you eat, or don’t eat, won’t impact periarthritis. However, there are foods that have been shown to reduce inflammation. Following an anti-inflammatory diet could help you reduce pain.

Can periarthritis be cured?

There is a chronic condition called periarthritis. It will go away without any treatment. Treatments can help manage painful symptoms. If symptoms are severe, certain medical treatments can help.

What is acute calcific periarthritis?

Acute girdling periarthritis is also known as periarthritis. Periarthritis is a very painful condition and is described by the acronym ACP.

What’s the difference between periarthritis and regular arthritis?

There are notable differences between periarthritis and regular arthritis. One of the primary differences is that periarthritis affects the area around a joint, while arthritis affects the joint itself.

Over time, arthritis gets worse. After a few years, periarthritis is a temporary condition.

Can apple cider vinegar be used to treat calcium deposits?

Many people have reported success using apple cider vinegar to treat their symptoms of periarthritis. There is not enough evidence to support this claim.

Apple cider vinegar does have several proven health benefits, but breaking down calcium deposits isn’t one of them.

There are two types of arthritis, periarthritis and arthritis. This causes inflammation and pain.

Periarthritis is not chronic like standard arthritis. The condition will be solved on its own in about 2 or 3 years. Periarthritis can be very painful.

Administering drugs, such as NSAID, aspiration, and steroid injections, can help manage symptoms until periarthritis resolves.