Periarthritis
Periarthritis, also called calcific periarthritis, is a painful condition that occurs when calcium crystals build around your joints or in the soft tissues surrounding the joint. This can rub against the tendons & muscles and can cause pain, swelling and stiffness in a single joint. The condition most often affects the shoulders, but it can affect but it can affect your hips, hands, and other joints, as well. Periarthritis of the shoulder is also called Painful shoulder syndrome, Frozen Shoulder, Periarthritis humeroscapularis, or PHS syndrome.
Nevertheless, some persons have too many calcium crystals in other parts of the body – for
example:
A tendon (one of the strong cords) that attaches your muscles towards bones – this is referred
to as calcific tendonitis in a bursa, a fluid-filled sac that acts like a cushion that allows
muscles, tendons, & ligaments to glide smoothly over our bones as you move.
It’s possible to have crystals in a tendon & not know that they’re there, because they might
not cause any pain or other problems.
when calcium crystals build around the joints or in the soft tissues surrounding the joint.
But sometimes the crystals can leave the tendon, or ‘shed’, into the soft tissue around the
joint. When this happens the hard, sharp crystals can cause pain & swelling as they rub
against the soft tissues. This is known as calcific periarthritis.
Causes :
Too much calcium in the body and it can happen to anyone, especially as your body ages. As people get older, natural chemical changes in the body can make it more likely that calcium crystals will form in the blood, urine, or soft tissues.
The following diseases can also cause you to have too much calcium in your body:
- An overactive parathyroid gland (hyperparathyroidism)
- Kidneys that aren’t functioning properly
- Diabetes – a condition that leads to high levels of glucose, a type of sugar, in the body
It’s not always clear why crystals start to shed, but it quite frequently happens a day or two after an injury or overuse.
Symptoms :
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:
- Tenderness in the affected joint
- Pain that makes it difficult to move the affected joint or limb
- Pain that is worse when you move the affected joint
- Pain that gets worse at night
- Pain that makes it difficult to sleep
- A reduced range of motion (movement of the joint causes stiffness or severe pain)
- The joints may also feel thick and stiff
Ayurvedic Aspect Of Periarthritis :
condition mainly involves Ansa Sandhi (Shoulder joint). Apabahuka is a Vatavyadhi mentioned in Ayurvedic texts like Charak Samhita, Sushruta Samhita, Ashtanga Hridaya etc. It involves Vata and Kapha dosha in which Vata is dominant. Dushya involved in this condition are Sira, Snayu, Mamsa, Kandra and Asthi. It involves Mamsavaha and Asthi Vaha.
Treatment :
- Nasya Karma (Medicine administered through the nose)
- Sneha Pana (Oleation)
- Abhyanga (Massage therapy) and Swedana (Sudation)
- Lepanam (Application of the paste of herbs)
- Upanaham (Application of warm herbal paste) for temporary relief of symptoms
- Jaloukavacharana (Leech therapy) is effective in the initial stage of the disease