Warm, swollen shoulder joints can be an indicator of synovitis (def.)Synovitis Synovitis occurs when synovium (inner layer of a joint capsule) is inflamed. It results in pain and loss of range of motion.. Your shoulder may be painful both at rest and with movement. If synovitis is suspected, your physician may withdraw a sample of your synovial fluid from the shoulder joint to send to a laboratory to test for infection or the crystals that indicate gout.

Treatment depends on the cause of the synovitis. It is likely to include anti-inflammatory medications, oral steroids, or cortisone steroid injections.

In some cases, your physician may recommend surgical removal of the inflamed synovium (def.)Synovium Your shoulder joints are held together by a "capsule" of tissues and ligaments. The innermost tissue of the capsule is a membrane called the synovium.. If appropriate, the surgery may be the minimally invasive surgery called arthroscopic surgery.

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