Is Sjögren's joint pain symmetrical?
Olivia Hensley
Updated on March 12, 2026
The shoulders, hips and knees may also be painful. The arthritis usually “comes and goes” and affects the same joints in the right and left limbs in a “symmetric” fashion. Joint x-rays are usually normal. In a recent series, this type of arthritis was present in 35% of 188 primary SS patients (6).
Is Sjogren's symmetrical?
Neuropathies tend to be less symmetrical in Sjögren's patients, compared with other conditions. Central nervous system disorders might manifest as changes in cognitive function or as seizures.What does Sjögren's joint pain feel like?
Your joints may be painful and swollen due to inflammation, or you might feel that various parts of your body, such as your muscles, are achy and tender. Some people with this condition have headaches and migraines.What joints are affected with Sjogren's syndrome?
Tenderness and swelling of the joints, when present, are indicative of inflammatory arthritis. In Sjögren's syndrome, this type of arthritis usually affects the fingers, wrists and ankles. The shoulders, hips and knees may also be painful.Is inflammatory arthritis symmetrical?
There's also rheumatoid arthritis (inflammatory), and it is almost always a symmetrical type of arthritis. However, this type of arthritis can be tricky because it may not start symmetrically. Osteoarthritis is a non-inflammatory type of arthritis from wear and tear, and usually produces asymmetrical symptoms.Does Sjogren's Syndrome Affect The Joints?
Which type of arthritis is symmetrical?
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory, symmetrical form of arthritis. Symmetry is the key determinant in diagnosing this autoimmune disease. However, a person may not have symptoms on both sides at the beginning of the disease. It will become symmetrical as the disease progresses.What type of arthritis only affect one side of the body?
Asymmetry. It's common for osteoarthritis to affect a joint on only one side of the body, such as the left knee rather than the right (or vice versa). In RA the disease affects both sides of the body symmetrically, especially as it becomes more advanced.What mimics Sjogren's syndrome?
Certain diseases affecting salivary and lacrimal glands such as sarcoidosis, IgG4-related disease, chronic hepatitis C virus, HIV infections, and graft-versus-host disease can mimic Sjögren's syndrome, usually via a process of similar inflammation of affected glands.What were your first symptoms of Sjögren's?
The two main symptoms of Sjogren's syndrome are:
- Dry eyes. Your eyes might burn, itch or feel gritty — as if there's sand in them.
- Dry mouth. Your mouth might feel like it's full of cotton, making it difficult to swallow or speak.