Shoulder osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint is a chronic disease, which is based on cartilage tissue damage, followed by the appearance of bone growths and limited mobility. Most often, older people suffer, but hard physical work and inflammatory processes contribute to the early development of pathology. Without prompt treatment, movements in the affected joint are completely blocked.

General information

Cartilage is a soft layer between the contact areas of the bones. It ensures their easy gliding with each other, guaranteeing free and painless joint work. Excessive stress, inflammation or trauma can trigger a degenerative process that gradually spreads over the entire surface.

As a result, the smoothness of the joint surfaces is disturbed, and movements begin to cause pain. At the same time, bony growths begin to appear along the edges of the joint, replacing the affected cartilage. As the degenerative process progresses, it not only affects the bones, but also the surrounding tissues. The limb becomes deformed, the muscles spasm, and the ligaments weaken and lose elasticity. Without treatment, the person loses the ability to move the arm.

Points of view

Depending on the cause of development, primary and secondary osteoarthritis are distinguished. The primary form occurs on its own, most often against the background of excessive stress on the joint. The secondary is caused by a third party pathology, for example, trauma, intense inflammation, metabolic disorders, etc. Both forms of the disease have similar symptoms.

The reasons

Unlike the knee, ankle and hip joints, the shoulder does not experience significant stress when walking, so this form of osteoarthritis occurs much less frequently. Pathology can be caused by:

• regular excessive physical activity: weight lifting, professional sports, vibration;
• congenital anomalies of the structure of the shoulder joint and adjacent structures;
• rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, and other autoimmune diseases;
• congenital weakness of connective tissue, accompanied by hypermobility of the joints;
• injuries: dislocations, sprains and tears of ligaments, intra-articular bone fractures;
• hormonal changes and disturbances (including pregnancy, menopause);
• inflammatory diseases of the joint and periarticular structures (arthritis, bursitis, etc. );
• metabolic disorders, including gout, diabetes mellitus.

Heredity plays an important role in predisposition to osteoarthritis.

Degrees

Doctors identify 3 degrees of deforming arthrosis of the shoulder joint, which determine its symptoms and the choice of treatment tactics:

• Grade 1 is characterized by minimal manifestations: pain occurs only with intense or prolonged exertion and passes quickly after rest, and radiography reveals subchondral sclerosis of the articular surfaces;
• with osteoarthritis of the second degree, the pain becomes much stronger, a person has to use painkillers to feel better; X-ray shows a pronounced narrowing of the joint space, extensive areas of cartilage destruction, as well as bone growths (osteophytes);
• Grade 3 of the disease is accompanied by constant severe pain, joint mobility is significantly limited, and the picture shows complete destruction of cartilage tissue, deformation of bone structures, and a large number of osteophytes.

Symptoms

The main symptoms of osteoarthritis of the shoulder include:

• pain - arises from a decrease in the smoothness of the articular surfaces, the growth of osteophytes and bone deformation; the intensity, duration and nature of the sensations depends on the degree of damage;
• crunch - one of the characteristic symptoms of the disease, appearing in the early stages; differs from the physiological in a coarser tonality, and is also often accompanied by pain;
• limitation of mobility: associated with the appearance of pathological growths and destroyed cartilage particles within the joint; in the early stages, it is represented by a slight morning stiffness, then it grows to complete immobility (ankylosis);
• deformation - a change in the contours of first only the joint, and then the hand, occurs in the later stages of the disease and indicates the complete destruction of cartilage and the participation of bones, muscles and ligaments in the pathological process.

Symptom progression can take years or even decades, but ultimately osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint leads to the inability to move the arm and severe pain.

Diagnostics

The diagnosis of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint requires an integrated approach. To accurately determine the diagnosis and determine the extent of the injury, the doctor uses the following methods:

• questioning and collection of anamnesis: patient complaints are recorded, the circumstances of the appearance of certain symptoms are determined; without fail, information about past diseases and injuries, the presence of joint damage in parents is clarified;
• examination: the doctor visually evaluates the joint, determines the range of motion, the area of greatest pain, etc. ;
• X-ray and CT - the main diagnostic method that allows you to see the characteristic symptoms of osteoarthritis (narrowing of the joint space, cartilage degeneration, bone growth and deformities);
• Ultrasound: allows to evaluate the state of cartilage, bones, ligaments, joint capsule and muscles;
• MRI - allows you to obtain virtual slices of all structures in the affected area;
• laboratory diagnosis - a blood test reveals an active inflammatory process, which often accompanies arthrosis;
• arthroscopy: examination of the joint from the inside with a camera inserted through a small pin prick.

If the disease is secondary in nature, limited specialist consultations and examinations on the underlying pathology are mandatory.

Treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder

Treatment of osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint depends on the degree of injury: in stages 1 and 2, the disease can be successfully stopped or delayed by the correct selection of drugs. With extensive destruction, the only way to restore mobility and completely stop pain is a surgical operation - arthroscopy with "cleaning" of the joint.

Drug treatment

Medical treatment for osteoarthritis of the shoulder is aimed at reducing symptoms and restoring cartilage tissue. For this, the following groups of drugs are used:

• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs - block inflammatory reactions and reduce pain; They are available in the form of tablets, ointments, suppositories, and in injectable form;
• hormonal agents (corticosteroids) - used when NSAIDs are ineffective, they have a similar effect; Long-acting drugs provide a good effect, injected directly into the joint cavity;
• antispasmodics, vitamins of group B - used to reduce muscle spasm that inevitably accompanies advanced osteoarthritis;
• chondroprotectors - designed for long-term use, intended to restore cartilage tissue;
• drugs that improve microcirculation - indirectly stimulate regeneration processes by improving blood supply to the affected area;
• enzyme blockers: partially slow down the destruction of cartilage tissue.

The selection of specific drugs, their dosage, frequency of administration and duration of the course is carried out only by a doctor! It is important to remember that self-medication can lead to accelerated joint degeneration and other side effects.

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy techniques and physical therapy exercises greatly facilitate the course of the disease and enhance the effect of drugs. The following procedures have been shown to have a good effect:

• magnetotherapy: relieves pain, relieves inflammation, improves microcirculation and stimulates the regeneration of cartilage tissue;
• shock wave therapy - exposure to acoustic waves of a certain frequency contributes to the destruction of osteophytes, facilitating movement in the affected joint;
• electrophoresis, phonophoresis - the introduction of drugs (analgesics, chondroprotectors) into the tissues by electrical impulses or ultrasound; promotes better drug absorption;
• Massage and physiotherapy exercises: dosed loads on the joint and an intense manual action stimulate blood circulation in the tissues.

Like drugs, physical therapy, massage, and exercise therapy should be prescribed and carried out under the supervision of a specialist. If in a quiet period they are beneficial, then the effect against the background of an acute inflammatory process can cause increased pain.

Surgery

The last stage of osteoarthritis of the shoulder is accompanied by severe symptoms and requires surgical treatment. Most of the changes that have occurred as a result of degeneration are irreversible, so the only way to restore a person's mobility is the endoprosthesis. The affected joint is replaced by a modern prosthesis, which fully assumes its functions. This operation is especially effective in the young and middle-aged, as it allows you to live without pain for years.

Prophylaxis

Like any joint disease, osteoarthritis of the shoulder is easier to prevent than to cure. Orthopedists recommend following the following rules:

• exclude or minimize occupational risk factors (vibrations, weight lifting);
• do not allow hypodynamics, but also do not fight for sports records - it is better to choose a moderate training option;
• control nutrition and weight;
• undergo periodic examinations to identify possible problems.

Diet

With shoulder osteoarthritis of any degree, it is important to monitor nutrition:

• avoid overeating and being overweight;
• minimize harmful products: fatty, spicy, salty, alcohol, canned food, smoked meats;
• eat a sufficient amount of foods high in collagen (jellied meat, aspic) and omega-3 (fatty fish, olive oils);
• give preference to boiled, steamed or stewed foods, rather than fried foods;
• Reduce the amount of fast-digesting carbohydrates.

The diet must be complete and include the necessary amount of vitamins, minerals and nutrients.

Consequences and complications

Even a slight pain and a crunch in the shoulder can have unpleasant consequences. Without treatment, osteoarthritis leads to:

• significant limitation of mobility until ankylosis (bone fusion);
• severe pain even at rest;
• severe deformity of the shoulder and whole arm.

To avoid these problems, it is important not to search the Internet for how to treat osteoarthritis of the shoulder joint with home remedies, but simply to contact an orthopedist to select therapy.

Treatment in a specialized clinic

It is impossible to cure osteoarthritis on your own. Modern clinic specialists offer patients complex methods of treating shoulder osteoarthritis:

• Modern drug therapy regimens that combine high efficacy and minimal side effects;
• new and proven physiotherapy techniques;
• PRP therapy;
• Physiotherapy exercises and massages to alleviate the limitation of joint movements.

If necessary, a medical puncture of the joint is performed with the introduction of painkillers or artificial synovial fluid that facilitates movement.

We monitor the patient throughout treatment to keep the disease under control.

Benefits of modern clinics

Specialized blades offer your patients:

• comprehensive medical examination programs;
• advanced tests for an accurate diagnosis;
• consultations of narrow specialists of various profiles;
• Modern treatment regimens, which include not only drugs, but also physical therapy, massage, and exercise therapy;
• Reasonable prices for all services.

Osteoarthritis of the shoulder is a problem that can completely change a person's life. Do not allow the disease to enter an irreversible stage, go to a consultation with an orthopedist.